Book launch: Leadership transitions in universities

Transitions at the top in universities are a predictable part of institutional life and, usually, a sign of a healthy system. Senior managers get promoted, heads of universities retire, take up new leadership positions in different institutions or countries, or move on to other types of work inside and outside higher education. Less frequently, though often more publicly, university leaders have to step down either temporarily or permanently for personal reasons or professional failings.

The spotlight on these transitions at the top is typically focused on individuals. However, there are a range of other transitions that can happen simultaneously or sequentially – a change in leadership of the governing body, changes in membership of the university’s senior leadership team or wider political changes at local or national level. Any of these can have implications for the institution, its staff, students and business.

One transition at the top is often part of a wider “web of transitions” that people are faced with and need to get through. Both the more prominent (and more hidden) transitions create turbulence for institutions and their communities. If the transitions and their potential consequences are noted and attended to, associated risks can be more readily identified, assessed and managed.

Join the authors and guests to help launch a new book to shine a light on a hugely important but previously under-explored area: Leadership transitions in universities: arriving, surviving and thriving at the top by  Dr Tom Kennie and Professor Robin Middlehurst.

Agenda 

16.00 Welcome and Overview

16.10 Leadership transitions and their importance – Professor Peter Mathieson, Principal, University of Edinburgh and Professor Mary Stuart, Vice Chancellor, University of Lincoln

16.25 Overview of the book: The Why, The What and our core propositions – Dr Tom Kennie, co-author 

16.50 Leadership transitions: the personal experience and stories – Professor Robin Middlehurst, co-author

17.10 Leadership transitions: a US perspective – Dr Peter Eckel, University of Pennsylvania

17.40 Event close