Part of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic is that residential and face-to-face leadership development programmes are currently on hold, but as leaders throughout the sector will be aware, reflective development for leadership practitioners is more important than ever as the sector navigates these challenging times.
The Spotlight Series has been designed to be three short, half-day, impactful online workshops, as stimulus for development and collective engagement. Each online workshop will focus on one of three topical core challenge areas: strategic, complex change and digital.
Ready to book?
You can book on any one of the Spotlight Sessions or attend all three online workshops for a discounted price
Who are the Spotlight Sessions for?
The Spotlight Sessions have been designed to support new, aspiring and established senior institutional leaders (both professional and academic). Institutional roles might include experienced and established heads of department, school, or academic subject centre, faculty deans, newly appointed deans or those aspiring to the role, and directors and experienced assistant directors of professional services.
Delivery and Outcomes
These varied and engaging sessions will provide timely content for those leading their institutions through these challenging times, through a mixture of presentations and working in small groups. Participants will benefit from diverse opinions and networking, alongside practical and applicable tools and frameworks to take back into their role.
The three Spotlight Sessions
A Spotlight on Strategy
9:00, 28 January 2021
Doug Parkin
Mastering the Pivot - being strategic
Doug Parkin
Mastering the Pivot - being strategic
A Spotlight on Change
9:00, 4 March 2021
Doug Parkin
The Truth About Change – the paradox of uncertainty and confidence
Doug Parkin
The Truth About Change – the paradox of uncertainty and confidence
A Spotlight on Digital
9:00, 30 March 2021
Doug Parkin, with input from James Clay and Lawrie Phipps, JISC
Leading in a Digital World
Doug Parkin, with input from James Clay and Lawrie Phipps, JISC
Leading in a Digital World
A Spotlight on Strategy: Mastering the Pivot - being strategic
9:00, 28 January 2021
Doug Parkin
In the pandemic landscape of 2020-21, we are experiencing an inversion of strategy, that challenge of trying to shape the future, as the short-term suddenly feels much more uncertain than the longer view. Rather than strategic planning, the art of being strategic is what matters now: acting with agility, dealing with fragility, and discovering new ability. And linked to a clear and unwavering sense of purpose, steadfastly doing the right things for the right reasons. Moving forward, rapid and creative scenario planning, working collectively and inclusively with a wide range of colleagues and stakeholders, is going to be one of the key skills for successful strategic leaders.
A Spotlight on Change: The Truth About Change - the paradox of uncertainty and confidence
9:00, 4 March 2021
Doug Parkin
The difficult, dangerous and tragic circumstances of a pandemic really mean that resisting change is no longer an option (if ever it was). And everything we know about change, from organisational behaviour through to psychology and neuroscience, is right there in front of us. And as regards complex adaptive change, the paradox of moving through uncertainty with confidence remains the key challenge of strategic leadership.
A Spotlight on Digital: Leading in a Digital World
9:00, 30 March 2021
Doug Parkin, with input from James Clay, JISC
Institutional strategies and the delivery of research and teaching are underpinned by digital, never more so than during the Covid-19 emergency. This workshop will engage leaders in understanding the ramifications for leading in this increasingly digital world, reflecting on some of the lessons learned during 2020, and looking forward through a digital lens at what might be possible and what might be needed in higher education over the next five years.
Want to book on all three sessions?
While each Spotlight Session will have its own clear focus, there is also the opportunity to embark on a journey with us across the series overall.
Those wishing to attend all three online workshops in the Spotlight Series can do so at a discounted price.
Those wishing to attend all three online workshops in the Spotlight Series can do so at a discounted price.
Facilitators
Lead Facilitator: Doug Parkin
Principal Adviser for Leadership and Management, Advance HE
With a focus mainly on leadership, Doug is responsible for a range of Advance HE's national open programmes as well as undertaking bespoke consultancy assignments for universities both in the UK and around the world. Key interests include educational and research leadership, the leadership of professional services, strategy development, leading change, and leading with emotional intelligence. An accomplished teacher, facilitator, coach and conference speaker, Doug has achievements across a wide range of leadership, educational and organisational development projects.
Turning the spotlight on strategy, change and digital in higher education
In his blog, Doug explains how our new Spotlight Series will turn the spotlight on each theme in the series
Lawrie Phipps
Senior Research Lead, Jisc
Lawrie Phipps is the Senior Research Lead at Jisc, his current portfolio includes research into institutional digital practices, digital leadership and a range of emerging issues impacting on digital experiences in education and digital transformation. He is a qualified executive coach and has worked with a range of individuals and teams to support change initiatives in universities over more than 20 years. Lawrie is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and former co-chair of SEDA.
James Clay
Head of higher education and student experience, Jisc
As Jisc’s head of higher education and student experience, James coordinates Jisc’s overall strategy for HE learning, teaching and student experience and has lead responsibility for promoting the total programme and value and impact of all HE learning, teaching and student experience products and services delivered by Jisc. James leads the ongoing review of Jisc’s HE learning and teaching strategy, positioning this work within the organisation’s overall strategy he ensures that Jisc’s portfolio of activity in this area remains in line with Jisc’s HE learning and teaching priorities and works closely with colleagues to develop Jisc’s understanding of the value and impact of all of its HE learning, teaching and student experience activities.
