The Berlin Summer School
Change Management and Transformation in Universities
September 14-19, 2025
Hosted by the Freie Universität Berlin
Specific goals
The Summer School develops the leadership capability of senior managers in higher education involved in large transformation programmes by exposing them to different management and examples from within higher education as well as other sectors
PROGRAMME PILLARS
Thematic Sessions on major changes and trends in higher education and the need for different models of service delivery
Considering best-practice approaches to the leadership of services transformation programmes
Exercising leadership & collaboration skills around case studies, as well as communication skills to achieve transformational change
Programme themes
The programme has five key components:
- Understanding contemporary approaches to the design and delivery of large scale transformation programmes (strategic transformation programme design, organisational development and culture, change communications, stakeholder engagement)
- Learning from real-life experiences from higher education institutions that have embarked on a transformation journey
- Gaining insight from large transformation programmes from other sectors (e.g. health sector)
- Understanding the obstacles and drivers for change (organisational culture, digitalisation, governance models)
- Understanding the power of collaborative, agile approaches to the leadership of transformational change of services in an academic setting.
Programme delivery
These five components are delivered through strategic conversations with highly experienced leaders and managers in higher education, practical casework and highly interactive team building sessions. Click on the tab below to view the full programme.
The first part of the programme will be an introductory webinar, with a significant emphasis on working in teams. By the time participants arrive at the Freie Universität Berlin on September 15, 2024, for the residential component of the programme, your multi-national teams will be fully functional.
Throughout the week of the residential programme, participants will continue to work with peers from other institutions on two large-scale change programmes, appraising the strategy of the two case institutions, advising on the next steps that should be taken and how best to improve their professional services transformation delivery capability, as well as attending plenary sessions delivered by experienced, senior higher education leaders.
Target Group
The target audience for these programmes is fast-rising senior university managers with real potential for future leadership and the capacity to become influential senior managers.
The Schools are particularly valuable for managers who are keen to break out of being labelled as “specialists”, and who want to broaden their exposure to new and different ways of solving strategic challenges.
School Fee
The fee for the week-long programme in 2025 will be €4,200 for HUMANE Members (€4,700 for non-HUMANE members). It includes fees for tuition, all documentation and accommodation in a central Berlin hotel but excludes travel costs. Non HUMANE Members may apply if they meet the following criteria: they are from a higher education institution that delivers degree programmes in at least two of the three Bologna cycles (BA, MA, doctorate). The Secretariat will apply the correct rate.
Erasmus+ offers travel support for higher education administrative staff. Further information is available here.
Applications are managed through the institutions Erasmus + Coordinator, usually attached to the international office. The Summer School regularly has participants making use of this opportunity.
Keep informed about the 2025 edition
The 2025 Summer School will take place on September 14-19. Sign up here to be kept informed about the 2025 edition.