Higher education leaders from Australia, Ireland, Italy, Malaysia and the UK will head to Perth next week to find out how institutions in Western Australia are embracing the challenges and opportunities ahead of them, within a context of change in Australian higher education from a policy, economic and political perspective.
The group are delegates on the Advance HE’s Top Management Programme (TMP), which has been running for 20 years and is designed to give an up-and-coming generation of senior higher education professionals the agility, innovation, confidence and mindset they need to lead major international institutions. More than half of the 33-strong group are from the 50th cohort of the programme.
As part of the intense, multi-module six month programme, the 32 senior leaders will spend five days in the Australian city of Perth.
International view on higher education
There they will get an international perspective on higher education leadership, including local institutions’ approaches to equality, diversity and inclusion, Australia’s national regulatory framework, the impact of the Accord review of the in Australia and an overview of the cultural influences and policy changes that underpin local institutions’ strategies and approaches.
“The Top Management Programme exists to prepare the next generation of higher education leaders with the thinking and practice they need to respond as members of their executive teams tocurrent and emerging challenges wherever they are in the world,” said Advance HE chief executive Alison Johns.
Future institutional leaders
“Those who secure a place on the programme may go on to become future institutional leaders or progress further in their current executive roles so need to be prepared to have the insight, networks and thinking needed to lead global higher education institutions in an ever changing environment. The programme offers an intense and transformative learning and development experience which is specifically designed to take their leadership to the highest level. We know that the connections made through the programme can be in some cases lifelong and game-changing in regard to personal impact and resilience at the very top of higher education leadership.
“As a sector-led charity, our aspiration is to support higher education to be the very best it can be. The Top Management Programme is one of our most powerful tools for fulfilling that – something underlined by the fact so many current and former vice-chancellors and principals of major international universities are past participants of the programme.”
Edith Cowan University’s Deputy Vice Chancellor (Students, Equity and Indigenous), Professor Braden Hill, will welcome participants to their week in Perth, supported by specialists in indigenous cultures in the sector.
Later in the week, they will also hear from Lenka Ucnik, assistant director of the Higher Education Integrity Unit at Australia’s Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA), as well as visiting a range of institutions in the region.
Immersive learning
Programme leader Louisa Hardman said: “This international element of the programme enables those taking part to step outside their immediate higher education context and view things from a new perspective.
“We aim to make the learning and development truly immersive and a massive part is the creation of strong peer groups with whom participants will continue to learn and grow long after they have completed the programme itself.”
Register your interest in the Top Management Programme.