The decision to implement leadership training courses for SSF’s grantees was unique with no known model to draw inspiration from, either in Swedish or in international research funding bodies.
The question of how to implement the leadership programme was discussed extensively in 2001.
The conclusion was tailormade solutions, which meant instruction in the form of seminars, or ”Training Camps”, each focused on a select number of subjects. At these ”Training Camps” the Future Research Leaders would have the opportunity to meet prominent people within academia, industry and society at large via lectures and discussion sessions.
Furthermore, personal development and other important subjects would be considered. It was also decided that a mentor programme would be integrated into the training. The objective was an exchange of ideas between mentor and mentee. This would impart knowledge and new insight regarding strategic management and personal leadership while stimulating both professional and personal development.
Themes addressed
The themes addressed in the planned ”Training Camps” were: leadership and project management in industry and academia, research politics and policy, research funding, media training, commercialisation of research results, science in society, genus issues, professional relationships, conflict and crisis resolution, philosophy of science and a study trip.
Beneficial outcome
When the SSF board decided to launch the leadership programme they did not realise that the outcome would be so positive and beneficial. Today, in 2007, SSF operates three parallel leadership programmes: ”Future Research Leaders II” and two ”Ingvar Carlsson Award” programmes.
All indications showed that the leadership programme was being positively received by the grantees. In the spring of 2005, SSF nominated an independent evaluation group under the direction of Prof. Anders Liljas, Lund University, to evaluate the ”Future Research Leaders” programme. The objective of this was to evaluate both the selection process and the leadership
programme.
Need to be spread
The evaluation group’s conclusion regarding the ”Future Research Leaders” programme was very positive. The original goals set out by the SSF for the programme had been met and it was recommended that the focus be maintained on academic leadership in conjunction with research excellence and strategic values. As a result of the leadership programme’s success, SSF decided to utilise this tool and give other researchers access to it. The evaluation group felt that this programme is of great value to the Swedish research community and ought to be spread further.
Text: Henryk Wos
This is an extraction of an article in the Activity Report 2007. Read the complete text.