Leadership Foundation

Previous events

• Developing Universities in Turbulent Times: Malaysia-UK Strategic Leadership Dialogue
• Thriving in a Global Future: A Strategic Dialogue for US and UK Higher Education Leaders 

Developing Universities in Turbulent Times: Malaysia-UK Strategic Leadership Dialogue
Hosted by AKEPT (Higher Education Leadership Academy Malaysia) in partnership with the Leadership Foundation for Higher Education, UK

Overview
This two-day event provided a unique opportunity for senior leaders from UK and Malaysian higher education institutions to meet and exchange experience on how they are responding to the short-term challenges of leading and managing institutions in the context of a global economic recession as well as the longer-term development of their institutions towards ‘world-class excellence’ which is an aspiration for both countries. The event contained a mix of distinguished speakers, facilitated discussions and parallel sessions on specific themes, with a premium placed on delegate interactions and exchange of experience.

The University of Nottingham, Malaysia campus, kindly agreed to host a visit to its campus for delegates, and in addition, delegates who wished to stay on in Kuala Lumpur, had the opportunity to sign up for The Observatory on Borderless Higher Education’s Global Forum on Cross-Border Higher Education: 'Global Connections-Local Impacts', a large-scale international conference on the major issues, policies and practices facing cross-border higher education. The conference included presenters and delegates from institutions, governments and policy agencies around the world and is also jointly organised with the University of Nottingham, Malaysia campus.

Together, these three activities provided senior leaders with the chance - in a short and concentrated period of time - to gain up-to-date and topical insights and practical examples of how leaders in other countries are responding to the global challenges facing institutions. There was also the potential to develop a range of valuable networks for building future international partnerships and other collaborative ventures.

Thriving in a Global Future: A Strategic Dialogue for US and UK Higher Education Leaders
Washington DC, USA

That the world is getting smaller is no longer a noteworthy headline. But the ways in which it is getting smaller and the implications for higher education’s future over the next five to ten years are vital topics for higher education leaders. On both sides of the Atlantic, higher education institutions are facing declining public resources, increasing demands for access and quality, intensified competition locally and globally, and expanded demands from key stakeholders. Colleges and universities find themselves in increasingly market driven environments, competing for domestic and international students, resources, and prestige. This environment may well call for new ways of operating, a rearticulation of and re-commitment to key values, and the ability to communicate convincingly success and impact. This seminar considered the following fundamental questions: how does the smaller and flatter world affect US and UK colleges and universities? What are the specific challenges both today and tomorrow for campus leaders?

Colleges and universities may face three primary challenges:

First, what are the future scenarios for higher education to which higher education leaders will need to prepare? How might tomorrow’s models of teaching, research, and engagement with stakeholders be different in form and in content to today’s? Second, what strategic opportunities exist or can be created for institutions to be active, global participants and to position themselves firmly in the global future? Third, how can international collaboration help institutions fulfil their missions and help them thrive in a smaller and flatter world? What models of collaboration are valuable? How will we work with new international partners?

This invitational meeting, built on two successful events explored the global, market-driven future that is unfolding and its implications for institutions on both sides of the Atlantic. Approximately 30 chief academic officers and other senior officers from the US and their equivalents from the UK met in Washington DC to explore what a future might look like and what it would take to prepare our institutions for it. Central to the dialogue and exchange between US and UK campus leaders, was the intensive discussion of specific future-focused challenges that participants are addressing. During the meeting they received consultation from other leaders on the particular challenges and opportunities they identify for discussion. The three day leadership dialogue provided an opportunity for participants to think more broadly and creatively about challenges of the global future, offered a series of take-home ideas, and a deeper understanding of another leading higher education system. Additionally, participants had the opportunity to visit or host colleagues for a visit at the conclusion of the meeting.

For more information about partnership and network programmes please contact:

David Lock, Director of International Projects
T: +44 (0) 7900 056 707

Hannah Phung, International Projects Manager
T: +44 (0) 20 3468 4828