Contents
Background
Higher education institutions (HEIs) face a growing number of challenges, among them the massification, diversification, internationalization, and commercialization of higher education. In addition, there are challenges specific to HEIs in ASEAN Member States (AMS), including the need to keep in step with the ASEAN International Mobility for Students (AIMS) initiative, gain recognition through the ASEAN University Rankings system, and prepare themselves for the unique local and regional challenges that come with the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) agenda.
To build the capacity of Southeast Asian HEI leaders with the relevant skills and knowledge needed to effectively lead thriving and resilient universities in the region, the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), in partnership with The HEAD Foundation (THF), has conducted six successful regional and in-country runs of the LDP-HEIs since 2019.
Intended Participants
The program is intended for top administrators, faculty deans/department heads, and other university leaders of HEIs in Southeast Asia who are at least a master's degree holder. Slots will also be given to newly appointed leaders or are poised for leadership positions in the university as endorsed by their immediate supervisor. Only 20-25 participants from across Southeast Asia will be selected for this program.
Program Objectives
At the end of the program, the participants are expected to be able to:
- Understand the role of HEIs and the inter-dependency with key stakeholders in a national, cross-national, and regional ecosystems;
- Internalize the importance of aligning educational objectives to future needs;
- Understand the trends that are driving changes in the labor market, business, and industry;
- Discuss common contemporary challenges and appropriate (country context) responses;
- Adopt a forward-looking work approach and strategies to address rapidly changing environment of higher education in the face of opportunities and challenges in the region;
- Gain relevant knowledge about higher education leadership and management;
- Gain new perspective of their roles as university leaders to empower them to drive change in their institutions through the 4Ps enablers;
- Learn tools and methodology to review and assess their current status, envision desired future, leadership and change management, strategic/process planning, and people engagement; and
- Explore potential collaborative efforts at national, cross-countries, and regional levels.
Program Outcomes
Participants will design and implement their Re-Entry Action Plan (REAP), a customized and contextualized plan tailored for their HEI, to lead their HEI towards their desired future. With incremental deliveries of REAP, combined with leadership coaching, alumni sharing, and ongoing engagement with key stakeholders, participants will be guided towards successful planning and execution of their vision and mission.
Program Design
The LDP-HEIs will be delivered in a hybrid modality from February to April 2025. The first two months are dedicated to asynchronous and synchronous online learning sessions. Participants then apply their learning through individual/HEI group assignments, which will form the basis for their REAPs.
Participants will then convene in a SEAMEO member country for a three-day REAP pitching and refinement, site visits, and guest lectures. After this, participants will implement incremental improvements to their REAP and consult key stakeholders to enhance the design and implementation of their REAP. Participants will then present online their final REAP and share best practices to sustain change after implementation.
The selected participants should be able to commit to attending all sessions, both online and onsite. Asynchronous sessions will last for around three hours. Participants need to complete asynchronous online learning before each session.
Contact Us
Interested in partnering or participating in this training? Please contact Dr. Nova Ramos, Head, Education and Collective Learning Department-Training for Development Unit (ECLD-T4DU):