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The European University Association’s Leadership Development Programme equips senior university leaders with the skills, foresight and networks needed to steer universities through increasing complexity and drive impactful change within their institutions.
With a distinctive European perspective, it offers a unique blend of international insights and tailored support for EUA members.
For each edition, the programme convenes a diverse cohort of senior leaders who build meaningful connections with European peers and engage in a learning experience that is reflective, practical and connected to European and global policy developments. The design and implementation of the programme is supported by a group of over 30 university leaders, facilitators and EUA experts.
In September 2025, EUA successfully concluded the pilot edition of the Leadership Development Programme. The 2026 edition of the programme is now fully subscribed. The call for participation for subsequent editions is expected to open in spring 2026.
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Over 10 working days during an eight-month period, the LDP combines in-person and online learning, leadership exchanges with peers and policy makers and sustained group simulations. Developed under the guidance of a dedicated Advisory Board, the programme is based on the outcomes of the EU-funded NEWLEAD project and supported by a wide range of external experts and institutional leaders.
Leveraging EUA’s extensive research and expertise, it delves into the most crucial leadership and governance challenges across university missions in learning and teaching and research and innovation, as well as key developments in the quality assurance of higher education. Participants explore essential facets of European higher education leadership, including cultural diversity and leadership styles and cultures, and gain insights into the latest strategic foresight and communication methodologies.
The programme features three in-person sessions in April, June and September delivered through a mix of expert input, real world cases, dilemma-based exercises and interactive group work.
Each year, the Leadership Development Programme brings together a group of around 25 university leaders from universities across Europe.
The programme has been designed to support members of universities’ senior leadership teams with responsibility for strategic decision making. It targets both senior academic leaders and professional support leaders with an interest in developing their leadership skills and competencies with European peers and engaging in a multicultural European setting, fostering open exchange and collaboration.
The programme’s highlights include:
Participation in the programme is open to members of university senior management teams with responsibility for strategic decision-making. Applicants require the support of their EUA member institution’s senior leadership.
To ensure that the programme reflects the diverse needs of EUA’s membership, EUA established an advisory board to guide its development.
EUA Secretariat:
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