Training for high-level leadership
Staff Training Portfolio
About
The Transformational Leadership Programme addresses key challenges faced by high-level leaders across the T4EU universities. The programme consists of four intensive in-person training seminars and ten online training programmes. To identify the most relevant training needs, an extensive survey was conducted among the leadership of the partner universities. The following four main themes were identified as the most significant:
- Global Leadership
- Sustainability challenges to lead universities
- Leadership in Universities – Challenges posed by AI
- Responsible Leadership of Universities
Based on these identified training needs, the following training programmes were developed.
Online training programmes
Leading and developing teams
- Organizer: University of Silesia in Katowice
- Instructor: Prof. Barbara Kożusznik, PhD, DSc., Olaf Flak, PhD, DSc. Eng., Assoc. Prof.
Instructors:
- Prof. Barbara Kożusznik, PhD., DSc. Graduated MA in psychology University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland, in 1981 received Ph.D. Psychology, University of Silesia Katowice, Poland, in 1996 received Habilitation, Psychology, Catholic University of Lublin, Poland, in 2006 awarded Full Professor, psychology, by President of PR. She gained work experience as a Director School of Management, University of Silesia 1995-2019, Professor, Institute of Psychology, University of Silesia, Katowice 1997 till now, Vice-Rector for Cooperation and Promotion University of Silesia 2005-2008, Vice-Rector for Students Affairs, Promotion and International Cooperation 2008-2012, Elected City-Counsellor in Katowice 2006-2010, Director of the Interdisciplinary Centre for Staff Development at University of Silesia 2019-till now.
- Olaf Flak, PhD., DSc. Eng., Assoc. Prof. Graduated from the University of Economics in Katowice (Management direction) and the Silesian University of Technology (Electronics and Telecommunications direction). Gained professional experience at Ford Motor Company in Cologne and ING Bank Śląski. For 5 years worked for the recruitment portal Pracuj.pl. For 6 years he was Vice Dean for Organization and Internationalization at the K. Kieslowski Film School (University of Silesia in Katowice).
Description of the training programme: The training session will cater to and foster various managerial skills and participants will gain knowledge about the differences between a group and a team. The participants will learn to identify the stages in the team life cycle and understand the benefits of building a team and see the factors that create synergistic effect. During the webinar they define the principles of team leadership based on key research competences. They will use online tools to assess research and leader competences.
The training programme consists of two sections:
- Section 1: A simulation showing the difference between group and team work. Participants have to solve an unusual problem in three ways: independently, independently combining the results of their work with others, and together. During the simulation, the participants, with the help of a specific numerical effect, learn the differences between a group and a team. This helps them understand what the synergistic effect is and the key factors for team effectiveness and performance.
- Section 2: Participant will check their own research and leader competences to get knowledge of what social and professional competencies determine your scientific development. They will match tasks to their strengths and avoid those that will be difficult to perform. They will plan specific paths for the development of competencies and actively manage them.
Training date: November 29, 2024.
Applied Leadership
- Organizer: Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski
- Instructor: Assoc. Prof. Albena Taneva, PhD
Instructor: Assoc. Prof. Albena Taneva, PhD – university professor in political science and management and professional trainer in leadership and communication with more than 30 years of experience
Description of the training programme: The training programme offers a structured discussion in the categories of leadership and applied leadership. The goal is to enable each participant to consider the potential for development and change in each management position and in each role with a view to achieving better results without regard to new resources.
The skill of leadership is not limited to a specific personality type. It applies to every person, regardless of their individual characteristics and socio-psychological attitudes, temperament and style.
A leading approach in the training is the understanding of leadership as managing oneself in a role. The course is conducted on the basis of key theses and principles of leadership theory, presented through the example of typological cases relevant to the managerial academic profile of the participants.
Training date: February 20, 2025.
Fostering People’s Engagement – motivation and empowerment through communication
- Organizer: Estonian Academy of Arts
- Instructor: Kai Klandorf
Instructor: Kai Klandorf. Kai holds a Bachelor’s degree in education and a Master’s degree in English from the University of Tartu. In recent years, Kai has furthered her education by obtaining a coaching qualification, which allows her to incorporate the techniques into argumentation and team training.
Description of the training programme: This course is designed to equip participants with the tools to use argumentation as a motivating and empowering resource in leadership communication. Through structured and effective messaging, leaders can reduce communication barriers and engage more meaningfully with their teams.
The first part of the training will focus on argument learning – what is an argument and how clear, effective, structured messaging can reduce communication barriers.
In the second part, we will look at how the argument model can be used to engage in a motivating and empowering way. In the leader’s toolbox, clear self-expression is essential and helps foster collaboration. To this end, we will also look at how to respond empathetically to the argument.
Training date: March 13, 2025.
Time Management
- Organizer: Universidade Católica Portuguesa
- Instructor: João Brás
Instructor: João Brás is a seasoned consultant and facilitator specializing in leadership, business development, and human resources. With over 25 years of experience, he supports individuals and organizations in transformation processes across various sectors and countries. João is also a certified coach (ICF-PCC and EMCC Senior Practitioner) and visiting professor at Católica Porto Business School, teaching Leadership, Negotiation, and Communication. He is known for his clear, human-centered, and practical approach to lifelong learning and impact.
Description of the training programme: Participants will explore advanced leadership models while strengthening their capacity to lead organizational transformation and fostering alignment across institutions.
In an era where the fluidity of change demands new time management approaches, this seminar invites leaders to rethink how they set priorities, manage distractions, and create space for focused work. Key learning objectives include:
- Setting SMART goals
- Applying prioritization techniques
- Mastering time scheduling
- Managing distractions
- Addressing procrastination
Participants will explore:
- The evolving nature of time and priority management
- Tools and techniques for setting and defending priorities
- The influence of others’ timelines on personal effectiveness
- Strategies to maintain focus and reduce interruptions
- The psychology of procrastination and sustainable habits
Training date: May 5, 2025.
In-person training seminars
Organizer: Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Instructors: Wayne Visser , António Vasconcelos, Luís Rochartre, João Pinto, Manuela Pintado , Raul Rodriguez , Isabel Braga da Cruz, Sérgio Almeida , Geert Vyncke.
Description of the training programme: The training programme consists of 3 modules: Module I, Economic impact.
Duration: 3 hours
This module will focus on the economic impact of the university in terms of its ecosystem of business partners. Drawing on examples such as the Corporate Leadership Groups and business accelerators in Cambridge and Antwerp, and the Innovation, Sustainability and Regeneration (INSURE) Hub in Porto, we will explore what works best to grow economic impact.
- Wayne Visser – Sharing experiences in growing collaborative business networks in Cambridge and Antwerp: 1 hour
- António Vasconcelos / Luis Rochartre / João Pinto / Manuela Pintado – Sharing the journey and lessons learned in building the Innovation, Sustainability and Regeneration Hub: 2 hours
Module II, Social impact. Duration: 3 hours
This module will focus on the social impact of the university in terms of its engagement with and contribution to local communities and other key stakeholders. This may include methods for understanding their interests and needs (e.g. using stakeholder materiality assessments), and for engaging in activities that benefit the community, such as employee volunteering, educational access programmes, charitable campaigns, or student projects.
- Raul Rodriguez – Woxsen University
- Isabel Braga da Cruz / Sérgio Almeida
Module III, Environmental impact, Duration: 3 hours
This module will focus on the environmental impact of the university in terms of energy, water, natural resources, pollution, waste and ecosystems. Participants will be introduced to typical activities and infrastructures that cause these impacts, ways to measure these, e.g. through the Future Fit Business Benchmark, and actions that can move the university from break even goals to positive pursuits.
- Geert Vyncke – sharing his experiences of making Antwerp Management School sustainable and circular: 1 hour
- Wayne Visser – introducing standards and KPIs to measure and report the environmental impacts of universities: 2 hours
Upcoming high-level leadership training programmes
Global Leadership
Type: In-person training seminar
Organiser: University of Silesia in Katowice
Date: TBD
Delegation
Type: Online Training Programme
Organiser: University of
Primorska
Date: July 2025
Leading Meetings
Type: Online Training Programme
Organiser: University of
Alicante
Date: September 2025
Leadership in Universities – Challenges from AI
Type: In-person training seminar
Organiser: University of
Alicante
Date: October 2025
Communication
Type: Online Training Programme
Organiser: Saarland University
Date: November 2025
Conflict management
Type: Online Training Programme
Organiser: Vytautas Magnus
University
Date: January 2026
Responsible Leadership of Universities
Type: In-person training seminar
Organiser: Vytautas Magnus
University
Date: February 2026
Leading change
Type: Online Training Programme
Organiser: University of Trieste
Date: March 2026
Decision Making
Type: Online Training Programme
Organiser: Jean Monnet
University Saint-Étienne
Date: May 2026
