Principles and Practice of Academic Leadership
A foundational, practice-focused course for senior academics, heads of department, deans, and aspirant academic administrators seeking to lead academic units, committees, and institutions with vision, influence, service, and accountability. Grounded in international best practice and African leadership values (including ubuntu — leadership as collective flourishing), the course equips participants to distinguish leadership from management, exercise principled influence in collegial settings, and mentor the next generation of scholarly leaders. It is the entry module of the Department of Academic Leadership and Governance and the gateway to Senior Member (SCAA) and Fellow (FCAA) progression.
A foundational, practice-focused course for senior academics, heads of department, deans, and aspirant academic administrators seeking to lead academic units, committees, and institutions with vision, influence, service, and accountability. Grounded in international best practice and African leadership values (including ubuntu — leadership as collective flourishing), it equips participants to distinguish leadership from management, exercise principled influence in collegial settings, and mentor the next generation of scholarly leaders. It is the gateway to Senior Member (SCAA) and Fellow (FCAA) progression.
Instruction & Evaluation
Online / Asynchronous (Self-Paced with Faculty Mentorship)
Self-paced modular instruction with continuous continental access via the CAA Member Portal, supplemented by faculty moderation.
Continuous Assessment & Practical Portfolio
Continuous Assessment (30%) — applied case-study analyses, short evidence-verified quizzes, and reflective applied exercises verified per the CAA CPD verification convention. Participation & Professional Conduct (30%) — seminar engagement, peer contribution, collegial discourse. Capstone Reflective Essay (40%) — 'My Leadership Philosophy and the Academic Calling' (1,000–1,500 words). Credential: Certificate of Completion in Principles and Practice of Academic Leadership (3 CPD credits).
What You Will Master
- Articulate a personal leadership philosophy rooted in the 'Academic Calling' and African leadership values (e.g., ubuntu — leadership as collective flourishing).
- Distinguish leadership from management and evaluate when to apply transformational, distributed, servant, and collegial leadership models in higher-education governance contexts.
- Exercise principled influence and ethical persuasion within collegial, committee, and interdisciplinary settings, including when operating without formal authority.
- Demonstrate accountability to students, peers, institutions, and the public, and apply ethical decision-making frameworks to common academic-leadership dilemmas.
- Lead self and others by building trust, high-performing teams, and resilience while mentoring and supporting the succession of emerging academic leaders.
5 Modules
Foundations of Academic Leadership & the Academic Calling
Establishes the intellectual and moral foundation by examining academic leadership as a vocation (a calling) rather than a mere administrative role. Explores vision, purpose, and service; introduces African leadership philosophies (ubuntu, elder-scholarship, communal accountability); and draws a clear distinction between leadership and administration/management.
3 Lessons
Leadership Theory & Practice in Higher Education
Moves from values to frameworks; equips participants with major HE leadership models — transformational, servant, distributed, collegial — and how to select and apply them. Examines distinctive university governance structures (senate, committees, faculty boards) and contextualises theories for African universities.
3 Lessons
Influence, Communication & Service
Develops the practical craft of leading — especially leading peers rather than subordinates. Covers leading without formal authority, negotiation and principled persuasion, and long-term work of building trust, reputation, and collegiality. Teaches chairing committees, running effective meetings, and facilitating difficult conversations.
3 Lessons
Ethics, Integrity & Accountability
Grounds academic leadership in moral responsibility. Explores accountability to all stakeholders — students, peers, institutions, and the public — and positions the academic leader as guardian of academic integrity. Confronts recurring ethical dilemmas: conflicts of interest, favouritism, transparency, misuse of power. Teaches structured ethical decision-making frameworks applied to real case analyses.
3 Lessons
Leading Self, Leading Others, and Mentoring Future Leaders
Turns the lens inward and outward — toward the leader's own wellbeing and the development of others. Develops emotional intelligence, resilience, and self-management, then examines building and motivating high-performing teams and leading change. Concludes with mentoring and preparing the next generation of academic leaders, ensuring succession and continuity of the Academic Calling.
3 Lessons
Weekly Topics
Ready to enrol in LMA301?
Access this course, study modular pedagogical frameworks, and earn verified CPD credits through the CAA member portal.
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