INTERNSHIP PROGRAM ON UNIVERSITY GOVERNANCE
Objectives of the internship program
General objectives
Training of senior leaders of the universities from eligible countries through the establishment and maintenance of an effective university governance approach.
Specific objectives
The main objective of the program will be to allow participants to spend some time thinking about ways to administer universities and a concrete action plan to improve management of their institution. Therefore, each participant must identify a specific subject before attending the internship.
Information must be sent before the course to the program coordinator at the University of Ottawa (Professor Eric Champagne, Director of the Centre on Governance at the University of Ottawa) who will be responsible for scheduling the action plan of each participant. This includes the appointment of a coach/supervisor to guide each person during and after the internship, and the identification of human resources within and outside the University who are capable of instructing or inspiring the participants to take action steps.
Professor Champagne will develop a specific methodology and work schedule to guide participants through the action planning before, during, and after the training course.
Duration and requisites for implementing the training course
The training course on University governance will last six (6) months from September 2019 to the end of February 2020.
The requisites for conducting the training course is there are at least seven (7) participants awarded with the scholarship.
Conditions for participation in the internship
Candidates must:
- Hold a key position in higher education institutions;
- Obtain the endorsement from the university leadership and undertake to implement the action plan of the leadership;
- Have worked with the university’s leadership in identifying the specific problem faced by the University in the governance process.
Internship content and curriculum framework1
During the internship, participants will have the opportunity to take a course on university governance. This course is conducted in the form of an executive training course.
Participants will follow five intensive courses, each lasting two days (a total of 10 training days).
Selected teaching methods are inspired by the adult learning principles which will include professional presentations and group work.
Between the sessions, students will have to complete individual assignments that are very useful for them in thinking about university governance practices and in developing action plans. Possible topics (to be confirmed):
- Governance in University context (managing the complexity of an environment with many factors and interests);
- Strategic planning and the implementation of action plans in the university;
- University governance and leadership;
- Corporate governance in the university context (effective board of directors);
- University financial management (incomes, expenses and financial control);
- Etc.
Coaching will be a fundamental aspect of this approach. Immediately upon arrival at the University of Ottawa, the participants will be guided by the coach/supervisor. These coaches are selected from the University's professors.
The role of coaches/supervisors will be to guide participants’ individual assignments (action plans) and direct them to other sources of information available at the University of Ottawa.
The role of the coach will not be restricted to the completion of the training course in the University of Ottawa but will continue during the following months as the participants progressively sequence the steps in their action plan.
This companionship can be personalized (via Skype or other means of distance communication), or the participants can also meet via a teleconference to discuss the difficulties or accomplishments.
Details and specific information will be finalized in the next couple of months
Access to the resources of the University of Ottawa
University staff will also contribute to the internship under respective topic or the issue suggested by the participants during the development of the action plans. For example, if a participant mentions a question related to university funding or questions about computer modernization, he will be linked to the relevant department (financial or IT department) and the participant will also be able to spend some time in these departments as part of a small first hand training course.
Library units will also be engaged and librarians in the social sciences will also be available to assist the participants in searching for materials or data.
Engage in university activities and presentations at the end of the training course
Each student will be informed about the weekly activities organized by the University of Ottawa and will be invited to participate in these activities.
This will give students access to a variety of topics, issues, politics, governance or management in Canada or abroad.
This aspect of the training course is of paramount importance because it allows participants not only to learn but also to expand professional networks.
At the end of the training session, participants will be invited to give presentations on what they have learned in an open lecture organized by the Centre on Governance.
Invited guests to this presentation also includes partners, fund managers, who have been mobilized to participate in this training course, and all others interested in the field of university governance.
Partners
The partners of this program include:
- The Canadian Francophonie Scholarship Program (CFSP);
- The Centre on Governance at the University of Ottawa;
- The University Agency of La Francophonie (AUF)