Governance | Leadership | Research
A weekly brief for higher education leaders and researchers examining governance, leadership and research in practice
Weekly newsletter | Published on LinkedIn
What happens when the people holding your university together leave?
A university can have comprehensive policies, documented procedures and a clear organisational structure, yet remain dependent on a handful of individuals. Understanding where its knowledge and relationships reside is an essential part of preparing for their departure. ...
When does a university become more a business than university?
Universities need to be financially sustainable, but what happens when financial performance becomes the primary measure of institutional success? Are governing boards giving sufficient attention to academic quality, or are they encouraging university leaders to prioritise revenue, recruitment and operating margins? This edition considers who ...
Everybody is busy, but are we actually making progress?
Universities are very good at measuring activity. But publications, meetings, partnerships, applications and initiatives only tell us what people are doing. They do not necessarily tell us whether the institution is making progress. ...
Universities need future leaders. How are they being developed?
Universities regularly talk about succession planning and leadership development. But future leaders do not simply appear when a senior vacancy arises. They need to be identified, given meaningful responsibility, mentored, challenged and supported over time. Are universities doing enough to develop the people who will ...
Does your university need to be good at everything?
Universities are expected to excel in teaching, research, rankings, internationalisation, industry engagement, digital education and much more. But with limited resources, can every university realistically be excellent at everything? ...
How much of your university runs on goodwill?
Universities depend on people doing far more than their formal responsibilities require. Much of this goodwill benefits both individuals and their institutions, but what happens when voluntary contributions become an assumed part of the operating model? Are universities becoming too dependent on something they neither ...