A 3-Day High-Level Conference for African Universities

A 3-Day High-Level Conference for the Governing Council and Management Teams of African Universities

Management–Council Relationship in a University: Strategic and Practical Considerations

Dates: June 22– June 24, 2026

Venue: Lancaster University, United Kingdom

Facilitators: Global Skills Hub, United Kingdom & Lancaster University

1. Background and Context

Across the African continent, higher education institutions face growing pressure to deliver quality education, drive innovation, ensure financial sustainability, and align with national and continental development goals. The effectiveness of universities in achieving these mandates depends heavily on the quality of their governance and leadership.

One persistent challenge undermining institutional performance is the often-strained relationship between Governing Councils and University Management. Tensions around decision-making authority, unclear role boundaries, overlapping responsibilities, and poor communication frequently result in inefficiencies, conflict, and missed strategic opportunities.

In contrast, well-functioning universities—particularly in mature education systems such as the United Kingdom—demonstrate strong, clearly defined, and collaborative relationships between governance and executive management. These institutions benefit from high levels of autonomy, strategic alignment, transparency, and role clarity between Councils and Vice Chancellors.

2. About the Organisers and the Origin of the Retreat

Global Skills Hub UK is a professional training and development company based in the United Kingdom, best known for organizing the annual Africa Education Summit—a prestigious forum that brings together education policymakers, university leaders, and development partners to explore key challenges and innovations in Africa’s education systems.

The most recent summit, hosted in April 2025 in partnership with the Office of the President of Zimbabwe, attracted several participants, including Vice Chancellors, Ministers of Education, government officials, and senior university management from several African countries. 

Lancaster University served as a strategic partner. The next summit, scheduled for March 2026, will be held in partnership with the Government of Ghana.

Through its experience and stakeholder engagements at these summits, Global Skills Hub identified a recurring concern across institutions—the growing gap, tension, and misalignment between Governing Councils and University Management teams. 

Participants repeatedly cited this as a critical impediment to institutional effectiveness, reform implementation, and strategic continuity.

In response, and in line with its mission to strengthen African higher education through global collaboration, Global Skills Hub has partnered with Lancaster University to design and deliver this High-Level Retreat and Conference, specifically tailored to address these challenges.

3. Rationale for the Conference

This retreat is conceived as a strategic intervention to support African universities in strengthening institutional governance through reflection, exposure, and practice-based learning. It will address the critical disconnect between governance bodies and management executives and provide tools for realignment within the unique socio-political and regulatory contexts of African higher education.

The retreat will also draw upon the United Kingdom’s well-established governance systems—not to impose models, but to present adaptable, practical frameworks that African institutions can contextualize and implement.

4. Problems and Gaps to be Addressed

The retreat will directly tackle several recurring challenges in African university governance, including:

a. Weak Role Clarity

Confusion or conflict between the strategic oversight role of the Council and the operational leadership of Management.

Tensions over policy implementation, procurement, academic matters, and institutional autonomy.

b. Governance–Management Misalignment

Lack of strategic synergy leading to fragmented decision-making and delayed reforms.

Councils not fully engaged in shaping long-term institutional vision.

c. Limited Exposure to International Best Practices

Few opportunities for Councils and Management teams to jointly learn from successful global university systems.

Limited benchmarking and awareness of effective models such as those in the UK.

d. Inadequate Training for Council Members

Many Governing Council members are appointed with limited orientation in higher education governance.

Absence of continuous professional development undermines effective oversight and policy formulation.

e. Insufficient Trust and Communication

Cultural, generational, or political gaps often breed mistrust or adversarial relationships between Councils and executives.

A need exists to build interpersonal and institutional trust for productive governance.

5. Objectives of the Conference

The primary objectives of the retreat are to:

Deepen understanding of the strategic roles of university Governing Councils and Management, and how they can function collaboratively.

Provide practical tools and frameworks for resolving governance-management tensions.

Showcase governance structures and practices from the UK higher education system, with a focus on Lancaster University.

Facilitate cross-institutional dialogue among African university leaders on shared governance challenges and solutions.

Support participants in developing context-specific action plans to strengthen Council–Management relationships.

6. Retreat Structure and Methodology

The retreat will employ a mix of expert presentations, panel discussions, case studies, role-play simulations, and breakout workshops covering themes such as:

Governing Council Composition and Effectiveness

Strategic Planning and Oversight

Leadership and Conflict Resolution in Governance

Institutional Autonomy vs. State Accountability

Council–Management Collaboration in Financial and Academic Oversight

The Lancaster Model: Lessons from the UK University System

Sessions will be led by senior academics, governance specialists, and university leaders from Lancaster University.

7. Target Participants

The retreat is designed for joint participation by both governance and management teams. Target attendees include:

Pro-Chancellors / Governing Council Chairs

Members of Governing Councils

Vice Chancellors / Presidents / Rectors

Deputy Vice Chancellors (Academic, Administration, Finance)

Registrars and Council Secretaries

Bursars / Chief Financial Officers

Directors of Planning, Quality Assurance, or Strategy

Participation is expected from a wide range of public and private universities across West, East, Central, North, and Southern Africa.

8. Strategic Importance of the UK

 Venue and Partners

Lancaster University provides a rich and relevant learning environment, demonstrating excellence in institutional governance and international engagement. Holding the retreat in the UK offers:

Immersion in a global higher education environment

Direct observation of university council and senate structures

Access to UK-based governance tools and benchmarking resources

A neutral and reflective environment free from local political pressures

9. Expected Outcomes

By the end of the retreat, participants will:

Gain clarity on governance roles and boundaries

Build practical strategies for effective collaboration

Acquire governance improvement frameworks adaptable to their institutions

Strengthen inter-institutional relationships for peer learning and support

Develop actionable governance and leadership enhancement plans

10. Conclusion

For African universities to thrive in the 21st century, governance reform is not optional—it is a strategic imperative. The proposed High-Level Retreat and Conference at Lancaster University provides a timely and practical platform to drive institutional transformation through stronger Council–Management alignment.

This initiative is envisioned as a flagship programme to catalyze systemic change across African higher education and nurture a new generation of informed, empowered, and collaborative university leaders.