Language Centres at a Crossroads

In fall 2020, we will introduce the first workshop in the new CercleS «Aspire to Inspire» training programme for language center managers and staff with managerial duties in higher education: http://old.cjv.muni.cz/cercles/.

The workshop, designed and taught by CercleS experts, will serve to introduce participants to the concept of tailored management and leadership development. It will give participants the chance to experience a self-reflective and interactive task which is typical of the approach used in the training sessions.

The training workshop consists of a management module and leadership module of three days each (six days in all), plus autonomous and interactive online activities. The workshop will pick out an activity linked to the participants' leadership concept and its reflection in their everyday work. The workshop is based on a leadership-style test in transformational leadership in which participants assess the dominant features of their leadership styles and reflect on their approach to leadership and on its application in their everyday work. In order to gain a deeper insight into their own ideas about leadership, they also share their ideas with peers.

To ensure an open and sincere exchange, confidentiality is a basic rule that all participants must commit to.

The workshop language is English. However, depending on the languages spoken by the participants, the discussions may be multilingual or in a language other than English. The workshop coordinator will provide materials in various languages if needed.

By the end of the workshop, participants are expected to understand the approach chosen in the "Aspire to Inspire" management and leadership program and to have gained an insight into their own leadership styles.

Im Herbst 2020 startet die erste Durchführung von «Aspire to Inspire», dem CercleS Ausbildungsprogramm für Manager/innen und Mitarbeitende mit Managementfunktion von Hochschulsprachenzentren.

Im Workshop werden Teilnehmende in das Konzept des Trainings eingeführt und haben die Gelegenheit ihren Führungsstil zu testen, ihren eigenen Approach zum Thema Leadership zu reflektieren und mit andern austauschen. Um einen offenen Austausch zu ermöglichen, ist absolute Vertraulichkeit als Workshopregel unumgänglich.

Je nach Herkunftssprache der Teilnehmenden, wird der Austausch mehrsprachig geführt und es werden Materialien in mehreren Sprachen zur Verfügung gestellt.

References:

• Bass, B. M. & Avolio, B. J. (2000). MLQ Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire. Redwood City: Mind Garden.
• Blake, R.; Mouton, J. (1985). The Managerial Grid III: The Key to Leadership Excellence. Houston: Gulf Publishing Co.
• Burns, J. M. (1978). Leadership. New York: Harper & Row.

Sabina Schaffner has been the Director of the Language Center of UZH and ETH Zurich since 2005. She holds a teaching diploma for French and Russian, a doctorate in Russian Literature, and a Master's degree in coaching and organizational development. From 2008 until 2018, Sabina was (co-)president of the Association of Language Centres at Swiss Higher Education Institutions SSH-CHES, she is a member of the Swiss professional association of coaches BSO. Along with her managerial job at the Language Center, Sabina works as a coach and trainer in higher education for organizational development, leadership, and management.