New framework demonstrates Advance HE's commitment to supporting leaders to navigate the unprecedented challenges of 21st century leadership. Its publication opens a consultation for HE leaders from all levels and roles to engage and shape the ultimate version.
Advance HE has published the Framework for Leading in Higher Education today (13 February) to help higher education leaders navigate the complexities of a rapidly evolving landscape.
Developed in conjunction with the global HE sector, the Framework for Leading in Higher Education recognises the multiplicity of roles and contexts in which leaders operate. It provides a joined-up approach for individuals and organisations to recognise and develop attributes for effective leadership and to understand how these connect to the impacts the organisation aspires to achieve.
Advance HE is inviting all members and leaders across the global higher education sector to experiment with the framework to understand how it is best applied and where it makes the most impact.
Advance HE Chief Executive, Alison Johns, said,
“The Framework for Leading in Higher Education acknowledges that leadership in HE is not one-size-fits-all. It recognises diverse contexts and connects individual attributes with institutional needs and strategic objectives.
“We encourage all leaders to explore how this framework can work best in their unique contexts. Share your best practices in the accompanying survey and help us refine the framework to support both personal development and institutional impact.
“Together, we can elevate leadership in higher education, creating positive change that benefits our institutions, our people, and ultimately, the students we serve.”
How to use the Framework for Leading in Higher Education
Individual
Leaders seeking self-development might use the framework for individual reflection – considering their own strengths and areas for development, and the extent to which the people, places and practices of their organisation support or impede their progress.
Leaders who are starting in the sector might use the framework to understand leadership in the context of HE – considering the strengths and experiences they are bringing and how these can contribute to progressing the functions of the outer wheel.
Leaders readying themselves for promotion might consider the impacts that they have already had, how these connect to their individual leadership attributes and what further development they might need as their leadership responsibility increases.
Team
Team leaders and leadership developers might use the framework to consider the strengths and attributes of a group or team, how their specific context is shaping their performance and/or how they are shaping their context within the organisation. The framework could be used as a means to engage them in a future focused conversation.
Institutions
Institutions might use this framework to inform their own context specific leadership frameworks and/or their development programmes.
Organisation development and learning and development professionals might use the framework to understand the cultural and development needs of their leaders (ideally in consultation with them) to consider what structures and interventions they might need. This could be to address succession planning, or in response to change or transformation initiatives.
A collaborative journey
Establishing the Framework for Leading in Higher Education has been a collaborative journey. Fiona Lennoxsmith, Lead Consultant for Leadership, Organisational Development and Research at Advance HE, said,
“We’ve worked in partnership with colleagues globally in a steering group co-chaired by Vice-Chancellors, Professor Shân Wareing and Dr Ben Calvert, to create a sector-wide response to the challenges that leaders face.
“The framework can be used in differing HE contexts around the world but ultimately supports leaders at all levels of responsibility and experience.”
Inviting feedback
Will Foster, Senior Consultant in Leadership, OD and Research, and Professor of Leadership at Advance HE, said,
“Having created the framework we now want the sector to experiment with it, test it out and help us to shape it into something that will have lasting impact.
“Take a look at the framework and engage with Advance HE online, through social media or via upcoming seminars and workshops. We’d also like to hear from you if you are engaged in research activities in this area to share your knowledge and understanding.”
Following sector feedback, the finalised framework will launch officially in September 2025.
