Leadership for research group leaders

Background

According to KI, all “activities are to be characterized by good leadership, teamwork, participation, transparency, equality and diversity, and environmental care both internal and external.” A part of the efforts to ensure this is to strengthen scientific leadership at the research group leader level. 

Aim

The aim of the course is to enhance participants’ knowledge about academic leadership and how to build conditions for dynamic research group development together with safe, encouraging and inspiring work and learning environment. Further aim is to facilitate interaction with other research group leaders at KI to promote network building. 

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of the course, participants will be able to: 

• describe important aspects of academic leadership at the research group level. 
• use tools obtained during the course to implement a safe, confident and inspiring work environment in their research groups. 
• reflect on the different roles, functions and responsibilities within academic research. 
• implement ways of working within their group that support dynamic group development and innovative research environments. 
• discuss their own leadership role. 
• coach and give feedback to staff. 
• implement an action plan to improve the work environment in their own research group / team. 

Scope

The course is equivalent to two weeks of full-time studies. 

Short description

The course starts with a two-day retreat at Hotel Skeppsholmen in central Stockholm. 

The retreat is followed by eight whole-day seminars, once per month. 

A central and appreciated part of the course is the work in smaller Backstage groups with six to seven participants. A trained facilitator leads the work in the Backstage groups in a structured and predefined way. In these groups course members will coach one another, discuss challenges, complex situations and questions related to their position as research group leaders. The work in the Backstage groups is confidential. 

Eligibility and selection

• Participants must hold a PhD and be active researchers at Karolinska Institutet. 
• A personal motivation letter to be amended to application. 
• A letter of recommendation from head of department to add to application. 
• Research group leaders and team leaders with a minimum of two members in their group and have official staff liability can be admitted to the course.

Clarification

This is a leadership development course and will be a merit in Karolinska Institutet’s leadership portfolio.  

If you are looking for a course in higher education pedagogy that you need for the title of docent or a teaching position, please see: Higher Education courses | Staff Portal

Course leaders

The course is arranged by Unit for Teaching and Learning, KI.