Each week, participants receive comprehensive notes and readings, including reflective activities that are debriefed in the classes. Course participants use the action learning cycle to:

• reflect on your skills - your strengths and areas for further development
• formulate and implement skills development plans during the semester.

A full listing of course topics is available at:

http://cedam.anu.edu.au/career-development/academic-leadership-management

The course provides participants with an opportunity to explore a number of models of leadership and a variety of leadership styles. Central themes in the course are the importance of a manager/leader having:

• the flexibility and agility to operate with a variety of models & styles, and the situational judgement to use the best model/style for the situation
• a broad repertoire to management/leadership skills and styles.

The course has a strong practical focus and provides many opportunities for you to extend your repertoire of skills. Particular attention is given to the self-management skills that underpin effectiveness in leading & managing others.

The course is designed to provide you with opportunities to develop:

• an enhanced understanding of the challenges of academic culture and context for leadership & management
• an understanding of a range of models and theories of leadership & management and their application to the academic context
• a more clearly articulated approach to academic leadership and management
• a lively appreciation of your strengths in leadership & management
• a broader repertoire of skills and techniques
• a set of goals and plans for your leadership & management development  and a robust process for sustaining your skills development.

Assessment will be based on a leadership portfolio, comprising:

• completed exercises from each week's course notes, relating course concepts to experience and practice
• reflections on each week's readings and class discussions

• a review of the course participant’s approach to skills development
• an interview-based analysis of the leadership & management practice of an academic leader/manager;
• action learning reviews analysing and assessing critical incidents in course participants’ current or past practice
• an evaluation of current leadership & management competencies, and a plan for the further skills development
• other material which, in the view of course participants, documents the way in which they have been expanding their understanding of academic leadership & management, and critiquing and enriching their approach.

Assessment will be determined as satisfactory/unsatisfactory. The portfolio can be resubmitted, if necessary.

Course delivery

Eleven classes on Tuesdays, during the teaching periods in Semester 1, starting on 1 March

• Eight classes of 1.5 hours (12.30 to 2 pm)
• Three workshops of 2.5 hours (from 12.30 to 3pm)

An average of 4 hours per week reading the notes/reading(s) provided each week and completing the reflective activities in the notes. 

An average of 4 hours per week in preparing assessments and the portfolio, and in further reading outside the notes/readings provided each week. 

Paul Ramsden (1998), Learning to Lead in Higher Education, London and New York: Routledge.

Staff Development Scholarship Scheme

The Vice Chancellor is encouraging eligible staff to undertake the Graduate Certificate in Higher Education or the Master of Higher Education, by making this course (and the total program) available to eligible applicants through the Staff Development Scholarship Scheme (i.e. HECS-HELP/tuition fees are waived) http://www.anu.edu.au/sas/admission/sds/index.php