by Bevan Bax
The first block session of the Advanced Leadership Development Programme (ALDP) began on Thursday, 12 May 2016 and was opened by Dr Albert van Jaarsveld at the International Convention Centre. Dr van Jaarsveld, the Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of KwaZulu-Natal, gave an inspiring address and discussed the leadership vision and direction for Higher Education, relating specifically to UKZN.
In his address he indicated that leadership is taking a new direction, and that it is moving towards one in which values form the foundation. This value based model allows for tertiary institutions to become or remain competitive, and to differentiate themselves through this value based approach to people management.
Among the facilitators who interacted with delegates over the three days, a web seminar with Professor Brenda Gourley was highly impactful. Brenda focused on optimising promotion performance through personal mastery and discussed the importance of attracting, developing and retaining staff. She has served two terms of office as Chair of the Association of Commonwealth Universities and two terms of office on the Board of the International Association of Universities, as well as many others in various parts of the world.
This block session concluded with a cocktail evening, and an interactive drumming session with delegates on the final day.