Academic management support

We offer a range of development options for conveners, institute directors and other senior academic managers. Available options have been provided in response to requests from this group for support and training. We are open to further suggestions, and can arrange for tailored support where necessary, and if funds permit.

Convener induction briefing

We coordinate a briefing session for new conveners, usually in July each year, including planning; finance; human resources (HR) issues; health and safety; and teaching matters. New directors of research centres may also find elements of the day helpful. For further details please contact us at tlc@lse.ac.uk.

Conveners' working lunches

We offer a series of informal working lunches to provide conveners with a space and time to meet, discuss issues of common interest and concern, and decide on matters they wish to take forward to the consultative meeting with the Director. For forthcoming dates please contact us at tlc@lse.ac.uk.

Group workshops on staff management issues

Examples of group sessions that can be arranged on request include:

• interpersonal conflict management and negotiation;
• leadership and its issues;
• managing and developing effective teams; and
• pressure management.

Conveners and directors are welcome to contact us to arrange for briefing or more formal training, tailored to their particular needs. These might take the form of one-to-one advisory sessions, or team/ departmental/ working group events involving one or more academic units. Possible topics where this might prove useful include:

• other HR matters;
• finance;
• management and organisation;
• health and safety;
• teaching and teaching quality;
• research assessment;
• the impact of various aspects of government legislation on higher education (HE) practice; and
• research methods training.

Please contact Liz Barnett (l.barnett@lse.ac.uk) in the first instance.

Confidential one-to-one support

We can arrange for one-to-one support with an external consultant for conveners and directors of research centres, to help with the challenging task that leading a department and balancing growing demands presents. The kind of service offered is very flexible and can include:

• strategic planning and management;
• planning and managing change;
• determining and balancing departmental and individual priorities;
• a review of how the department operates and ways in which you could encourage staff to contribute more effectively;
• help with difficult staff management issues;
• managing conflict within the department; and
• managing personal stress and creating an environment which will minimise stress experienced by your staff.

A number of senior academic staff have already benefited from one-to-one sessions. If you would like to arrange a session, contact Liz Barnett (l.barnett@lse.ac.uk) in the first instance.

External training

There are now a number of external 'senior management development' initiatives in the HE sector. Any convener or director interested in finding out more about these is welcome to contact Liz Barnett (l.barnett@lse.ac.uk)  who will provide further details, make arrangements and sort out funding as necessary.

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