Heads of University Management & Administration Network in Europe

Residential School Alumni Network

Nurturing impactful leadership: HUMANE Residential Schools and the Alumni Network supporting professional development and organisational transformations in universities.

When the Winter School was launched in 2003, HUMANE’s purpose was to “develop a cadre of professional senior university managers and encourage them to network across Europe“.

All Schools are in line with HUMANE’s overall mission to expand international networks in higher education, foster management innovation and drive professional excellence.

The Residential School Alumni network has developed from the Schools and today counts some 800+ members from the universities in the HUMANE network. The network is an important driving force for collaboration across borders in Europe and internationally.

The Residential School Alumni network is managed by a Steering Committee – you can see the current list of committee members here.

The 2025 Programme:

The Residential School Alumni Network will organise two webinars and one face-to-face workshop in 2025 under the following overarching theme:  

Remodelling professional services in universities in the digital age

The three events will focus on the many challenges and opportunities associated with the modern world that all senior leaders and managers currently experience in their universities:

  • Supporting democracy on campus: freedom of speech in safe environments 
  • Dealing with dis- and misinformation
  • Using Artificial Intelligence responsibly
  • Promoting all aspects of sustainability, social, economic, environmental
  • Managing risks effectively to safeguard the reputation of the institution

How does this influence universities’ strategic positions and the dynamics of university leadership?  What are the implications for the delivery of professional services?   How can we develop a new approach to knowledge exchange and upskilling our staff to work with technology and Artificial Intelligence in the digital Age?     

The first webinar on 6 February 2025 will focus on how universities can enhance their communication in the digital age, making effective use of new technologies and working with Artificial Intelligence. 

We will among others discuss the following issues:

  • Interacting with internal stakeholders, systematically and structurally 
  • Interacting with the outside world and external stakeholders
  • Building internal capacity and highly specialised expertise
  • Staff upskilling to communicate in the digital Age

The programme and speakers will be available soon here; you can already register here.

The theme for the workshop during Annual Conference in Helsinki on 5 June 2025 and the webinar on 27 November 2025 will be confirmed very shortly.

PAST EVENTS

Navigating staff turnover: turning transitions into opportunities for growth

Interactive Webinar – November 8, 12:00-13:15 CET

Staff turnover is inevitable, yet it can be managed in a such way that it not only mitigates the challenges, but also leverages such transitions as opportunities for institutional growth and renewal.

Such an approach underscores a proactive way to address staff leaving the university, focusing on strategies for retaining their knowledge, maintaining positive relationships with departing staff, and using these transitions to drive innovation and strategic realignment within the university.

The webinar will discuss good practices in universities; it will also touch upon issues relating to exit strategies, conflict management, workforce needs’ analysis and recruitment plans. The two main keynotes will focus on:

  • Strategic leadership and governance in times of transition
    • Ken Sloan, Vice-Chancellor and CEO Harper Adams University, UK
    • “Strategic leadership and governance in times of transition”:  how universities maintain strategic direction and governance when key staff are leaving.   Building resilient governance structures to support innovation and stability.
  • Retention and induction strategies in higher education
    • Marianna Bom, Chief Financial Officer, Aalto University, FI
    • “Retention and induction strategies in higher education”:  The approach adopted by Aalto University to onboard new staff (especially those coming from outside academia). Supporting retention and smooth integration into the university’s culture and thereby reducing turnover.  Maintaining positive connections with staff after they leave the university.

The programme is available here; information about speakers here.

Developing staff and retaining talents in the University of the future: leadership, partnership and professional service career routes

Alumni Session, HUMANE Annual Conference, Amsterdam – June 13, 14:15-16:00

The workshop will focus on “Developing staff and retaining talents in the University of the future: leadership, partnership and professional service career routes”.   It will be organised as follows:

  • Introduction to the workshop and to the theme
  • Icebreaking networking session
  • Keynote: “Developing and retaining professional services staff at Sheffield University”, Ian Wright, HR Director, and Helen Barlow, Associate HR Director, University of Sheffield, UK
  • “A Graduate Leaders’ Programme to recruit staff for professional services: HE Leaders of the Future”, Will Chicken, Director of Professional Services,University of Edinburgh Business School, UK

The full workshop session is available here. This event is part of the HUMANE Annual Conference.

How can we attract talents for professional services in our universities?

Interactive Webinar – February 9

Resources are now available for participants registered to this event: here

Resources from previous Alumni only events

Registered participants for each event will get the password to access the resources that have been made available.

The list of resources available can be accessed: here

Join the Alumni Linkedin group

Keep up to date with events and join in the conversation: here