This paper explores the professional practice of the Action Learning (AL) facilitator through a process of critical inquiry, self-reflection and evaluation of action learning practice within a Higher Education Leadership Programme, commissioned by an English NHS Mental Health Trust. Action research was adopted as the overarching research approach…

Academic excellence is brought about by effective leadership, which may encompass the concept of distributed leadership, which signifies a collective engagement. However, leadership positions within higher education are frequently filled with scholars lacking leadership skills and experience, which can be detrimental both to their performance and…

This study considers the impact of Outward Bound UK's first Women's Outdoor Leadership Course, as a strategy for addressing the gender imbalance in leadership within the organisation and wider outdoor sector. A qualitative approach was taken in order to examine changes experienced by the women on the course, what contributed to such changes and…

This narrative inquiry explores three Chinese university leaders' intercultural competence as a key dimension of their leadership that overseas leadership development programmes enabled them to develop. The leaders visited three different countries -- namely, the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada -- storied their experiences in the…

Instructional leadership is widely recognized as important for school improvement and a significant tool for creating an effective teaching and learning environment. The British Council is committed to promoting and developing instructional leadership and is offering programmes to develop it in several African countries, including Tanzania. These…

Purpose: Despite increasing interest and scholarship on authentic leadership, definitions of the construct remain contested. In addition, limited research exists on its enactment in practice and its sustainability in a global context. The purpose of this study was to explore the practice of authentic leadership and understand more about how it is…

During the last eight years, over 8000 academic faculty and professional services women working in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland have participated in a women-only leadership in higher education programme called Aurora. The organization that designed and delivers the programme (Advance HE) sees it as an important force for change…

Action learning is one of the most effective leadership development interventions [Day, Fleenor, Atwater, Sturm, and McKee. 2014. "Advances in Leader and Leadership Development: A Review of 25 Years of Research and Theory." The Leadership Quarterly 25 (1): 63-82; Pauleen. 2003. "Leadership in a Global Virtual Team: An Action…

This article draws on literature related to university leadership and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer plus (LGBTQ+) identities to argue for LGBTQ+ specific leadership programmes in higher education. The article considers how the skills and attributes for university leadership have changed in response to marketisation and widening…

This paper aims to stimulate debate and prompt further research regarding the training, development and Higher Education (HE) of aspiring adventure professionals (AP's). The design of the paper draws on 10 years of observations and trends within the HE outdoor degree teaching sector, in tandem with the authors' own extensive professional outdoor…

There is growing global recognition of the contribution that leadership development can make to improving quality and outcomes in the Early Years (EY) education sector. UK governments are responding to such evidence through the creation of new national qualifications for EY professionals across the sector and the expansion of publicly funded…

This study explores the experiences of leaders who have led organisations and teams through an extended period of crisis management whilst completing a UK work-based master's programme. This paper examines contemporary approaches to work-based learning and explores the effect of organisational and workforce demands in a volatile era of global…

The climate and ecological emergency is not new. For decades, universities have been at the forefront of efforts to combat climate change and embed sustainability in all areas of life across the UK. But the need for change is now more urgent than ever, and universities are playing their part. Universities are vital in tackling climate change. They…

This article applies Walker's Global Leadership Development Ecosystem to the leadership development offered to and/or valued by (full) professors at UK universities. It draws on 1,282 survey responses and 42 one-hour interviews. The survey data indicate that approximately 39% of respondents felt adequately prepared for the role, on appointment,…

The quality of provision in the further education sector in the United Kingdom has long been contested. An ongoing issue in further education colleges has been the focus upon minimum competence in qualifications. Yet, there are examples of high standards in teaching and learning. Drawing on interview data with 24 WorldSkills Training Managers…