Profession head of higher education institutions

Heads of higher education institutions manage the day-to-day activities of a higher education institution, such as a college or vocational school. Heads of higher education institutions make decisions concerning admissions and are responsible for meeting curriculum standards, which facilitate academic development for the students. They manage staff, the school's budget, campus programmes and oversee the communication between departments. They also ensure the institution meets the national education requirements set by law.

Personality Type

• Enterprising / Social
• Enterprising / Conventional

Knowledge

• Curriculum objectives

  The goals identified in curricula and defined learning outcomes.

• Curriculum standards

  The governmental policies concerning educational curricula and the approved curricula from specific educational institutions.

• Education law

  The area of law and legislation that concerns education policies and the people working in the sector in an (inter)national context, such as teachers, students, and administrators.

Skills

• Manage staff

  Manage employees and subordinates, working in a team or individually, to maximise their performance and contribution. Schedule their work and activities, give instructions, motivate and direct the workers to meet the company objectives. Monitor and measure how an employee undertakes their responsibilities and how well these activities are executed. Identify areas for improvement and make suggestions to achieve this. Lead a group of people to help them achieve goals and maintain an effective working relationship among staff.

• Assist in the organisation of school events

  Provide assistance in the planning and organisation of school events, such as the school's open house day, a sports game or a talent show.

• Monitor educational developments

  Monitor the changes in educational policies, methodologies and research by reviewing relevant literature and liaising with education officials and institutions.

• Present reports

  Display results, statistics and conclusions to an audience in a transparent and straightforward way.

• Liaise with educational staff

  Communicate with the school staff such as teachers, teaching assistants, academic advisors, and the principal on issues relating to students' well-being. In the context of a university, liaise with the technical and research staff to discuss research projects and courses-related matters.

• Show an exemplary leading role in an organisation

  Perform, act, and behave in a manner that inspires collaborators to follow the example given by their managers.

• Liaise with educational support staff

  Communicate with education management, such as the school principal and board members, and with the education support team such as the teaching assistant, school counsellor or academic advisor on issues relating the students' well-being.

• Lead board meetings

  Set the date, prepare the agenda, make sure the required materials are provided and preside over the meetings of the decision-making body of an organization.

• Represent the organisation

  Act as representative of the institution, company or organisation to the outside world.

• Manage school budget

  Conduct cost estimates and budget planning from an educational institution or school. Monitor the school budget, as well as costs and expenses. Report on the budget.

• Cooperate with education professionals

  Communicate with teachers or other professionals working in education in order to identify needs and areas of improvement in education systems, and to establish a collaborative relationship.

• Guarantee students' safety

  Ensure all students falling under an instructor or other person’s supervision are safe and accounted for. Follow safety precautions in the learning situation.

• Liaise with board members

  Report to the management, boards of directors and committees of an organisation.

• Write work-related reports

  Compose work-related reports that support effective relationship management and a high standard of documentation and record keeping. Write and present results and conclusions in a clear and intelligible way so they are comprehensible to a non-expert audience.

• Develop organisational policies

  Develop and supervise the implementation of policies aimed at documenting and detailing the procedures for the operations of the organisation in the lights of its strategic planning.

• Analyse staff capacity

  Evaluate and identify staffing gaps in quantity, skills, performance revenue and surpluses.

Optional knowledge and skills

Source: Sisyphus ODB