Background Our India/UK Leadership Development Network Programme formed working partnerships between higher education leaders in the UK and India. The programme facilitated the exchange of senior staff between partner institutions to develop close and lasting ties in teaching and research. These partnerships were designed to develop and disseminate good practice in higher education management and leadership, in Indian and UK HEIs.
Programme UK universities were matched with broadly equivalent Indian universities. All participants attended joint workshops in India and the UK to gain an insight into the two systems of higher education and their respective leadership challenges, and to learn more about the participating institutions.
Following the workshops, participants spent time with their partner university to gain further practical understanding and insight into each university’s management structures and processes.
Outcomes A number of partnerships were formed as a result of the programme. For example, the University of Essex has established a reciprocal partnership with Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi. The two institutions have built sustainable international partnerships in the areas of life science, linguistics, film and theatre studies, world literature, science policy, philosophy, human rights, and most recently in computer science. Activities have included external funding applications, workshops and conferences both in India and the UK, joint publications, and both faculty and student mobility. The two universities are now working together to extend the relationship to establish a multilateral network.
If you would like to be kept informed about future India/UK programmes please email your details to enquiries@advance-he.ac.uk