The Academic Leadership Programme
What is it? The Academic Leadership Programme is a series of contact sessions and online workshops that develop new and existing academic leaders at the University of the Free State (UFS). Discussions and sessions consider the international and South African higher education environments and align with the UFS strategic priorities.
Why is it important? Academics and academic leaders need to develop leadership skills suited to the academic environment, while having the opportunity to discuss challenges and how to support their faculties in an ever-evolving educational landscape.
How is it implemented? We first explore faculty needs, then create a nuanced programme for a cohort of faculty leaders. This one-year programme kicks off with a retreat that explores the role and responsibilities of an academic leader at the UFS. Workshops and contact sessions follow the retreat, focusing on leadership priorities such as financial management and time management. The programme is based on the McKinsey 7-S model, which integrates seven elements of an organisation.