Leading together: Academic leaders and senior managers of professional services joining forces to address global societal challenges

As part of the Erasmus+ supported NEWLEAD project on innovative leadership and change management, the European University Association is partnering with HUMANE (Heads of University Management and Administration Network in Europe) for its Annual Conference. This event will explore how academic leaders and senior managers of professional services can lead their institutions to address manifold societal challenges around the globe. 

The demand for and participation in higher education have increased significantly in the last 30 years. However, public funding is under strain in many higher education systems and will most likely continue to be so in the future. Governments need to prioritise among many pressing policies, e.g. dealing with the consequences of the pandemic, growing and ageing populations, climate change and the current energy crisis.

The conference will look at external and internal challenges, and the drivers to leverage change towards new leadership and organisational models. This will be illustrated by cases of institutional journeys and the changes that some universities have made, including through the European university alliances.

The conference will further explore how universities can build extensive leadership capacity and capability to drive change. Leadership across institutions is essential to effectively steer and deliver strategic agendas that create sustainable societal impact. Addressing these challenges requires new governance models that reconcile traditional academic leadership strengths with those that foster new engagement with key stakeholders, a stronger focus on diversity and inclusion - including bringing more women into leadership, effective collaboration and greater attention to organisational culture and climate.

The latest findings from the NEWLEAD project on innovative leadership and change management, led by Ramon LLull University - alongside several partners including EUA, will offer input for an exchange between academic leaders and managers of professional services on how to steer universities to contribute to societal agendas.

Registrations are now open. The conference is open to EUA members and NEWLEAD partners, to whom the standard HUMANE Annual Conference fee applies. 

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