Empowering Academic Leaders: 2024 Course Recap
Congratulations to all participants on the successful completion of the 2024 Online Academic Leadership Development Course!
From March to June 2024, IE’s Online Academic Leadership Development Course brought together 10 participants from 9 institutions across 7 countries, fostering reflection and growth in academic leadership. The course was facilitated by Prof. Geraldine Fitzpatrick and Prof. Austen Rainer, both senior Informatics/Computing academics with strong leadership backgrounds and experience, who apply scientific evidence-based approaches into positive leadership practices.
Participants explored essential leadership topics such as personal values and strengths, energy levels and boundaries—key elements in shaping one’s unique academic leadership identity. They also developed critical people skills such as adopting a coaching mindset, asking insightful questions and active listening, alongside practical topics like team management, effective communication, handling difficult conversations, and fostering an inclusive academic culture. These were addressed through interactive sessions, expert-led discussions, reflections and hands-on practice.
A key takeaway was the importance of collaborative leadership, with participants sharing experiences and best practices to refine their leadership skills. The course also facilitated networking among academics, encouraging lasting connections and cross-institutional collaboration.
Participant feedback demonstrated the course’s impact, emphasizing its practical value and personal relevance. As one participant shared:
“I find the course highly valuable in helping me prepare for talks and clarify my leadership vision and values.”
As Informatics Europe continues to support academic leadership development, we look forward to future editions of this course, further empowering leaders in Informatics and beyond. Join us to gain practical leadership tools, expand your network, and strengthen your impact in academia.
For more information and to enroll in the next cohort, visit the course webpage here.