The Executive Programme in Strategic Technical Leadership
This programme offers current strategic technical leaders the opportunity to develop key skills for the critical roles they hold in their organisations.
Participants will learn from guest speakers from across the UK higher education and research sector. Through cohort-based learning, individual reflection, and peer networking, participants will be equipped with skills to develop themselves as effective and influential strategic technical leaders.
Through this programme you will:
- gain a wider understanding of the UK higher education and research sector, its current affairs and the evolving landscape for technical staff
- establish your ‘personal brand’ and professional identity to grow your networks
- develop skills to influence key stakeholders and build positive cultures within institutional structures
- reflect on your behavioural style and mindset to optimise your performance as a strategic technical leader
The video gives an introduction to what the programme offers, with images of technical staff at work and videos from previous cohorts of the programme.
The programme is delivered in partnership with:
Who is it for?
This programme has been designed for current and aspiring strategic technical leads working in higher education or research institutes. It is for technical leaders who are looking to grow their knowledge, skills and networks, and develop themselves as effective and influential strategic technical leaders.
If you are interested to know more about the value of strategic technical leaders to their institutions, a recent report (published by the UKRI – Research England funded TALENT Programme and the UK Institute for Technical Skills and Strategy Research and Policy Group) emphasises the crucial and emerging role of Strategic Technical Leaders in the changing higher education and research landscape. A recent WonkHE article also explores the reasons that strategic technical leaders must be represented in university leadership.
During the programme, I had the opportunity to network with delegates and contributors to learn about their experiences at their respective institutes – this provided me with valuable insights into alternative approaches to leading and driving strategy within my own organisation moving forward, particularly with regards to the Technician Commitment. The learning was invaluable, and I am now part of a broader Senior Technical Leadership Network, which I can rely on at any time for advice and expertise. I would highly recommend that technical leaders from both university and other research sectors sign up for this programme!
Fees and scholarships
Programme fees for the 2025 cohort will be £2,580 per person. The fee includes two nights of bed and breakfast accommodation, lunches, a networking evening meal and speaker sessions at each residential. Fees can be paid by participants online or we can invoice your institution.
A limited number of full and partial scholarships are available via a short additional application and will be awarded upon acceptance to the programme. Scholarships will be assessed based on widening programme accessibility and the potential for positive impact on the home institution.
Applications
Applications for our upcoming cohort are now open and will close at midnight on Monday 28 April 2025.
Applications require a supporting statement from a line manager and are assessed on the following criteria:
- Potential for positive impact on career development
- Enthusiasm for, and commitment to, personal development
- Potential for positive impact on home institution or organisation
Forms for line manager statements will be sent to your line manager following submission of your application form.
Those wishing to be considered for a full or partial scholarship also need to submit a short additional application. Scholarship applications will also close on Monday 28 April 2025 but do not need to be submitted at the same time as your main application for the programme. Applications for scholarships will be considered separately to applications for the programme and will have no bearing upon the assessment panel's decision regarding acceptance to the programme. Please note that scholarship applications without an accompanying programme application will not be considered.
This course presents a fantastic opportunity for current and aspiring technical leaders who operate at an institutional level in higher education and research. The course covers a range of key topics and includes insight and guest lectures from experts from across the sector. Participants have the opportunity to expand their knowledge, grow their skillset and network with sector professionals.
Programme format
The next cohort of this programme will run from July 2025 until November 2025 and will include a break for the summer holidays. It will include:
- two residentials (Tuesday 1 July – Thursday 3 July 2025 and Wednesday 5 November – Friday 7 November 2025).
- three online interactive workshops which will take place between the two residentials (11 September, 25 September and 9 October - please bear in mind these could be subject to change).
The programme will include:
- interactive workshops delivered by experts in their field
- inspirational guest speakers
- group work
- case studies
- reflective toolkits
- mindset and behaviour diagnostic tool
- a Strategic Technical Leaders Network (STLN) event held during the second residential. This is an opportunity to connect with members of previous cohorts and current strategic technical leaders. All programme participants will have the opportunity to join the STLN.
If you have any queries or would like to find out more about the programme, please contact our team and we will be happy to help.
Participant stories
Find out more about the experiences of participants from our previous cohorts.
Cohort 1
Cohort 2
