DIES University Leadership and Management Training Programme 2024
Closing date of the application is October 11, 2023, 10.00 am Central European Summer Time.
The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and the Center for Lifelong Learning (C3L) at the University
of Oldenburg (Germany) are jointly organising the seventeenth DIES University Leadership and Management
Training Programme UNILEAD in Oldenburg, enabling young managers at higher education institutions in
developing and emerging countries to successfully tackle every-day challenges. In order to do so, the
programme brings together the topics Project Management, Strategic Management & Academic Leadership
and Human Resource Management with individual and practice-oriented change projects of each participant.
So far, more than 500 participants from over 50 countries have taken part in the UNILEAD training courses.
Developed in 2008, UNILEAD is part of the DIES programme (Dialogue on Innovative Higher Education
Strategies), which is jointly coordinated by the DAAD and German Rectors’ Conference (HRK) since 2001 and
funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
Further information on the DAAD DIES Programme and the DIES Training Courses can be found at
www.daad.de/dies/en
Course and Methodology
UNILEAD focuses on three key areas:
1. Project Management. This includes courses on Methodology of Project Management and Financial Management in projects.
2. Strategic Management & Academic Leadership. This includes courses of theoretical basics and practical tools for the development and implementation of Strategic Management and acquisition of competencesin the area of Leadership.
3. Human Resource Management. This includes courses on instruments of Human Resource Development, Conflict Management and
Communication.
In order to complement these three modules, additional topics, such as Risk Management, Team and Key Competences, and Resilience are touched upon. In addition, a web-seminar on the topic of “Digital Transformation in Higher Education” is integrated into the curriculum. The core of the entire programme is an individual and practice-oriented change project that participants are required to propose already in their application. The project should explicitly be linked to the strategic objectives of their universities and the field they are working in. The course content will always reflect on and relate to these change projects. The methodology will be strictly project-oriented and is based on case studies or questions derived from the particular job situation of the participants. Thus, it is expected to bring in personal experience and to share this knowledge with the group of around 25 participants from different regions and countries of the world. High personal motivation, the willingness to get actively involved during the online and contact phases and excellent English language skills are essential for the successful completion of this course.
As the modules of the programme are interconnected, participants are expected to take part in all three modules. A written statement from the higher education management, that confirms the full commitment to attend all parts of the programme is an entry requirement for being admitted.
Partners’ Profile
The University of Oldenburg is the academic coordinator of this training course and works closely together with the DAAD. With the C3L, the University of Oldenburg has a renowned institution for continuing education that offers various international and national programmes such as part-time study programmes, certificate and degree programmes for professionals of (higher) education institutions. Thus, it has a wide network of experts who act as lecturers and provides in-depth experience in the field of education management and continuing education. International and national lecturers will bring in expertise in higher education management and will help reflecting the specific questions from an international and intercultural perspective.
Participants’ Profile
UNILEAD is targeting higher education managers from developing and emerging countries.
The two key criteria are:
• Applicants have been holding a university management position with managerial and personnel responsibilities no longer than 4 years in one of the following fields:
o Managers of central university departments (Planning, Quality Management, Human Resources, Continuing Education; excluding academic units such as Deans, Vice Deans, Head of Department)
o Task force managers for university reform projects
o Managers of staff development units or programmes
• Active and excellent English language skills (speaking and writing) are indispensable. Phone interviews will be organised with short listed candidates to guarantee the requested proficiency.
Further criteria are:
• Applicants are university leaders preferably between 30 and 40 years.
• Applicants hold at least a Master’s degree.
• The provision of international experience will be an asset.
Participants from higher education institutions of the following developing and emerging countries are eligible to apply:
• South East Asia: Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, Timor-Leste
and Vietnam.
• Sub-Saharan Africa: Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya,
Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Mauritius, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, South
Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
• Middle-, South America and Mexico: Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba,
Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama,
Paraguay and Peru.
• Northern Africa and Middle East: Algeria, Egypt, Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco and Tunisia.
Application Requirements and Process
Applications can be submitted via the online application form on the UNILEAD-website at
https://c3lms.uni-oldenburg.de/unilead-2024
Documents: Â Click here for more information about the scholarshipÂ
Oficial Website: DIES University Leadership and Management Training ProgrammeÂ
