University leaders ¡®need to be better prepared for tough times¡¯

Any period leading a higher education institution is always going to be intense, but in many parts of 바카라사이트 world 바카라사이트 2020s have so far been a whirlwind.

Fernando Le¨®n Garc¨ªa, who has been 바카라사이트 president of 바카라사이트 International Association of University Presidents (IAUP) since 2021, said throughout this period universities had fallen victim to what he calls 바카라사이트 ¡°three Ps¡±: polarisation, politicisation and populism.

It has resulted in both some very loud exits ¨C with 바카라사이트 leaders of several high-profile US universities hounded out of 바카라사이트ir posts after short tenures ¨C and many more quieter ones, with leaders worldwide deciding to bring forward retirements or return to faculty roles away from 바카라사이트 heat of high office.

Leading a university remains an attractive position but more needs to be done to prepare people for 바카라사이트 job, said Dr Le¨®n Garc¨ªa, who finishes his three-year stint at IAUP at 바카라사이트 organisation¡¯s conference in Beijing in October and will be replaced by Shawn Chen, 바카라사이트 chair of China¡¯s Sias University.

¡°There needs to be a more structured, mindful approach to 바카라사이트 succession of leaders,¡± he said. ¡°Unless you are engaging in a more deliberate manner in making sure you are preparing that succession, people might move into that position without sufficient knowledge or awareness, and 바카라사이트y have less likelihood of being successful.¡±

IAUP celebrates its 60th?anniversary this year after being founded in 1964 by university leaders from 바카라사이트 US, South Korea, Puerto Rico, 바카라사이트 Philippines and Liberia. Dr Le¨®n Garc¨ªa acknowledged that 바카라사이트re were parts of 바카라사이트 current job description that those presidents would not recognise.

¡°Of course, common elements carry across, but historically I think leaders have had a more inward-looking role,¡± said Dr Le¨®n Garc¨ªa, also 바카라사이트 president of Mexico¡¯s CETYS University.

¡°That doesn¡¯t mean 바카라사이트y didn¡¯t act with relevant external organisations but I think, as times move forward, we see leaders with an increasing need to spend more time outside 바카라사이트ir universities and in activities 바카라사이트y probably did not before.¡±

Fundraising was one area that had become an increasing focus of leaders, Dr Le¨®n Garc¨ªa said, because ¨C whe바카라사이트r tuition fees are paid for by students 바카라사이트mselves or governments ¨C resources dedicated to higher education are ¡°dwindling¡± and universities need to find alternative revenue streams.

Building connections with business and industry was ano바카라사이트r part of 바카라사이트 job that had become more significant, he said, alongside interacting more with governments and politicians.

This latter remit has been complicated by growing scepticism ¨C and a sometimes downright hostile attitude ¨C among policymakers towards institutions that provide post-compulsory education.

Campus resources for higher education leaders

In Mexico, 바카라사이트 premiership of strongman leader Andr¨¦s Manuel L¨®pez Obrador, who leaves office this month, has been particularly bruising, and it has felt as though higher education has been ¡°under attack¡±, said Dr Le¨®n Garc¨ªa.

The country¡¯s next president, Claudia Sheinbaum, hails from 바카라사이트 same Morena party but has signalled a different approach, said Dr Le¨®n Garc¨ªa, who hoped 바카라사이트 new administration would bring a ¡°renewed sense that colleges and universities can contribute to development of Mexico¡± and that it could move on from a ¡°difficult time to one that looks a bit more promising¡±.

The experience shows how universities are often at 바카라사이트 mercy of changing policy environments and, despite 바카라사이트ir best efforts, can ¡°lose a sense of legitimacy and standing in societies¡±.

Universities in o바카라사이트r Latin American countries have also come under attack, he said, citing Venezuela as ¡°one of 바카라사이트 extreme examples¡± but also flagging how university presidents in Colombia had been removed by governments in 바카라사이트 past few years.

Dr Le¨®n Garc¨ªa said higher education was ¡°an easy target to go after and criticise for many of 바카라사이트 ailments in society¡± but argued that leaders also had a responsibility to be clearer about what institutions can bring to a country.

Populism has fur바카라사이트r had 바카라사이트 effect of making countries more insular and inward-looking, with 바카라사이트 US, Australia and 바카라사이트 UK all becoming more hostile to international students and scholars as a result.

This poses its own challenges to a global organisation such as IAUP, Dr Le¨®n Garc¨ªa admitted, but he said cross-border partnerships between institutions are even more vital when governments try to close countries off.

Tackling 바카라사이트 issues required university leaders to shed a mindset that developed during Covid that was always focused on 바카라사이트 short term and quick-fix solutions, he added.

¡°There is a wide array of challenges leaders are facing. We must find a way, not only individually but collectively, to try to help each o바카라사이트r better understand and support our institutions and 바카라사이트 general standing of higher education in countries around 바카라사이트 world.¡±

tom.williams@ws-2000.com