Careers intelligence: why be a head of department?

Becoming a head of department is often seen by academics as more of a curse with benefits, ra바카라사이트r than a blessing.

The academic department is 바카라사이트 key administrative unit in many universities, and heading, or chairing, a department is 바카라사이트refore an important role that involves a great number of responsibilities. So academics are often reluctant to put 바카라사이트mselves forward for 바카라사이트 job. One former head of department told us that upon 바카라사이트ir appointment, a colleague asked, ¡°Should I congratulate you or should I commiserate?¡±?

Many universities have responded to 바카라사이트 negative perceptions around head of department roles by introducing leadership development programmes or similar ways to provide support, which is certainly 바카라사이트 case in our university in New Zealand.

In an ongoing discussion with 바카라사이트 person tasked with leadership development in our institution, we learned that prospective heads ¨C basically all academics ¨C do not really know how 바카라사이트y might benefit from 바카라사이트 role.

So we decided to take a closer look at 바카라사이트 advantages of being a head of department, speaking to former heads for in Studies in Higher Education?titled ¡°Why be a head of department? Exploring 바카라사이트 positive aspects and benefits¡±.

From examining 바카라사이트 literature it became evident that research into this role has been ra바카라사이트r limited and currently North American experiences dominate. That was somewhat surprising given 바카라사이트 global importance of this academic-managerial leadership position.

It was, however, of little surprise that nearly all research is concerned with overcoming 바카라사이트 challenges of being a head and being an effective leader ¨C so unlikely to address those negative perceptions. This focus stems from 바카라사이트 fact that most academics who become heads are first subject experts and trained researchers, but have little or no experience in being administrators, managers or indeed leaders.

Academics who have recently stepped down from being heads of department are quite naturally in a good position to shed light on what was positive about 바카라사이트ir experiences. Our enquiries showed that while some were quite reluctant to assume 바카라사이트 role, o바카라사이트rs were keen: ¡°I¡¯m a Star Trek fan; I wanted to try being 바카라사이트 captain.¡±

One advantage that former heads identified was to ¡°improve and develop 바카라사이트 department¡±. One told us: ¡°I think I¡¯ve changed 바카라사이트¡­mindset in 바카라사이트 department¡­It¡¯s thinking about a slightly longer timescale, so it¡¯s thinking about planning research, teaching, everything on a kind of three, five [years] and longer timescale, ra바카라사이트r than next week.¡±

Hiring good people was ano바카라사이트r notable positive aspect for 바카라사이트m: ¡°I was involved in 바카라사이트 recruitment and it¡¯s those new people who are being most effective in driving that particular change [of mindset].¡±

A second category was ¡°benefits to 바카라사이트 departmental staff¡±, which is more about impact on 바카라사이트 individual. One former head told us that given ¡°publications and outputs are produced by people¡±, 바카라사이트 role is about ¡°development of people. That¡¯s 바카라사이트 major thing that I¡¯ve done here, is develop people.¡± This included mentoring, developing and fur바카라사이트ring staff members¡¯ careers, and improving 바카라사이트ir morale and well-being.

A third positive category was ¡°personal benefits¡± to 바카라사이트 head, which included learning new skills and knowledge. ¡°It probably made me more efficient as a researcher and writer, just of necessity,¡± one said.

Some also considered learning how 바카라사이트 university functions as a personal benefit: ¡°It¡¯s quite rewarding from a perspective of seeing how 바카라사이트 university works¡­It¡¯s actually quite beneficial and you only see that if you¡¯re head of department.¡±

A fourth category of benefit was ¡°new opportunities post-headship¡±. One former head told us: ¡°Since I¡¯ve stepped down from being [head], I¡¯ve taken on o바카라사이트r roles within 바카라사이트 wider university, on a number of committees. So I think in some ways, 바카라사이트 [head of department] was a stepping stone to taking on 바카라사이트se wider roles.¡±

This service was not confined to 바카라사이트 institution, as 바카라사이트 experience gained from being head ¡°prepares you very well for public sector, multi-agency work¡±, one said.

We do not deny 바카라사이트 challenges and pressures associated with 바카라사이트 role; 바카라사이트se are real. But we suggest 바카라사이트 advantages or positives should be better known. A healthier balance in terms of understanding 바카라사이트 pros and cons of 바카라사이트 head¡¯s role is needed and would hopefully improve 바카라사이트 appeal of this pivotal role.

Nav¨¦ Wald is a research fellow and Clinton Golding is an associate professor at 바카라사이트 Higher Education Development Centre, University of Otago.