Available to Advance HE Members only
Academic leadership today is more demanding than ever. Heads of department and programme leaders are navigating financial constraints, managing change initiatives, and leading teams under increasing pressure.
The Academic Leaders Survival Series tackles these real challenges head-on with interactive 90-minute sessions led by experts who understand academic leadership. Covering essential topics like financial management, change leadership, decision-making, and building partnerships, providing practical tools you can apply. Plus, you'll connect with peers facing similar challenges for continued support. It's practical leadership development designed specifically for the realities of academic leadership today.
Are you interested in joining?
Bookings for the six sessions are now open. These sessions are for Advance HE members, don't miss out!
Why participate?
- Focused and practical - 90-minute interactive sessions that respect your time and deliver immediate value. No lengthy programmes or theoretical discussions - just practical tools you can apply right away.
- Expert-led - Learn from experts who truly understand the realities of academic leadership. Our facilitators have walked in your shoes and know the unique challenges you face.
- Peer connection - Connect with other heads of department and programme leaders facing similar challenges.
Who should participate?
We welcome all staff with leadership and/or administrative responsibilities in academic departments, faculties and schools. This includes:
- Heads of School/Department
- Programme Leaders
- Educational Developers
- Principal and Senior Lecturers
- Professors and Chairs
- Departmental Managers
- Technical Managers
What you’ll gain
- Tools and guidance for application
- Confidence to lead through financial constraints and uncertainty
- Strategies for navigating difficult conversations and decisions
- Methods for building distributed leadership in your team
- Approaches to enhance team wellbeing during change
- Future-proofed leadership skills for evolving challenges
- Connecting to peers for ongoing support
Sessions
Finance 101
Date: 24 February 2026
Time: 8:00 AM – 9:30 AM (GMT)
Session led by: Professor Elizabeth Gammie
Navigating complexity and uncertainty
Date: 25 March 2026
Time: 8:00 AM – 9:30 AM (GMT)
Session led by: Professor Will Foster
Enabling prioritisation and alignment
Date: 20 May 2026
Time: 8:30 AM – 10:00 AM (BST)
Session led by: Dr Amal Alrayes SFHEA
Partnerships and collaboration
Date: 15 July 2026
Time: 8:30 AM – 10:00 AM (BST)
Session led by: Professor Ahmed Elseragy
The Academic Leaders Survival Series helps you to face into the challenges of leading departments, programmes and schools. We offer valuable insights, peer connection and some practical tools to empower you to lead confidently, drive meaningful change and create sustainable team cultures - all delivered in focused 90-minute sessions that fit into your demanding schedule.
Created especially for academic leaders, to develop confidence, clarity and impact, built around the key issues and delivered by those in, and of the sector.Fiona Lennoxsmith – Head of Leadership, Governance and Management – Advance HE
Session Leaders
Professor Will Foster
Senior Consultant, Leadership, Organisational Development and Research
,
Advance HE
Dr Amal Mohamed Alrayes SFHEA
Director – Unit for Teaching Excellence and Leadership
,
University of Bahrain
Professor Ahmed Elseragy
Dean of the Faculty of Art and Design and Associate Pro Vice-Chancellor for Education Quality and Employability
,
British University in Egypt
Your form submission could not be saved. Please try again.
Your form submission has been successful.