Current Leaders Level 1 Leadership Development Programme

Current Leaders Level 1: January - April 2025

Call Now Open & Deadline - Friday 25 October 2024

Now in its 8th year, the Current Leaders Level 1 programme has been developed by the Irish Management Institute in conjunction with UCC. CL level 1 is the more senior of the two Current Leaders Progammes.

This programme consists of 4.5 days in total - two modules (2 x 2 days), followed by a concluding morning workshop and will be delivered in UCC by IMI faculty. Participants are required to attend in person all sessions.

In addition, peer support networks will be established. Each network will meet in between modules, working on a predetermined specific university wide project. These will be presented to senior management on the concluding morning. Each participant will engage in at least one coaching discussion with a member of the UCC internal panel or an external coach. Costs incurred if an external coach is used are to be covered locally.

Target Audience

Experienced academic, research, technical & professional staff typically at Head / Unit level or about to take on that role i.e. Heads of School & Central Units.

NOTE: Colleagues who have not previously undertaken senior Leadership Development are encouraged to have undertaken Current Leaders Level 2 (formerly known as Aspiring Leaders) before Current Leaders Level 1.

Nomination process & deadline

Staff must discuss with and be supported & nominated by their Head of Unit / Line Manager. Please sumbit Current Leaders Level 1 Form by FRIDAY 25 OCTOBER 2024

Cost

A contribution of €750 per participant will be requested, paid by College or local Unit (decision made locally & relevant cost code provided) & HR will cover remaining costs.

NOTE: In pursuit of the UCC Strategic Plan 2023-2028 and the key role of all UCC leaders and managers in enabling and delivering our goals and objectives, 'all new appointees at senior lecturer level & higher and professional & technical staff at grade 7 & higher (or equivalent) are required to participate in the most relevant IMI/UCC Senior Leadership Development Programme to them'.

Cohort	Module	Duration	Date
Level 1	Module 1	2 days	6-7 January ‘25
	Module 2	2 days	9-10 April '25
	Capstone Event	.5 day (AM)	16 April '25

MODULE CONTENT & LEARNING OUTCOMES (with particular focus on the UCC Strategic Plan 2023-2028)

Module 1 - Leadership in UCC; Strategic Leadership, Stakeholders & Culture

Leadership in UCC – understand of the role of a leader within in academic context; effective leadership skills; understand what makes a good leader
Psychological safety – explore the team & organisational benefits creating psychological safety
Leader as coach – explore how to embody the coaching mindset and apply situational coaching to support ‘adopt & adapt’
Leadership at an Organisational and Strategic Level – create a shared understanding of strategic leadership in an academic context
External Game changers - understanding the stakeholder context and wider ecosystem
Organisational Culture - understanding the importance of culture and its impact on leadership in a hybrid world
Strategic Role of Leadership – lead the implementation of strategy and change within UCC in the new normal, driving performance & results through change

Module 2 - Communicating with Impact

Communications – refine and deepen communication skills to influence own teams and build relationships across UCC and other external stakeholders in the broader higher education sector
Conflict styles – understand different styles and their impact, using Killman conflict styles
Powerful Conversations - help them to understand the importance of effective conversations; handling difficult conversation constructively, having feedback conversations; using role plays and scenarios to practice
Making an impact - the power of the clarity of the communications; delivery of communications; intentional communication; asking questions
Decision-making – explore the opportunities around decision-making at a strategic level and build awareness of own approach; importance of effective and timely senior decision making and importance of subsequent communications

Concluding morning workshop - Capstone Event

Demonstration of application of programme learnings via presentations by each peer support network to senior management on specific university wide projects
Conclusion with facilitator & next steps.

NB:

-** Current Leaders Level 1 Form **

- Deadline Submission - FRIDAY 25 OCTOBER 2024

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Feedback from our most recent Current Leaders Level 1 Programme - April 2024

Found the 2 days to be great for focusing my mind on university level leadership - Higher Education is a complex organization and working with colleagues from different departments really opened my mind to how unique the challenges are at all levels from programmes teams to department to college etc.
Programme content was excellent. Jonathan was very experienced and guided the break-out sessions so they had a lot of purpose. And we had fun.
Outstanding, rare opportunity to reflect on my role and potential in UCC, and really appreciated getting to meet with familiar and new colleagues! Brilliantly moderated.

Contact: Anne Gannon, Staff Wellbeing & Development Manager / Mary Horgan, Staff Development Advisor / your HR Business Manager.

Staff Wellbeing & Development

First Floor, Block E, Food Science Building, UCC, T12 YN60