Academic Leadership in Higher Education - Initial research findings

Griffiths, Marc; Gibbs, Vivien

Abstract

Introduction
The aim of this research was to gain a deeper understanding of the perceptions of key stakeholders in relation to the current extent of Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) in leadership roles within academia. The researchers undertook an exploration of the potential barriers, challenges and opportunities that exist for AHPs to undertake leadership roles within higher education and used the findings to offer recommendations for the future.

Background:
Whilst it is acknowledged that the number of AHP academic staff is significantly smaller than other professions such as Nursing, it is generally recognised that a lower percentage of AHPs are appointed to significant leadership roles within academia. This is particularly noticeable in posts associated with governance, policy and decision making. This project focused specifically on the reasons why this may be the case, and aimed to identify opportunities for future development models.

Method:
Purposive sampling took place to ensure a diverse sample of stakeholders, and the inclusion of the most appropriate participants with different experiences, backgrounds and roles, thereby ensuring a range of perspectives would be obtained. A total of twenty semi structured interviews were conducted and the data analysed using thematic analysis in order to explore the initial findings and create core themes.

Findings:
Several themes emerged from the study, the primary ones relating to lack of confidence, a lack of motivation amongst AHPs to aspire to senior leadership roles, with a preference instead to focus on gaining clinical and research expertise rather than leadership skills. In addition, fewer opportunities appear to exist for AHPs to progress into senior leadership roles outside of the AHP sphere, due to a number of reasons which are explored in more depth in this report, but the key issue was an inability to break through existing structures within academia. It was noted that AHPs probably have much to learn from our nursing colleagues in how to move into strategic leadership roles within academia.

Conclusion:
A number of recommendations were made to ensure that AHPs attain the ambition, the confidence, the skills and the opportunities required for them to be able to move into senior leadership roles in the future.
Whilst it is recognised that the findings from this study may not resonate with all AHPs, the comments and the themes represent the lived experiences of the interviewed participants. Further work is therefore needed to establish whether the issues raised here are specific to AHPs, or are shared by other academic groups, and hence of wider relevance.

The findings from this study will be used to apply for a subsequent grant application for a future project. Current research in the area is limited, and further information is required to establish what challenges are faced by AHPs when progressing through their careers.

• Presentation Conference Type: Keynote
• Conference Name: Council of Deans of Health Annual Summit
• Start Date: May 15, 2019
• End Date: May 16, 2019
• Deposit Date: Jul 29, 2019
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 29, 2019
• Keywords: Leadership, workforce, Allied Health Professions
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/1787248