Mission
The LEAD Academic Network is an international and interdisciplinary platform of collaboration among academics and academic leaders for discussing and sharing theory, practice and research on academic leadership and university governance. The Network aims to support the advancement of academic leadership through research-based knowledge and networked learning, and to create a community with shared interests of producing and disseminating academic leadership knowledge and experiences, and linking research to academic leadership practices.
The LEAD Academic Network is established in November 2022, building on the results of two EU-funded projects, the LEAD and LEAD2 projects.
The mission of the LEAD Academic Network is to become a major networked community and a center of excellence in academic leadership research and a source of innovative best practices.
The specific aims of the LEAD Academic Network include:
- Facilitating exchanges, dialogue and cooperation among academics and academic leaders.
- Promoting research on academic leadership and university governance, sharing results and providing research-based recommendations for academic leadership development.
- Promoting and creating awareness of the importance of leadership development at various stages of the academics’ career.
- Facilitating and providing professional development training on the newest concepts and practices in academic leadership and university governance.
- Playing a leading role in various forms of innovative networked academic leadership and “university network” governance; developing training material, including MOOCs, blended training and networked learning.
Core strategies & main activities
The mission of the LEAD Academic Network will be achieved by the following strategic priorities:
- Academic networking. Strengthening partnerships among LEAD Academic Network members, including institutional and individual members.
- Profiling & identity. Addressing academic leadership at all levels, from young researchers up to high level university academic leaders.
- Research-based capacity building. Promoting research on academic leadership, university governance and connecting research with practices.
- Networked learning. Communicating, disseminating, and sharing research findings, real case experiences, and good practices in academic leadership; identifying and analyzing different university visions, road maps, governance approaches and context dependent differences as well as common challenges, interests, joint objectives and best practices.
The main activities of the LEAD Academic Network include:
Pillar 1 Research
- Conducting research on academic leadership, academic leadership development, university governance, networked universities and their ecosystems.
- Engaging in joint research among partners including comparative studies, case studies, and joint supervision of researchers.
- Engaging in joint research projects among partners and jointly seek for various funding schemes.
Pillar 2 Training and academic leadership development
- Engaging and organizing academic leadership development programs for academic leaders at various levels from senior levels to young and potential academic leaders.
- Developing tailor-made academic leadership training programs with partners; Conducting needs analyses in partner institutions and develop focused trainings on various themes to empower academic leaders on emerging challenges and opportunities.
- Implementing innovative training and capacity building through MOOCs, blended training and networked professional development.
Pillar 3 Sharing, disseminating, networking and community services
- Sharing research output, innovative ideas, and practical experiences.
- Publishing research output in international journals and other science communication channels.
- Leading and organizing thematic seminars, workshops, and conferences in collaboration with partners.
- Organizing fora and exchange activities among academics and academic leaders from diverse higher education contexts.
- Organizing networked meetings and activities to strengthen academic networks and other collaborations on academic leadership through social media and exchange forums.
- Publishing policy briefs for policymakers to support academic leadership development and guide university governance
How to join?
- Please contact eche@vub.be for the application form.