Overview
The challenges facing higher education continue to grow in their scale and complexity; this emphasises the need for institutions to have confident, forward thinking and effective executive leadership with the agility and innovation to respond.
Executive leaders also need space and opportunity to think differently and build effective networks, skills and insights to sustain their roles and contribution for both their personal benefit and to be a fully contributing member of the Executive team.
Applications for TMP HE 56 are now open
Deadline for applications is Friday 1 May 2026. Programme begins 19 June 2026.
Please request an application pack using the button below to find out more about TMP and register your interest.
How is the programme delivered?
TMP HE is an open programme delivered in a cohort structure. There is a strong emphasis on ensuring that each cohort is a diverse peer group, enhancing the learning experience. The programme is split over three residential weeks with an impact day between each.
TMP HE's truly agile delivery method means that the programme content and delivery are shaped by its participants whilst ensuring the delivery of the defined curriculum. Providing timely value to the participants is achieved through continuous review and feedback.
The core content of the programme will include:
- Orientation Day - Introduction to the Programme, Participants and the Process
- Week One - Leadership, strategy and change
- Coaching
- Impact group 1
- Week Two - International Module
- Week Three - Institutional influence, political leadership and governance
- Impact group 2
- Coaching - Final session
Testimonial video: Emma Bond
In this video, Emma Bond, Pro-Vice Chancellor for Research and Knowledge Exchange, and a professor of socio technical research at the University of Suffolk, shares her experience of Advance HE’s Top Management Programme.
TMP is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. You will never get another chance to meet this many senior colleagues from across the sector, to immerse yourself into wicked challenges and problems, and to reflect on your practice and impact as a senior leader. The programme is designed to build and swerve in ways that will keep you engaged, and the facilitators and visiting speakers are hugely impressive. The facilitators, in particular, provide a level of insight and support both in group and individual settings that is second to none. I can't recommend it highly enough.”Dr Stephen Graham,
Head of Arts and Humanities,
Goldsmiths,
University of London
Core Content:
Orientation Day (Online)
Introduction to the Programme, Participants and the Process
Week One
To explore leadership, strategy and change
Coaching
Participants complete a 360 diagnostic designed specifically for higher education executive leaders; feedback and coaching connected to this is provided between Week One and Week Two
Impact Group
Participant's will come together in smaller groups for peer-to-peer learning and reflection
Week Two
To explore and compare how different higher education institutions operate and lead in their cultural and strategic context
Week Three
To explore institutional influence, political leadership and governance
Impact group
Participants will meet for a second time in their impact groups in-between Week Two and Three
Coaching
Participants complete the programme with on final coaching session with their executive coach
Who is Top Management Management Programme for Higher Education for?
Applications for TMP HE are welcome from the following:
- Executive team members in HE providers
- Those who are preparing to become Vice-Chancellors
- Individuals who are progressing to the executive team
- Those in roles with significant cross-institution responsibility at a strategic level.
Diversity is a key part of the programme's approach and so we are keen to accept applications from a range of institutions and demographics. This course is open to senior executives in higher education institutions worldwide.
In conversation with...
Top Management Programme in HE Programme Director, Louisa Hardman
We spoke to the programme directors to discuss the importance of high quality leadership in difficult times.
Opening with what they describe as TMP’s defining characteristic “that [it] has always adapted to the changing context of higher education”, Louisa discusses the main challenges for executive leadership at present, how the programme is going to be delivered in these changing times and how the lessons from the programme stay with participants throughout their careers.
Leadership challenges
Louisa points to six key challenges as the backdrop for the programme: contextual, organisational, technical, relational, personal and political.
Resilience and courage
Louisa Hardman discusses the practice of reflection, resilience and courage, and the value of working with a peer group that offers genuine feedback.
Developing senior leaders in higher education
Top Management Programme for Higher Education is designed to equip senior leaders, with the necessary skills to extend your thinking and practice, and to face the challenges of HE leadership.
- The core curriculum of the programme is based on what makes an effective executive leader in HE
- A truly agile learning experience drawn from exposure to new ideas and new ways of delivering innovation and change
- Programme participants are a 'true' peer group, currently working as part of, or about to become part of, an executive or in a role with significant cross-institution responsibility
- The programme supports innovation skill development in HE
- Learning and development is placed within a real-time context, is immersive and the participants inform the learning throughout in a responsive and co-created approach
- The international visit takes participants “outside” their immediate perspective on the sector, an opportunity to reflect on approaches
- As a cohort of influential figures, TMP HE alumni and guest contributors begin to collaborate within the “cohort community”, influencing and shaping debate in the sector.
It’s a great development opportunity and fantastic network to be a part of.”
Professor Marcia Wilson,
Dean of EDI,
Open University
Meet the delivery team
What are the programme outcomes?
Successful completion of TMP HE benefits both the participant and their institution.
The institution benefits from the building of confident leaders who are nuanced and effective, to achieve improved performance, gain the tools to shape institutional strategy, position or culture and develop a reflective/strategic approach to supporting and challenging others to lead.
Participants develop the skills and experience to bring about change through engaging people, work through collaboration and diversity and gain experience by applying their learning through a personal leadership project which benefits the sponsoring institution as it develops the individual leader.
Participants will join the TMP HE alumni (currently over 900 members) and continue to benefit from a vibrant support network, informing and steering debate in the sector, developing collective leadership.
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