Abstract

This project evaluates a pilot personal and professional development scheme for academic programme leaders at the University of Lincoln, sharing learning and providing resources and guidance for other HEIs seeking to change the ways in which they approach the provision of support and training for this staff group.

At a time when HEI’s find themselves in a shifting economic and regulatory landscape, a focus on core values such as teaching excellence, student engagement, satisfaction and outcomes creates myriad opportunities for an HEI to successfully adapt and respond to the needs of their students and the wider community. This project recognises the strategic importance of academic programme leaders as a staff group ideally positioned to drive positive change in these key areas.

This case study will share the lessons learned from our year-long pilot, addressing the following research questions:
What are the benefits and challenges to and for individual programme leaders, their academic colleagues and supporting professional services departments of a bespoke, targeted development programme to support and develop academic programme leaders to meet the needs of their students and the HE institution?
How does the approach compare with a conventional non-directive, self-selecting personal and professional development programme for this staff group?

Sharing the learning from this project will enable us to help other institutions to consider their own organisational development priorities and assist informed decision making to bring maximum value from similar investments in staff development.