Learning while leading: a realist evaluation of an academic leadership programme

IntroductionMany academic health centres and universities have implemented leadership development programmes; however, their potential impact in different contexts in healthcare remains unknown. We assessed the impact of an academic leadership development programme on the self-reported leadership activities of faculty leaders in their respective work contexts.MethodsTen faculty leaders who participated in a 10-month leadership development programme between 2017 and 2020 were interviewed. The realist evaluation approach was used to guide deductive content analysis, allowing concepts related to what works for whom, why and when to emerge from the data.ResultsFaculty leaders benefited in different ways depending on the organisational context (eg, culture) in which they reside and their individual contexts (eg, personal aspirations as a leader). Faculty leaders who have minimal mentorship in their leadership role gained an increased sense of community and belongingness with peer leaders and received validation in their personal leadership approach from the programme. Faculty leaders with accessible mentors were more likely than their peers to apply the knowledge they learnt to their work settings. Prolonged engagement among faculty leaders in the 10-month programme fostered continuity of learning and peer support that extended beyond programme completion.ConclusionsThis academic leadership programme included participation of faculty leaders in different contexts, resulted in varying impacts on participants’ learning outcomes, leader self-efficacy and application of acquired knowledge. Faculty administrators should look for programmes with a multitude of learning interfaces to extract knowledge, hone leadership skills and build networks.

The Relational Newsroom: An Appreciative Inquiry into how Leadership Empowers Learning in Newsrooms

<p>The field of journalism in New Zealand has gone through significant changes in the last few years, with the onset of digital technologies, their impact on the funding of journalism and on readership, and in turn on the way journalism is performed. Therefore, the aim of this study is to understand how leadership empowers learning in newsrooms and, in turn, contributes to the training and development of journalists. The intent here is to contribute to the constantly evolving field of journalism as it deals with the digital changes driving what is arguably the most concentrated period of change in its history. Appreciative Inquiry (AI) has typically been used in organisations to manifest positive change for people. However, for this study I have creatively adapted and applied the Appreciative Inquiry framework to situate qualitative research methods inside three newsrooms in New Zealand. Focus groups in each newsroom were comprised of individuals from different hierarchical levels of the workplace. As the lead researcher I led the groups who operated as co-researchers following the AI process of four phases comprising Discover, Dream, Design and Destiny seeking to understand how leadership empowers learning in newsrooms. The findings were initially drawn from an analysis of the themes which arose in the discussions. From the findings I use AI theory and adapt the AI process to propose a Relational Newsroom framework for use in newsrooms. By embedding newsroom groups constantly using the 4-D cycle of AI and involving the public in live interaction process with newsroom decision-making, the framework would generate practices of communication, trust, personal leadership and structure identified in the findings. This study concludes with proposals in the form of action statements for use in both news media and journalism school newsrooms to have journalists engaged and involved in creating the future of the field.</p>

The Relational Newsroom: An Appreciative Inquiry into how Leadership Empowers Learning in Newsrooms

<p>The field of journalism in New Zealand has gone through significant changes in the last few years, with the onset of digital technologies, their impact on the funding of journalism and on readership, and in turn on the way journalism is performed. Therefore, the aim of this study is to understand how leadership empowers learning in newsrooms and, in turn, contributes to the training and development of journalists. The intent here is to contribute to the constantly evolving field of journalism as it deals with the digital changes driving what is arguably the most concentrated period of change in its history. Appreciative Inquiry (AI) has typically been used in organisations to manifest positive change for people. However, for this study I have creatively adapted and applied the Appreciative Inquiry framework to situate qualitative research methods inside three newsrooms in New Zealand. Focus groups in each newsroom were comprised of individuals from different hierarchical levels of the workplace. As the lead researcher I led the groups who operated as co-researchers following the AI process of four phases comprising Discover, Dream, Design and Destiny seeking to understand how leadership empowers learning in newsrooms. The findings were initially drawn from an analysis of the themes which arose in the discussions. From the findings I use AI theory and adapt the AI process to propose a Relational Newsroom framework for use in newsrooms. By embedding newsroom groups constantly using the 4-D cycle of AI and involving the public in live interaction process with newsroom decision-making, the framework would generate practices of communication, trust, personal leadership and structure identified in the findings. This study concludes with proposals in the form of action statements for use in both news media and journalism school newsrooms to have journalists engaged and involved in creating the future of the field.</p>

A required course in leadership, entrepreneurship, and administration in pharmacy

Context: Worldwide, there is growing interest in equipping pharmacy graduates with the requisite skills to assume responsibilities related to management and leadership in the profession. To meet this need, the required course “Leadership, Entrepreneurship, and Administration in Pharmacy” is provided as a culminating experience for pharmacy students. Description of course: In this course, students learn concepts related to management, leadership, and entrepreneurship and complete assignments including financial statement exercises, human resources management simulations, personal leadership development plans, and business plan projects with professional poster presentations. The course in its current form has been offered four times to 541 students. Evaluation: Student evaluations (n=214) show the course is well-received and provides opportunities to develop knowledge and skills not covered previously. As the pharmacy profession is constantly evolving, students need a strong foundation in management, leadership, and entrepreneurship. Sharing experiences from this course will aid faculty at other institutions wanting to include similar topics in their curriculum.

Leadership in Schistosomiasis Eradication Policy in Indonesia

Schistosomiasis is an endemic illness found throughout the world, including in Indonesia's Central Sulawesi province. The prevention and control procedures have been in place since 1975, but the prevalence rate has not yet reached 0%. This study used a methodology that combines primary and secondary data collection. The focus of this research is on the importance of leadership in attaining the aims of the schistosomiasis eradication policy, which is concentrated on a single location in Poso, the Bada Valley. This study discovered that policy innovations and personal leadership with a desire to succeed in a career in education and leadership training at the official level in Indonesia through PIM II Education and Training were responsible for the success of the schistosomiasis policy in Bada. The use of close personal and institutional networks is able to drive various formal and non-formal institutional mechanisms to support the achievement of schistosomiasis eradication policies in Poso.

The Syriac Orthodox and Coptic Orthodox Churches in Austria: Inter-Church Relations and State Recognition

This article explores the inter-church and church-state relations of the Syriac Orthodox and Coptic Orthodox Churches in Austria. The strong historic role of the Catholic Church in Austria's political landscape provides the central framework to understand the “story of success” regarding relations with both the Catholic Church and state authorities in Austria. Summarizing the history of migration and establishment of diaspora churches in Austria, the article explores the impact of the support of the Catholic Church in the process of institutionalization. In addition, state recognition and examples of church-state interaction are highlighted. The findings support the conclusion that minority churches from the Oriental Orthodox tradition have benefitted strongly from their relations with the majority church and the state. However, their authority in both religious and political contexts also affects personal leadership and internal affiliations which can lead to divisions within the church communities.