Programme Leader Development Programme
Programme leaders are responsible for the overall coherence, delivery, evaluation and enhancement of academic programmes. Their role is key in that they can make a significant and positive contribution to the performance of a programme and the student experience. Effective, dynamic and forward-thinking leadership at a programme level is recognised as being essential to the delivery of an excellent, personalised student experience and is a key feature of the provision of high-quality learning opportunities.
Given the operational significance and strategic value of the programme leader, the University of Hertfordshire has committed to providing new programme leaders with a portfolio of development that will enable them to carry-out their roles effectively. The programme will enable new programme leaders to learn about the multi-faceted role requirements and to develop the crucial knowledge and skills that characterise effective programme leadership. It is hoped that it will also help newly appointed programme leaders to adjust or acclimatize to their new leadership role and working environment and make the transition as smooth as possible. It is anticipated that the development programme will also equip aspiring programme leaders with the knowledge, skills and values to confidently lead a programme and ensure an excellent educational experience that meets the diverse needs of students is provided.
This blended learning programme of development will comprise a range of interactive workshops to be attended normally within the first year of appointment. There will be opportunity at scheduled drop-in ‘surgeries’ to request some bespoke workshops or raise individual queries. The facilitators will attempt to accommodate specific requests made by the group at a mutually convenient time. Many workshops will be face to face but some will run online. The intention is not to offer hybrid sessions as critical to the success of the programme is the opportunity to connect with and network with other programme leaders from across the University. However, if the cohort comprises programme leaders from Partner Organisations, particularly international partners, every effort will be made to offer, where appropriate, bespoke sessions for those staff. Workshops are supplemented by access to an online Programme Leaders Toolkit on Canvas (Herts login required). This online platform will allow for flexible access and self-paced learning and will serve as a useful reference point for the new and experienced programme leader. Programme Leaders are advised strongly to spend time navigating around the toolkit.
A period of mentorship as part of the programme will normally be offered for a minimum of one academic year to support academic leadership development and promote the sharing of knowledge and expertise. The mentorship programme is optional but highly recommended. If accessed it would comprise a maximum of three one-hour mentorship sessions ideally at the end of Semester A, B and C, the first of which we recommend should be a face to face meeting but current circumstances may not allow this. These sessions can be offered on an individual or group basis.
The plan is to develop a community of mentors specifically for programme leaders to access. Programme Leaders will on completion of this development programme be encouraged to consider being a mentor for a newly appointed programme leader in the future.
Optional, but highly recommended, observation opportunities are available and need to be arranged by programme leaders themselves. The Directory lists a range of University and School level Committees, Working Groups or Activities that programme leaders might consider observing, and/or engaging with, during the Development Programme over the next academic year and beyond. The recommended learning opportunities will enable you to gain insight into the University and School business that impacts on the role of the programme leader. Exposure to the opportunities will allow programme leaders to develop an overarching perspective and clearer vision of the factors that affect programme leadership.
Completion of this development programme will enable and encourage programme leaders to recognise and value their expertise. It is anticipated that through support during the programme, and critical reflection within their role, programme leaders will be able to make an application via our Continuous Professional Development (CPD) Framework for an Advance HE Fellowship.
The content of the programme leader development programme is intricately designed to align with the Professional Standards Framework (PSF) (Advance HE, 2023) and to reflect and support the dimensions of the framework. The design and delivery of the programme leader development programme are underpinned by a deliberate alignment with the PSF ensuring that all aspects of the programme reflect recognised dimensions of effective academic and programme leader practice. More specifically the programme has been purposefully designed to align with the Senior Fellow descriptors (D3) within the framework . This alignment supports the Herts priority to develop teaching excellence amongst its staff supporting them to gain nationally recognised fellowship status through Advance HE. The Education and Student Success Strand of the University 2025-2030 Strategy has as one of its key performance indicators (2.2) to ‘Increase staff engagement in professional development to enhance their practice and this includes an aim for 85% of academic staff having Advance HE Fellow status (or a category above). Providing programme leaders with PSF aligned knowledge, skills and values has the potential to support participants in their pursuit of professional recognition as a Senior Fellow. The development programme will provide a strong foundation for programme leaders to be able to articulate their leadership journey and contributions to the academic community aligning with the PSF’s expectations for Senior Fellows. The Table below outlines the overall programme content illustrating how it is aligned to each of the PSF dimensions:
Programme Leader Development Programme Workshops - Alignment with Professional Skills Framework Dimensions
| Programme Workshops | Aligned PSF Dimensions * |
|---|---|
The UH Strategy and the Education and Student Success | K2, K5, A4, V1-5 |
| Using Data to Evaluate and Enhance Programme Provision | K3, K5, A5, V4 |
| Programme design, validation, minor and significant change, major review and revalidation | A1-5, K2-6, V1-5 |
| Developing a culture of partnership with students | V1, V5, A4 |
| Effective and inclusive curriculum design | V1, V2, K1, K2, A1 |
| Assessment Regulations and Board Preparation and Proceedings | A3, K2, K5, V1, V5 |
| Chairing Skills | A5, V5 |
| Leadership skills (self-awareness, team dynamics, motivation, influencing, coaching, emotional intelligence) | A5, V5, K3 |
| Promoting student and staff wellbeing | V1, V2, A4 |
| Fundamentals of Financial and Budget Management | V4, K5, K2 |
| Challenging conversations and mediation | V1, V5, A4 |
| The Continuous Enhancement Planning Process – quality monitoring | A1-5, K1,2,5, 6, V1-5 |
* The codes used relate to the three related dimensions of the PSF and their respective dimensional statements. A 1-5 relates to the different Areas of Activity, K1-5 relates to the different forms of Core Knowledge and V1-5 relates to the Professional Values that underpin professional Practice.
Alongside this development programme the Centre for Education and Student Success supports staff gaining professional recognition through their CPD Framework, the information about which can be found on the Herts Advance HE Fellowship Canvas site. Workshops to support the application process are published here.
We would also encourage programme leaders to consider longer term promotional plans such as Associate Professorship as three of the eleven criteria align very well with the roles and responsibilities of programme leaders including leadership in relation to learning and teaching; curriculum development; and academic leadership.
