On behalf of Professor George Holmes, DL, President and Vice Chancellor of the University of Bolton Group and the Caribbean & African Health Network, we would like to draw your attention to a new National Aspiring VC Development Programme commencing on the 19 to 20 September 2024.
This programme seeks to produce our first cohort of Black and Asian trained leaders ready for Vice Chancellor roles across UK Universities. It is designed to address the lack of Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic staff at the highest decision-making positions in UK higher education. The goal is to provide the foundational skills to lead using mentorship and coaching which will prepare participants for VC roles. There are currently six VCs from a BAME background in HEI universities or colleges in England out of 165 universities in the UK.
Despite the rising rates of ethnic minority students entering higher education both nationally and internationally and achieving higher-level qualifications to PhD level, this achievement is not reflected in the representation of ethnic minority individuals in professorial roles or higher.
In developing the programme, the University of Bolton has collaborated with a diverse pool of influential stakeholders across the academic and business sector.
Programme Outline:
- Entrepreneurial and strategic leadership principles
- Negotiating and navigating the academic and business landscape
- Inclusive workplace culture.
- The current EDI challenges from academic and professional lenses
- Strategies and policies in HE institutions
- HEI in the current climate commercial, quality, academic portfolio
- Financial management and regulatory compliance including different income streams and managing a diverse portfolio.
- The Big People Questions - academic and professional support service structures
- Governance arrangements within HEIs
- Networking and Influencing (political, supportive)
- Communicating for influence
- Supporting and Scaling Engagement
- Change Management within HEIs
- A live brief / senior leadership project to be delivered at own institution on any of the programme content.
There will be a central theme and focus of self, identity, preservation, and resilience throughout the programme.
The cost of the programme for the first cohort will be free. However, participants will be expected to cover their own transport and hotel costs.
Criteria for the programme:
- Black or Asian Heritage
- Senior Executive Professional
- Written support from VC or delegated Executive
- Curriculum Vitae of relevant skills and experiences
- Personal Statement
Closing date for applicants will be Monday 2 September 2024.
If you are interested or want to know more about the programme, please contact Professor Christian Harrison at [email protected]
Further information about the programme and to apply. Please access the link https://www.bolton.ac.uk/vc-programme