Goa, Sep 17: BITS Pilani’s K K Birla Goa Campus hosted the valedictory ceremony of the second cohort of the LEAD Academics Programme, marking the completion of a six-month leadership development journey for 43 senior academic leaders from government and private higher education institutions across India.
The occasion also marked the formal launch of the Centre for Leadership in Education and Academic Development, a permanent platform dedicated to strengthening leadership capacity in the higher education sector.
Commenting on the launch of the new Centre Prof. V. Ramgopal Rao, Group Vice Chancellor, BITS Pilani, said,
“BITS Pilani aims to create opportunities for academic leaders to engage with emerging challenges in higher education, reflect on institutional practices and develop approaches that can contribute to stronger and more effective institutions.”
The LEAD Academics Programme aims to equip university leaders with the knowledge, models and skills needed to address current challenges faced by universities. Over six months, participants engaged in case studies, book discussions, reflective exercises and flipped classroom sessions, with an emphasis on leadership, institutional governance, academic development and decision-making.
The programme brought together experienced mentors, including former Vice-Chancellors, heads of national institutions and senior policymakers, who shared their experiences of running institutions of higher learning and navigating various organisational challenges. The interactions provided participants with an opportunity to reflect on their own leadership approaches and gain insights into different perspectives on organisational management styles.
The programme also fostered continued interaction among participants beyond the formal classroom sessions. The second cohort brought together academic leaders from diverse institutional contexts, creating opportunities for peer learning, exchange of experiences and continued engagement around common challenges in higher education.
Highlighting the importance of strengthening leadership capacity in the higher education sector, Mr. R. Subrahmanyam, IAS, Professor of Practice at BITS Pilani and former Secretary, Ministry of Education, Government of India, said,
“Leadership begins with one’s own transformation towards becoming more empathetic.”
The launch of the LEAD Centre comes at a time when higher education institutions are navigating significant changes in areas such as academic governance, research, & entrepreneurship, institutional development, student support and global engagement.
Speaking about the vision of the LEAD Centre, Prof. P. Sankar Ganesh, Founding Head of the LEAD Centre and Professor at BITS Pilani Hyderabad Campus, said,
“By bringing academic leaders together for sustained learning and peer exchange, the LEAD Centre aims to strengthen leadership capabilities and help institutions navigate an increasingly complex and evolving higher education landscape.”
