LEAD Academic Network Kicks Off Young Academic and Digital Academic Leadership Development Program for Shanghai University at VUB in Brussels

November 14, 2024

On November 12–13, 2024, the LEAD Academic Network hosted the inaugural Young Academic and Digital Academic Leadership Development Program for a delegation from Shanghai University at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) in Brussels. This program marks the beginning of a five-year strategic VUB-SHU partnership aimed at enhancing academic leadership skills and fostering international transdisciplinary cooperation between the two institutions.

Strengthening Ties Through Networked Learning

The program began with welcoming remarks from Prof. Dr. Xuemei YU, Vice President of Shanghai University, who emphasized the university’s commitment to talent cultivation and multidisciplinary research. “We hope that the high-quality international exchanges and discussions across disciplines provided by this training program will inject new vitality into the development of  our faculty construction and academic leadership at our university,” Prof. YU stated. She expressed her wish for participants to step beyond their own disciplines, fully engage in transdisciplinary exchanges with international peers, deepen their understanding of the needs of academic leadership and digital academic leadership, and transmit the knowledge with other junior faculty members.

Following her address, Prof. Dr. Chang ZHU, Director of the LEAD Academic Network, introduced the network's 'networked learning' approach designed to connect academic leaders across institutions. “Our goal is to create a collaborative environment where evidence-based knowledge and experiences are shared for mutual growth,” she explained. Prof. Dr. Zhaoheng XU then presented the Shanghai University delegation, highlighting the diverse research backgrounds of each participant.

Interactive Workshops

The morning session featured a workshop on managing academic teams, conducted by Laura PIZZIRANI and Zhengwen QI, researchers from the EU-China Higher Education Research Center. They provided insights into team management theories and facilitated group activities where participants discussed and visualized the practical aspects of managing academic teams in their contexts. The interactive setting encouraged open dialogue and the exchange of effective academic team management strategies.

In the afternoon, Anthony ANTOINE, Executive Director of the Brussels School of Governance, delivered a presentation on academic leadership skills. He addressed the complexities of modern academic management and the importance of adaptable leadership styles. “Effective academic leadership requires navigating challenges with flexibility and strategic insight,” ANTOINE noted. Participants were then presented with a crisis scenario and encouraged to work in groups to develop strategies for crisis management and lead change within the faculty described in the case.

Exploring Leadership Theories in Times of Digital Transformation

The second day opened with Prof. Dr. Chang ZHU delving into various leadership theories and leadship skills as well as the development of digital academic leadership. Participants explored how different leadership styles can be applied to various scenarios and discussed the meaning of digital academic leadership and how to develop it. The session also raised awareness of the potential of artificial intelligence and its implications for education and research.

Later, Prof. Dr. Jan CORNELIS, former Vice-Rector for Internationalisation at Vrije Universiteit Brussel, provided an overview of university governance intertwined with leadership and management principles. He emphasized the potential of university networks to foster creativity and advance research. “Creating institutional platforms for collaboration is essential for driving innovation,” Prof. CORNELIS remarked. The discussion also touched on the role of artificial intelligence in education and the importance of establishing ethical frameworks for its use in universities.

Reflections and Future Endeavors

As the two-day workshop concluded, participants shared their reflections on the lessons learned and the way forward. They underscored the value of cross-disciplinary exchanges and the critical role of effective communication and implementation in cultivating academic leadership. They also emphasized the importance of building both academic leadership and digital academic leadership.

“We are now heading to an unprecedented era filled with challenges but opportunities. We must develop not only academic leadership but also digital academic leadership,” said Prof. dr. Haixing MENG from the Shanghai Institute of Urban Regeneration and Sustainability of Shanghai University. They committed to applying what they had learned in their future endeavors.

“This training has taughe me that leadership can be learned through certain approaches, and I will work on enhancing these leadership skills in the near future”, shared Prof. dr. Jian HUANG from the Materials Genome Institute of Shanghai University.

The delegation from Shanghai University will continue their leadership training with the LEAD Academic Network in Lisbon, Portugal, where they will discuss cross-cultural skills for academic staff and educational accreditation system of Portugal. This ongoing initiative represents a significant step toward strengthening global academic ties and leadership capacities.

LEAD学术联盟在布鲁塞尔自由大学启动上海大学青年学术领导者和数字学术领导力发展项目

2024年11月14日

2024年11月12日至13日，LEAD学术联盟在布鲁塞尔自由大学（VUB）为上海大学代表团举办了VUB-SHU首届青年学术领导者和数字学术领导力发展项目。该项目标志着上海大学与LEAD学术联盟为期五年的战略伙伴关系的开始，旨在提升学术领导力技能，促进两校之间的国际跨学科合作。

通过网络化学习加强联系

项目由上海大学副校长于雪梅教授致开幕词。她强调了学校对人才培养和多学科研究的承诺。于教授表示：“我们希望此次培训项目所提供的高质量国际交流和跨学科讨论，能为我校师资建设和学术领导力的发展注入新活力。”她希望参与者能够走出自身学科领域，积极与国际同行进行跨学科交流，深化对学术领导力和数字学术领导力需求的理解，并将所学知识传递给其他青年教师。

随后，LEAD学术联盟协调人朱畅教授介绍了联盟的“网络化学习”模式，旨在连接各院校的学术领导者。她解释道：“我们的目标是创造一个合作环境，在这里基于证据的知识和经验可以共享，实现共同成长。”接着，徐昭恒教授介绍了上海大学代表团，强调了参与团体多元的研究背景。

互动工作坊

上午的会议由中欧高等教育研究中心的研究员Laura PIZZIRANI和齐政文主持，聚焦开学术团队管理。他们首先介绍了团队管理的相关理论，并组织大家进行小组活动，让参与者们充分讨论并以图画的形式展示其在学术团队管理方面的实践与经验。互动的环境鼓励了开放的对话和有关高效管理学术团队策略的交流。

下午，布鲁塞尔治理学院执行主任Anthony ANTOINE进行了关于学术领导力技能的讲解。他探讨了现代学术管理的复杂性以及灵活运用各种领导风格的重要性。ANTOINE指出：“有效的学术领导需要以灵活性和战略眼光来应对挑战。”随后，参与者们被分为三组对一个指定的危机情境进行讨论，制定危机管理策略，并探讨如何领导案例中的学院进行变革。

在数字化转型时代探索领导力理论

第二天，朱畅教授深入讲解了各种领导力理论和技能，以及数字学术领导力的发展。参与者探索了如何在不同情境中应用不同的领导风格，讨论了数字学术领导力的含义以及如何培养它。该环节还提高了对人工智能潜力及其对教育和研究影响的认识。

随后，布鲁塞尔自由大学前国际化副校长Jan CORNELIS教授概述了大学治理，并将其与领导和管理原则相结合。他强调了大学网络在促进创造力和推动研究方面的潜力。CORNELIS教授指出：“创建合作的机构平台对于推动创新至关重要。”讨论还涉及了人工智能在教育中的作用，以及为其在大学中的使用建立道德框架的重要性。

反思与未来发展

为期两天的研讨会结束时，参与者分享了他们的学习心得和未来展望。他们强调了跨学科交流的价值，以及有效沟通和执行在培养学术领导力中的关键作用。他们也强调了建立学术领导力和数字学术领导力的重要性。

来自上海大学上海城市更新与可持续发展研究院的孟海星教授表示：“我们正迈向一个前所未有的时代，既充满挑战也充满机遇。我们必须不仅发展学术领导力，还要发展数字学术领导力。”他们承诺将在未来的工作中应用所学。

“这次培训让我明白领导力可以通过某些方法来学习，我将在不久的将来努力提升这些领导力技能”，来自上海大学材料基因组工程研究院的王剑教授分享道。

上海大学代表团将与LEAD学术联盟一起继续在葡萄牙里斯本进行领导力培训，他们将在那里讨论学术人员的跨文化技能和葡萄牙的教育认证体系。他们将进一步推动全球学术交流与对领导力的认知。