The 2nd Edition of Young Academic and Digital Academic Leadership Program took place at Vrije Universiteit Brussel

On 12 May 2025, the 2nd Edition of the Young Academic and Digital Academic Leadership Development Program commenced at Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), welcoming faculty members from Shanghai University for an intensive leadership training initiative. Organized by the LEAD Academic Network, the program equips academic leaders with skills to navigate digital transformation and foster international collaboration in higher education.

In her opening speech, Prof. dr. Chang Zhu, coordinator of the LEAD Academic Network, introduced the mission of the Network to empower academic leaders to adapt to the rapidly changing contexts in higher education. She emphasized the dual challenge facing academic leaders in embracing technological advancements and building global academic networks. Participants engaged in a reflective exercise, drafting personal growth plans that addressed their leadership goals -- from expanding international collaborations to integrating AI tools for teaching and research efficiency.

Anthony Antoine, Executive Director of the Brussels School of Governance, led a dynamic workshop on academic leadership types and styles, drawing parallels between academic and corporate leadership. “Empowering teams with the right skillsets is critical in volatile environments,” he remarked, illustrating his points with real-life case studies.

The afternoon session featured Prof. dr. Bas van Heur, who shared his journey as an academic leader at the Cosmopolis Centre for Urban Research of VUB, and the challenges he faced in aligning research, curriculum and institutional resources. His candid discussion on overcoming academic silos through networking resonated with participants. The session concluded with an interactive tour of the Cosmopolis Centre, offering participants firsthand exposure to urban research projects.

Over the coming days, the program will delve into AI’s roles in academia, team management strategies, and entrepreneurial leadership. This program reinforces the five-year partnership between VUB and Shanghai University, committed to advancing academic transdisciplinary leadership and promoting digital innovation in higher education.

布鲁塞尔自由大学“青年学者与数字学术领导力培训项目”第二期培训活动

2025年5月12日，由LEAD学术联盟主办的“青年学者与数字学术领导力培训项目”在布鲁塞尔自由大学（VUB）第二期培训开始了第一天的培训活动。来自上海大学的教师代表团参与了这一课程集中丰富的领导力培训项目。该项目旨在培养学术领导者应对数字化转型的能力，并促进高等教育领域的国际合作。

LEAD学术联盟协调人朱畅教授在开幕致辞中阐述了LEAD学术联盟的使命，即赋能学术领导者适应高等教育的快速变革。她特别指出，当代学术领导者面临着适应技术进步与构建全球学术网络的双重挑战。与会学者通过制定个人发展计划，明确了各自的领导力发展目标，涵盖了从拓展国际合作到运用AI工具提升教学科研效率等多个维度的内容。

布鲁塞尔治理学院执行主任Anthony Antoine主持了一场关于学术领导类型与风格的互动工作坊。他巧妙地将学术领导力与企业领导力进行类比，并强调：“在充满变数的环境中，为团队配备合适的技能组合至关重要。”其生动的案例分析给与会者留下深刻印象。

下午的专题会议由VUB城市研究中心Bas van Heur教授主讲。他坦诚分享了作为学术领导者的成长历程，以及在协调科研、课程建设和机构资源方面面临的挑战。关于如何通过建立社交网络打破学术壁垒的讨论引起了强烈共鸣。会议结束后，与会者实地参观了城市研究中心及其相关在研项目。

在接下来的日程中，项目将深入探讨人工智能在学术领域的应用、团队管理策略以及创业型领导力等议题。此次培训进一步巩固了布鲁塞尔自由大学与上海大学为期五年的合作伙伴关系，共同推进双方跨学科学术领导力建设，促进高等教育数字化转型。