Enabling performance

The Enabling Performance elements are designed to support and improve your ongoing performance as a programme leader.

Learning from others 

There are over 200 programme directors and major/specialisation leaders across the University.  Being part of this community can give you the opportunity to learn from others as well as being able to share good ideas to grow the practice of programme leadership.

The programme leader community events planned for this year are outlined on the staff intranet. 

Programme leader community events (University staff only)

Resources and support

There are roles and functions that support you in your role as programme leader.  The key people within your faculty are:

Academic services manager:

  • First point of call for questions about academic services support.
  • Manages the faculty academic services team.
  • Manages the faculty's relationship with central service partners (ie Student and Academic Services, Student Hubs and School of Graduate Studies).

Programme portfolio manager:

  • Works with programme leaders to deliver excellence in programme development and reviews.
  • Supports curriculum and regulatory changes ensuring programmes meet their objectives, add new programmes and end programmes, if appropriate.
  • Provide ongoing quality assurance and have input into faculty academic strategy.

Curriculum development manager (may be an academic member of staff):

  • Leads strategic projects within the faculty ensuring programme curriculum is developed and enhanced in a coherent way that is aligned with the strategic direction of the faculty.
  • Provides advice and guidance to programme leaders on improvements to the teaching and learning environment.
  • Is a key connection to Ranga Auaha Ako and Organisational Development functions that provide learning design, course development and academic capability development.

The following link is to a resource available to staff only.

Programme Leaders - Roles and Relationships: An overview of the professional staff responsible for supporting Programme Directors and Major/Specialisation Leaders. (PDF 958.8 KB)

Leadership skills

This is a role that requires a leadership mindset, behaviours and skills to be successful.  The following four skills were identified by experienced programme leaders as being key to helping you be a successful leader in this role:

  • Collaborative leadership
  • Influencing others
  • Prioritisation
  • Having challenging conversations

Resources to help you develop in relation to these skills are available. Leadership skills for programme leaders (University staff only) 

Off-boarding

Before you leave your role, it is important to support the next programme leader coming in; this will help maintain the student experience within the programme.

The following link is to a resource available to staff only.

While self-reflection is recommended as a regular leadership practice to help build your self-awareness and self-knowledge, it can be especially useful as you move from one role to the next.

The following link is to a resource available to staff only.