As higher education institutions across Asia navigate rapid technological change, demographic shifts and increasing financial complexity, effective institutional leadership has become a defining factor in building resilient, future-ready higher education institutions. Against this backdrop, Singapore Management University (SMU) Executive Development (ExD) and the United Board for Christian Higher Education in Asia have deepened their partnership through an expanded suite of executive leadership programmes that brought together more than 67 sitting university heads, senior administrators and emerging academic leaders from across Asia throughout July 2026.
Spanning three flagship programmes, the collaboration reflects a shared commitment to strengthening leadership capability across every level of higher education leadership, while fostering a regional community of practice committed to advancing higher education in Asia.
"Leadership is a calling to serve—we do this work not because we are paid to do it, but because we are called to something larger than ourselves. And if you have been called to lead, you can be equipped to lead well. That is why we come together: to answer the call and equip one another for the important work ahead," said Dr Pareena Gupta Lawrence, President of the United Board.
Building leadership capability across the higher education ecosystem
The programmes form a connected leadership pathway designed to equip leaders at different stages of their careers with the capabilities needed to lead institutional transformation.
The series commenced with the Heads of Institution Higher Education Leadership Summit 2026 on 3 to 4 July, which was directed by François Bogacz, Head of Learning and Innovation at SMU ExD. Bringing together university presidents and vice-chancellors, the summit examined the major trends reshaping higher education and explored how institutions can remain relevant while staying true to their educational mission.
During a fireside conversation, SMU President Professor Lily Kong challenged participants to continually return to the fundamental purpose of higher education, keeping in mind the question, "What does our university stand for, and what difference are we making to our stakeholders?"
The learning journey continued with the Heads of Institution Leadership Strategy Institute on 6 to 9 July, where leaders developed practical strategies around institutional resilience, strategic leadership, financial sustainability, organisational capability and partnerships.
"Real higher education institutional strategy has to be built on solid legs: futures thinking to see change before it arrives, financial acumen to know what an institution can actually sustain, talent and organisational capability to make sure it can carry a strategy through, and the advancement and partnerships that give it room to act. Heads of Institution who can hold all of this together—and look honestly at where their own institution falls short—are the ones who move from ambition to something they can execute. That's the work we do in partnership with the United Board," said François Bogacz.
The leadership continuum concluded with the United Board Fellows Programme: SMU Summer Leadership Institute on 13 to 18 July, directed by David Gomulya, Professor of Strategy & Entrepreneurship from SMU Lee Kong Chian School of Business. Under the theme Adapting to Disruption: Forging Resilient and Inclusive Higher Education in Asia, the programme develops the next generation of academic leaders equipped to build institutions that are both resilient and inclusive.
"For over two decades, the United Board Fellows Programme has graduated cohort after cohort of emerging leaders in Asian higher education. That this year's cohort is inaugurated immediately following the Heads of Institution programmes reflects a deliberate continuum of leadership development across different generations and levels of university leadership," said Dr Lawrence.
A partnership that strengthens higher education across Asia
The expanded 2026 programming leveraged on a partnership established in 2024, when SMU ExD and the United Board had jointly launched the inaugural Heads of Institution Leadership Strategy Institute.
Together with the long-running United Board Fellows Programme, which has developed more than 397 Fellows from over 87 institutions across 15 countries and regions since 2002, the collaboration now represents one of the region's most comprehensive leadership development pathways for higher education.
For SMU ExD, the partnership reflected its growing role as a regional centre for executive education that translates management research into practical leadership capabilities for institutions facing complex change.
"We are proud to partner with the United Board across this full arc of leadership development. Together, these programmes take higher education leaders on a deliberate journey: building foresight, sharpening strategy, and developing the resilience to lead through disruption. They also demonstrate SMU Executive Development's commitment to serving as a regional hub where leaders across Asia learn from one another and strengthen the institutions they serve," said Dr Flocy Joseph, Senior Deputy Director, SMU ExD.
Beyond developing individual leaders, both organisations see the partnership as contributing to stronger standards of leadership across Asia's higher education sector through shared learning, peer networks and the exchange of leading practices.
"It is an honour and a privilege for the United Board to convene this extraordinary gathering of visionary leaders and emerging changemakers. Together, we are not merely sharing challenges—we are forging the blueprint for a new era of educational institutions across Asia. This is how we shape tomorrow," said Dr Jakarin Srimoon, Programme Director for Leadership Development at the United Board.
As participants return to their institutions across Asia, the impact of the partnership would ultimately be measured in the institutional strategies they implement, the innovations they lead and the communities they strengthen.
"What matters most to us is the difference these programmes make when leaders return to their institutions. Across the Summit, the Strategy Institute and the Summer Leadership Institute, our focus has been on ensuring every participant leaves with sharper foresight, practical strategy and the resilience to lead their institution through disruption," said Roma Goodlander, Client Director, SMU Executive Development.
Photo credit: SMU ExD