The Association of Heads of University Administration (AHUA) has been running a development programme for a number of years targeted at new heads of service to help develop their leadership skills. The next iteration of the Professional Service Directors’ Programme, which has been informed by collaboration between AHUA, SCONUL and a number of other professional associations will start in 2025, with dates yet to be announced.

The programme is aimed at Directors and Heads of Professional Services in HE – for example Directors of Libraries, Finance, Estates, HR, Student Services, Research, etc. with one to three years’ experience in the role.

The programme provides participants with the opportunity to reflect on their current leadership skills, to develop their ability to influence more effectively at senior level and thereby to have greater impact across the institution.

It focuses on:

• organisational culture in HE and its impact on individual and team effectiveness

• what makes a high performing team, and how to maximise individual and team strengths

• how best to navigate the sometimes tricky interface between the professional and academic communities

• how to lead and deliver cross organisational transformation effectively.

In addition to input from facilitators and speakers, participants are provided with 1-1 coaching and membership of an action learning set in which to explore current business issues with a new network of peers from across the sector.

Further information about the programme, including the online application form, is available here.