Leading Higher Education in the Digital Age

Designed to equip established and emerging leaders in higher education to decipher the complex and increasingly digital world in which we live, this key text both provokes and supports thinking about digital education leadership.

At the heart of this book is the conceptual framework of Digital Education Leadership Literacies for Higher Education, or DELLHE. By journeying through the different topics, the reader is introduced to the concept of DELLHE and shown how the different dimensions can help develop critical mindsets and support leaders in taking responsible action:

-VISION-MAKING explores values, purpose, context and strategy.

-LEADING encourages deep thinking about what forms of leadership need to be mobilised and how digital education leaders can bring about change that sticks.

-SUSTAINING focuses on how decisions about digital education need to consider the human and environmental impact.

-RELATING highlights the importance of both interpersonal relationships and organisational dynamics.

-LEARNING encourages the professional development of both current and aspiring digital education leaders, as well as rethinking the ways in which higher education institutions can foster organisational learning.

Leading Higher Education in the Digital Age combines research evidence, practical examples and recommendations to stimulate thinking and action. This book will be useful for current and aspiring leaders alike: Rectors, Presidents, Vice-Chancellors, Vice-rectors and Pro-Vice-Chancellors, particularly those taking on a remit for digital education; heads of learning technology units or centres for teaching and learning, academic leaders, or learning technologists and educational developers looking to move into leadership roles.

Deborah Arnold is a senior digital education consultant and Associate Researcher at Edul@b, Open University of Catalonia, Spain. An award-winning researcher and strategic advisor, she leads high-impact projects supporting the European Commission and universities worldwide.

Albert Sangrà leads the Futures of Education in the Digital Age Research Centre, Open University of Catalonia, Spain and is the UNESCO Chair on Education and Technology. He is Vice-President, Strategic Thinking & Networking at EDEN Digital Learning Europe and has led digital transformation consultancy projects all over the world.