Ambitious international programme will equip leaders for rapidly evolving higher education landscape
His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi and Professor Lisa Roberts
A new ambitious international programme will give university leaders the knowledge and skills needed in a rapidly evolving higher education landscape.
The Leadership Compass: Charting the Future of Excellence in Higher Education has been designed exclusively for the Sharjah Council for Higher Education and Scientific Research by the University of Exeter.
It allows leaders of both organisations to learn from each other and embed courageous leadership and responsible and effective governance in their institutions.
The programme will also help to promote responsible stewardship of resources, encourage transparent decision-making, and help leaders align operations with institutional mission and values. The programme builds on University of Exeter Business School expertise in building leadership capacity and the senior leadership experiences of the University.
The programmeincludes field visits to witness first-hand some of the University of Exeter’s most impactful work, including a two-week immersive experience held across University of Exeter campuses in Exeter and Cornwall.
Each of the seven units on the programme is led by a member of the University of Exeter’s senior leadership team. Researchers from across the University of Exeter will contribute to the course, ensuring the curriculum is grounded in real-world practice and informed by the highest standards of academic and institutional excellence. They will lead workshops on topics including education strategy and student success, curriculum transformation, AI and educational innovation, courageous leadership for university success and building leadership capacity.
After the immersive experience attendees will then apply what they have learned to their own contexts, and their progress will be tracked through a virtual Strategic Leadership Residency over the coming year.
Professor Lisa Roberts, University of Exeter President and Vice Chancellor said: “We are delighted to welcome our colleagues from Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, to the University of Exeter to this new programme. We are very proud to support the development of high-quality higher education around the world and share experiences.
“The programme will help foster visionary leadership, responsible governance, and institutional resilience across the Emirate of Sharjah’s visionary higher education sector.”
Professor Rajani Naidoo, University of Exeter Vice-President and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (People and Culture), said: “This innovative programme will support both our organisations to foster a culture of inclusion and excellence, and the development of academic environments that prioritise staff wellbeing, student success, and scholarly integrity. We are looking forward to seeing the impact on Sharjah’s vibrant higher education sector.”
