Purpose and expected benefits
The Tomorrow’s Leaders development programme aims to improve the university’s approach to succession management by early identification of a selected pool of people with high leadership potential, and development of their leadership and management skills and abilities to take on a range of senior academic and professional roles.
How does it work? Selection and assessment methods
To ensure fairness, equality and transparency, a two-stage selection process involves prioritised nomination of candidates by faculty and service panels and final selection by a high-level university steering group. Nominations from under-represented groups are actively encouraged.
How does it work? Development methods
The 11-month programme uses a blended approach of formal and informal learning to suit a variety of learning styles. Over that period participants develop mutual trust, increase their self-awareness and formulate a personal leadership development plan. This is achieved through online 360-degree feedback and a report against the university’s Leadership and Management Standard, personality profiling, coaching, online learning resources, self-assessment inventories, regular facilitated action learning sets, mentoring, and seven workshops. The workshops are facilitated by experts from within and outside the university and are relevant to any future academic and professional leadership role. The programme relies heavily on in-house resources and senior university leaders are involved throughout to underline its importance, promote communication and foster real links between learning and application. The aim is to help participants to develop leadership and management skills and abilities, beyond their technical area of expertise, which can be applied in a range of current and future leadership roles. Such roles include, for example, member of school management team, head of school, faculty pro-dean, research institute leader, or professional service head or deputy head.