Of what use is a Head of Administration

Presentation at the HUMANE seminar in Targu Mures, Romania

June 13 - 14 2008

My filter to say what’s coming

• 38 years in or near university administration• Serving

– 2 Heads of Academic Departments

– 4 Vice-Chancellors next to the HoA

– 3 Vice-Chancellors as HoA

– 2 Ministers

– 1 Managing Director

• I will focus on the role in university leadership - the other side of the coin is how to lead professional administrators in an HEI environment.

A perception of two strands; ACADEMIC and ADMINISTRATIVE

V.C.

Academic Departments

Services

FacultiesStrat. Planning

Legal affairs

HoA

Planning

Board

Finance

Human resources

Student affairs

FacultiesFaculties

Academic Departments

Academic Departments

Academic Departments

Academic Departments

Academic Departments

Four basic models management models:

1. The Omni-potent Academic

2. The Omni-potent Academy

3. The binary (or more) Administrations

4. The unitary Administration

This could be a development over time

- but nothing indicates that it is that simple

1. The Omni-potent Academic

Rector

Planning dpt

Deans

Ac. dpts

Services

Admin. dpts

2. The Omni-potent Academy

Rector

Vice-Rector

Dean

Ac. dpts

Planning dpt

Vice-Rector

Vice-RektorVice-Rector Vice-Rektor

Dean Dean

AC.dptsAc. dpts

Services

Admin. dpts

3. The Binary(or more) AdministrationV.C. Coordinates academic and adminstrative activities

Vice-Chancellor

Pro-V-C

Dean

Ac. dpts

HR

Dean Dean

AC.dpts

Ac. dpts

Services

Students

Finance

Facilities

BursarAc. registrar

Faculty office

Faculty office

Faculty office

4. The Unitary AdministrationOne person coordinating administrative tasks

Vice-Chancellor

Pro-V-C

Dean

Ac. dpts

HRDean Dean

AC.dpts

Ac. dpts

Services

Students

Finance

Facilities

HoA

Faculty offices

The role of a university administration 1(2)

Political

Academic Administrative

Clark’s?

Triangle The game of Academic Freedom?

The role of a University Administration 2(2)

Political

Academic Administrative

Not Clark’s?

Triangle

Administration

The role of the Head of Aministration 1(3)The servant as a leader

• Who got around the world in 80 days?

1. Phileas Foggx. Jule Verne2. Paspartout

The role of the Head of Aministration 2(3) A consigliore in a Kindergarten

Remember Tom Haynes in ”The Godfather”?

• Providing legal advice to the Mafia boss• But the Boss has a short memory

And the Faculty couldn’t care less about rules

• And rules must never prevent scientific creativity!

The role of the Head of Aministration 3(3) Sir Humphrey in ”Yes Minister”

• Sir Humphrey is a civil servant coaching his Minister

• The new Vice-Chancellor may have good ideas- but can he/she put them into context? V C ?

Worried HoA ?

The long arm of Government

• In some systems, the HoA is responsible to the Minister rather than the University

• This is a good foundation for conflicts

The Head of Administration Expected Competencies

• HEI Leadership advisor - Admin leader• Loyal - Stable• Understanding

academic life - Legal advisor• Entreprenuer - Administrator• Communicator - Listener

Expected loyalties

Depends on the system!

• To academic life - teachers and students

• To the Vice-Chancellor

• To the Minister

• To the Administrative Community (if there is one)

Summarized opinion: Analysis

There are three sets of values - whereof two are necessary in a HEI

Value set: Academic Admin Political

Prerequisite: Freedom Procedure ControlFocus : Individuals Structures Power

Result span: Long term Short term Election period

Priorities span: Short term Medium term Short term

Summarized opinion: Suggestions

Let me suggest:

The the Head of Administration – is committed to administrative values– has power to coordinate all the processes– is competent to give strategic advice to the academic leaders

– ensures stable best possible conditions for teaching and research– protects the Academic sphere from the Political sphere

Thats all folks!

Thats all folks!