Professional Skills courses
Our in person workshops use blended learning to make the most of your time, focusing the interactive sessions on knowledge sharing and practice, and ensuring you have plenty of opportunities to embed learning on the job.
You will need to complete all accompanying work to come to the session prepared and ready to engage with your colleagues.
Aspiring Managers' Programme
The Aspiring Managers Programme is aimed at Professional Services staff who are considering a move into management and want to build their understanding of what a management role involves within the University. The programme develops participants' awareness of managerial responsibilities, organisational policies, career pathways and personal development planning. Learning outcomes include reflecting on performance, creating a personal development plan, accessing development resources, and completing a workplace-based project that enables delegates to apply and evidence their learning in a practical setting.
The programme adopts a blended learning approach, combining e-learning modules, self-directed study, practical workplace activities and three face-to-face workshops. Participants are supported through stretch assignments, regular feedback from line managers and mentoring from a manager outside their direct reporting line. Places are limited and managers nominate staff based on business priorities. There are 15 programme places available.
Aurora programme
The annual Aurora programme aims to enable more women to develop leadership skills for their careers. You will need to meet the criteria and apply via the selection process.
Catalyst Programme
Catalyst is a collaborative group coaching programme for emerging academic leaders. The programme is designed for colleagues who are already demonstrating leadership within their Department, or who are preparing to step into their first formal leadership role, and are motivated to develop their leadership practice while navigating a particular challenge, opportunity or transition point.
The programme provides a supportive space to explore leadership challenges, build confidence and learn with peers from across the University. Through four facilitated half-day workshops, individual coaching conversations and a Strengthscope庐 360 Profile, participants develop their leadership approach, communication and influencing skills, confidence and self-awareness, while building a valuable cross-University network. Participants are nominated through their Faculty by Deans and Heads of Department, with 16 places available to support the development of emerging academic leaders from across the University.
The Confident Manager Programme
The Confident Manager Programme is designed for Professional Services managers who have been in post for at least a year and who have already completed the Management Curriculum workshops. The programme focuses on strengthening leadership effectiveness through self-awareness, emotional intelligence, communication, performance management, coaching, change leadership and conflict management. It also enables managers to explore contemporary leadership challenges and opportunities, adopting a generous leadership approach while developing the skills needed to lead and develop others effectively.
The programme is delivered through three full-day face-to-face workshops, supported by three virtual action learning sets and a Strengthscope self-assessment with an individual debrief from a licensed consultant. A key feature is the Hydra immersive learning simulation, where participants work through realistic people-management scenarios to develop decision-making and leadership capabilities through reflection and facilitated feedback. Delegates are nominated by their managers, with places prioritised according to business need. Numbers are capped at 18 participants.
Heads of Department Development Programme
The Programme has been designed to support academic Heads of Department to lead and manage people with confidence, connection and impact. Recognising the breadth and complexity of the role, the programme focuses on developing the knowledge, skills and behaviours required for effective leadership and management in an academic context. The programme combines 7 facilitated workshops, a simulated learning experience and a range of tailored development opportunities, including peer learning, reflection and practical application.
A key feature of the programme is its co-creation approach. During Year 1, all Heads of Department will be invited to participate, helping to shape, test and refine the future development offer through their experiences, feedback and insights. This collaborative approach will inform the ongoing development of a structured pathway for both new and experienced Heads of Department in future years.
Strategic Leaders' Programme
This programme is designed for people with a demonstrated ability to think and act with a strategic mindset, and the potential to take on wider-ranging roles in the future. The programme includes both professional services and academic staff. Its focus is turning strategy into impact through people while working with uncertainty. Understanding organisations as systems is a key foundation. As this year sees the launch and first planning cycle of the new University Strategy, we will frame the learning experience around participants鈥� responsibilities under the new Strategy. Participants will gain self-awareness through a Strengthscope庐 Leader Profile with individual coaching feedback, and work with peers in four whole-day in-person workshops to form a collaborative network of peers and apply some key models and methods to their own leadership practice. These typically include: analysing and describing strategy; complexity in organisations; human system dynamics; change; leading generously. Participants are nominated by their Faculty / School or professional service head, with a limit of 16 places. These candidates are typically already in leadership or management roles, usually at Department level, and have shown the potential for cross-University leadership in their current or next role.
Mandatory training
Find out and complete the relevant mandatory training you need to do for your role.
Find out more about our Staff Development Performance Review (SDPR) process.
Development Toolkit
The Development Toolkit is an online learning and development resource for all staff which includes:
- '' 鈭� playlists are a group of resources on a particular topic such as and , which may be helpful in supporting you and your teams to work effectively
- ten (45 minutes each)
- over 3,000 resources such as top tips, key guides and self-assessments on a range of topics including leadership, personal skills and wellbeing
Coaching and mentoring
You can review information on the coaching and mentoring services via the following web pages:
- The 麻豆传媒 coaching service for staff
- Getting or offering mentoring support (Education and Research job family)
- Strengthscope庐 profiling tool
Learning and development services across the University
You can review other development opportunities available across the University on the staff learning and development webpage. Topics include training and support to help you get started in a new role, how to use University systems and staying safe at work.
Examples include:
- IT training to support you to use software applications such as Excel and University systems such as Agresso
- Safety, Health and Employee Wellbeing for Health & Safety training, professional health and wellbeing advice, fire safety and first aid training
- Centre for Learning and Teaching to help you develop in your research, teaching and career, including teach-enhanced learning
Other external learning and development opportunities
Please note that these are external opportunities and all course costs would need to be funded by your department. You will be eligible for member rates where indicated.
Higher Education and Technicians Development (HEaTED)
HEaTED provide various the university no longer has institutional membership but you may register for individual membership to be (eligible for member rates).
Advanced HE
Advanced HE offer a range of of higher education (eligible for member rates).
The British Universities Finance Directors Group (BUFDG)
BUFDG have a variety of in their e-learning section, which are available free of charge (registration required) to University staff members. This includes an which aims to give you an overview of finance in HE 鈭� including funding, areas of spending and reporting.
The Association of Higher Education Professionals (AHEP)
AHEP organises a programme of in higher education.