There has probably never been a better time to ask and explore our central question: what works for leadership in higher education? The sector’s response to COVID-19 brought this question into sharp focus, with fast decisions needed at the same time as maintaining a collaborative and inclusive culture.
In 2020, the international consulting firm McKinsey & Company described the pandemic as ‘the toughest leadership test’, and I think they were right. So, the timing of the first-ever Global Leadership Survey for higher education is particularly significant given the turbulence caused by the pandemic and the need for individuals and institutions around the world to reflect on what they have learnt and what they might consider to do next, and when I say ‘they’, I include leaders at every level of experience.
