Subject Network Leadership
Business and Leisure
Dr Rob MacphersonNorth Highland College UHI
20th April 2010
“the aim of subject networks is to improve collaboration and enhance the student experience”
At inception:
UHI
Faculty of Business, Leisure
& Management
Faculty of
Health
Faculty of
Science & Technology
Faculty of
Arts & Humanities
Computing and IT SN
Argyll
North Highland
LochaberLews CastleInverness
ShetlandPerthOrkney
Management School
Business & Leisure SN
The network
How to engage effectively with the
subject network
Through: communication
strategic and operational planning
organisation
management
leadership
team building and staff development
motivation
COMMUNICATION
engaged
open
responsive
respectful
courteous
trusted
internal first
timely
accurate
honest
consistent
positive
NETWORK STRATEGY
planned
participative
purposeful
prioritised pragmatic (when it needs to be)
ORGANISATION
experienced
administratively competent
known to new network staff
good relationship with Dean
visible
approachable
MANAGEMENT
forecasting the future
planning for that future
organising activity/opportunities
directing activity
co-ordinating staff teams
monitoring and “controlling”
LEADERSHIP
recognising UHI’s future path
planning for change, growth and risk
organising responses to challenges
directing innovative approaches
co-ordinating network effectively
monitoring and controlling quality
TEAMWORK
responsive to needs instruction/training
mentoring/buddying
group “brown bags” (e.g. HEA)
non-threatening
flexible and adaptable recognise the need for cultural shift to develop comfort with UHI’s context
STAFF DEVELOPMENT
scholarship at the heart
student experience will benefit
teaching and learning pedagogy
sharing existing good practice
comfort with blended learning
qualifications upgrading
research valued and encouraged
MOTIVATION
interesting work
involvement/responsibility
recognition of effort
pride in achievement
professional development
personal development
How to progress the Faculty Plan
1. DEFINE GOALS
For the network, these should be:
clear
apparent
relevant
achievable
challenging
fulfilling
Achieve this by:
regular, effective communication
inclusion of all network members subject network meetings (not committees)
(micro-)network development days
working groups
engagement with LEARN & others
2. PLAN TARGETS
For the network, these will relate to: curriculum flexibility (not called consolidation)
sustainability
student access and progression
local/regional/national relevance
short-/medium-/long-term awareness
distinctiveness
Achieve this by:
curriculum knowledge
partner knowledge
financial awareness
student consciousness
political antennae
originality and innovation
3. KEY PEOPLE
Engage with key internals/externals:
early adopters are powerful allies
collaboration = clarity of purpose
can persuade fence-sitters
can help combat “foes”
vital in communication chain
Achieve this by:
listening
regular, effective communication
academic & industry collaborations
value of scholarship/research
engaged with external environment
promotion and marketing
4. MONITOR, ENHANCE & REPEAT/CHANGEFor the network, these will relate to:
never forgetting the student
quality assurance
quality enhancement
risks can be worth taking
cost/price must not be the sole factor
not afraid to say “we were wrong”
Achieve this by:
annual monitoring process
regular quality testing
sharing best practice
managing risk
building staff confidence
promoting reflection and flexibility
BENEFITS
With a clear network operational plan, strongly linked to the faculty and UHI strategic plans (and aware of the needs of different academic partners and communities) it would be hoped that the following would benefit:
students
staff
academic partners
businesses
Highlands & Islands communities
My contribution
PERSONALITY competent
energetic
decisive
reliable
persistent
flexible
knowledgeable
BACKGROUND research active – tourism, business viability
teaching active (SCQF 6-12)
“hard” networker inter-faculty
PGT mentor
Research/Dissertation supervisor
Cross-faculty experience
Future teaching? – SQCF 9-12 – Management & Leadership
PERSONAL GOALS Provide a clear focus on key issues and concerns on the right things Get the whole network involved through effective communication Act consistently over time, to embed trust Demonstrate - through actions - care, respect and awareness of issues Create empowering opportunities that can involve all network members
Thank You