DIES Training Courses

DIES training courses are modular, practice-oriented training courses specifically for university managers at higher education institutions in the Global South.
The training courses are tailored to the specific challenges faced by university staff at different levels of the organization. These range from specialist topics such as faculty management, strategic internationalisation and quality assurance to interdisciplinary aspects such as leadership and change management.
Participants from countries in the Global South acquire relevant skills in higher education management and develop individual reform projects as part of the modular course programme. In the DIES training courses, internationally recognised experts support the participants in implementing practical and institutional changes at their home universities.
Funded measures and participating partners
This training course on faculty management is aimed at newly elected deans and vice-deans from Africa. The multi-part course includes modules on strategic management, financial management, quality assurance, internationalisation, research management and higher education management. The courses are run jointly by Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences and the CHE (Center for Higher Education Development) in collaboration with international trainers and experts.
Content:
Training course on faculty management
Target Group:
Recently elected deans and vice-deans
Structure:
Course every two years, consisting of two contact modules (Osnabrück and regional) and two online modules (preparation and follow-up for face-to-face phases)
Cooperation Partners:
University of applied sciences Osnabrück / AvH / CHE
Funding:
Participant fee of EUR 300
Link:
https://www.international-deans-course.org/home
My participation in the International Deans’ Course Africa (IDC) 2023/2024 was a turning point in how I lead, collaborate, and think about the future of higher education in Africa. Beyond the technical skills in strategic faculty and team management, IDC gifted me a continental network of peers, mentors, and institutions who continue to shape my thinking.
Dr. Faith Mugisha Ahabyoona, Senior Lecturer in Management and Finances, Cavendisch University, Kampala, Uganda
This training course on faculty management is aimed at newly elected deans and vice-deans from Southeast Asia. The multi-part course includes modules on strategic management, financial management, quality assurance, internationalisation, research management and higher education management. The courses are run jointly by Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences and the CHE (Center for Higher Education Development) in cooperation with international trainers and experts.
Content:
Training course on faculty management
Target Group:
Recently elected deans and vice-deans
Structure:
Course every two years, consisting of two contact modules (Osnabrück and regional) and two online modules (preparation and follow-up for face-to-face phases)
Cooperation Partners:
University of applied sciences Osnabrück / AvH / CHE
Funding:
Participant fee of EUR 600
Link:
https://www.international-deans-course.org/home
I participated in the 2019-2020 DIES International Dean's Course (IDC) SEA, the legendary all-online cohort, made possible by the unexpected rising cases of Covid-19. Despite the challenges of attending intensive 4-hour daily session, the program has successfully delivered deep insights and global best practices in higher education landscape and leadership. IDC has significantly strengthened my leadership capacity and enabled me to meaningfully contribute to the advancement of higher education in Indonesia.
Dr. Eddy Yusuf, Academic Director, Universitas Ciputra, Jakarta, Indonesia
The IDC Latin America on faculty management is aimed at newly elected deans and vice-deans from Latin America. The multi-part course includes modules on strategic management, financial management, quality assurance, internationalisation, research management and higher education management. The training course is run jointly by Saarland University and the Universidad de Alicante (Spain).
Content:
Training course on faculty management
Target Group:
Recently elected deans and vice-deans
Structure:
Annual course consisting of two contact modules (Saarbrücken/Alicante, Latin America) and two online modules (preparation and follow-up for face-to-face phases)
Cooperation Partners:
Saarland University / University of Alicante
Funding:
Participant fee of EUR 500
Link:
I was able to come back to my role with a renewed sense of creativity and with clear goals set up to continue developing my academic unit to its greatest potential.
Dr. Cynthia Borja, Dean of the School of Psychology, University de Las Américas, Quito, Ecuador
UNILEAD is aimed at junior managers from Africa, Southeast Asia and Latin America who work in central administrative positions at their higher education institutions. The course is based on a blended learning approach and comprises three modules on the topics of project management, strategic management and personnel management. The course is run by the Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg.
Content:
Training course on "Project Management", "Strategic Management & Academic Leadership" and "Human Resource Management"
Target Group:
Young managers in university administration or related institutions
Structure:
Annual course consisting of two contact phases with a total of three modules (two modules in contact phase 1 and one module in contacte phase 2). The content of each module will be prepared in previous online phases.
Cooperation Partners:
University of Oldenburg, Center for Lifelong Learning (C3L)
Funding:
Participant fee of EUR 300
Link:
Videos:
Within the framework of UNILEAD, the following videos were produced on the topic of "Digital Transformation in Higher Education":
- Digital Transformation of Higher Education Management 1
- Digital Transformation of Higher Education Management 2
- Digital Transformation of Internationalisation 1
- Digital Transformation of Internationalisation 2
- Digital Transformation of Internationalisation 3
- Digital Transformation of Teaching and Learning 1
- Digital Transformation of Teaching and Learning 2
- Digital Transformation of Teaching and Learning 3
Participating in the UNILEAD 2019 training was a turning point in my professional journey. The practical management skills and strategic leadership insights I gained continue to shape my work to this day. As the University Librarian at the National Intelligence and Research University, I credit much of my growth and preparedness for this role to the transformative experience UNILEAD provided.
Dr. Stanislaus Litsalia Agava, University Librarian, National Intelligence and Research University, Kenya
The DIES proposal writing courses were practical professional development courses for young academics in Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. The aim was to teach and train the skills necessary for making a successful application for third-party funding. The courses were run by the ProGRANT coordination office at the University of Cologne, the last one took place in 2023.
Content:
Training course on successful proposal drafting
Target Group:
(Young) Academics
Structure:
Two attendance-required periods in targeted countries, also including a temporary trainer-led E-Learning period
Cooperation Partners:
University of Cologne, ProWiss Consulting Services for Researchers
Funding:
No participant fee
Link:
The DIES training course "Management of Internationalization" is aimed at heads of international offices and higher education managers who are responsible for coordinating international activities at their university. In this three-part course at Leibniz Universität Hannover, higher education in Africa, Latin America and Southeast Asia are supported in improving the management of the central areas of responsibility of an International Office. Course topics include internationalisation, strategic management, partnership management, domestic and international mobility as well as consulting and marketing.
Content:
Training course on management of internationalisation
Target Group:
Heads of international offices and university managers responsible for coordinating international activities
Structure:
Course every one and a half year, consisting of two contact modules (Germany, three simultaneously conducted regional workshops in Kenya, Peru and India) and revising E-Learning phases
Cooperation Partners:
University of Hannover / partner universities in Kenya, India and Peru
Funding:
Participant fee of EUR 600
Link:
https://www.uni-hannover.de/de/universitaet/internationales/dies
My participation in the Management of Internationalization (MOI) course in 2019/2020 was a game changer in my life. My participation in MOI led to my appointment as a member of University of Nairobi Internationalization committee, and the knowledge and skills which I acquired during MOI have enabled me to initiate more than 50 collaborations between the University of Nairobi and other Universities across the globe for the last five years.
Dr. Ezekiel Onyonka Mecha, Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Nairobi, Kenya
TrainIQA targets designated Quality Assurance managers at Higher Education Institutions in Anglophone and Francophone Africa (SADC) and Southeast Asia (ASEAN) with proven experience in their field. Thus, this training course takes place in three different regions. Its overall aims are contributing to the institutional development of the local universities and enhancing the dialogue between German and involved universities in the target regions as well as among the local universities themselves. The modular course is based on a blended-learning approach and conducted by the Center for Quality Development at the University of Potsdam along with regional partners.
Content:
Training Course on "Internal Quality Assurance"
Target Group:
Designated Quality Assurance managers at Higher Education Institutions with proven experience in their field (three cohorts: Southern African countries, Francophone African Countries, Southeast Asian Countries)
Structure:
Course every two years in each region, consisting of two contact modules (Potsdam and regional) and three online modules (preparation and follow-up for face-to-face phases)
Cooperation Partners:
University of Potsdam, Center for Quality Development (ZfQ)
Funding:
Participant fee of EUR 600
Links:
- https://www.uni-potsdam.de/de/zfq/
- https://afrique-qa.org/
- https://sadc-qa.org/
- https://www.asean-qa.de/
Taking part in the course "Training on Internal Quality Assurance – TrainIQA" shortly after my promotion to QA Manager was an incredible opportunity for me. The course provided a strong foundation in developing the QA system and fostering a quality culture at my university.This program has truly been a turning point in both my personal and professional growth.
Nguyen Minh Phuong, Accreditation Manager, VinUniversity, Hanoi, Vietnam
This new training course on "Female Leadership" will be offered for the first time in 2025 to female Vice Presidents of universities in various countries of the Global South. The multi-part course includes modules on leadership and governance, organisational development and university management, conflict management and strategic stakeholder management. The course is run by the University of Potsdam in cooperation with international trainers and experts and is supported by an advisory board from international organisations.
Content:
Training Course “ LEADx – Leadership for Transforming Higher Education Institutions”
Target Group:
Vice-Presidents (or comparable positions) from selected countries in the DIES target regions (Spanish-speaking Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa, South-East Asia)
Structure:
Two courses in the pilot phase until the end of 2026, consisting of two contact modules (Potsdam) and three online modules (preparation and follow-up for face-to-face phases)
Cooperation Partners:
University of Potsdam, Center for Quality Development (ZfQ)
Funding:
Participant fee of EUR 600
Link:
Results
DIES training courses contribute to the further development of individual skills and to the improvement of institutional higher education management at the participating universities in countries of the Global South. In addition, alumni of DIES training courses act as multipliers, disseminating the knowledge gained from the training courses in their home countries, thus contributing to the sustainability of the DIES programme.
Supported by
