Leadership in Action
Leadership in Action is a three-day, in‑person leadership development programme for early career academics and research staff, delivered by the University of Oxford in partnership with Vitae. The course supports these researchers from across the sector to build practical, confidence-based leadership skills that can be immediately applied within research groups, interdisciplinary teams, and wider academic settings.
Why Leadership in Action?
Early career academics are increasingly expected to lead — supervising students, coordinating projects, influencing collaborators, and shaping research culture — often without formal leadership training. Leadership in Action helps them:
- Build confidence to lead, regardless of formal authority
- Develop a clear and adaptable leadership style suited to research environments
- Strengthen skills in communication, collaboration, delegation, and influence
- Reflect on how leadership behaviours contribute to positive research culture
- Practice leadership through experiential, activity‑based learning, not lectures alone
Participants leave with greater self-awareness, practical tools they can apply immediately, and renewed confidence to lead within and beyond their research groups.
Course Overview
Leadership in Action is a fast paced, immersive three‑day in‑person programme that explores what leadership means in practice and how it shows up in day‑to‑day research work.
The course takes a learning‑by‑doing approach. While participants are introduced to relevant leadership theory, the majority of time is spent actively:
- Leading and participating in group challenges
- Observing different leadership approaches in action
- Reflecting on individual and group dynamics
- Applying insights to real research related situations
The programme is deliberately discipline agnostic and highly inclusive, creating a supportive environment where participants from different institutions and fields learn with - and from - each other.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the programme, participants will have:
- A stronger understanding of what leadership means in a research context
- Increased confidence to lead with or without formal authority
- Insight into their own leadership preferences and how to adapt them
- Practical strategies for leading research groups, projects, and collaborations
- Greater awareness of how leadership behaviours shape research culture
Participant Perspective
“Probably the single most useful academic leadership seminar I have been to. It is a rather significant time commitment, but it did pay off in my case. I would strongly encourage … ECRs to sign up” -Postdoctoral researcher, University of Oxford
“I have changed my perspective about what a good leader looks like. This has been life-changing for me in terms of building confidence and making the most of leadership opportunities afterwards. The time commitment is worth it.” - Postdoctoral researcher, University of Oxford
“I actually thought it was one of the best courses I have ever been to.” - Postdoctoral researcher, University of Oxford
Who is it for?
- Research staff, fellows and early career academics at UK universities
- Research staff preparing for future academic, research leadership, or hybrid career pathways
- Institutions seeking high-quality leadership development opportunities for their early‑career researchers via Vitae networks
Application details & Costs
Please complete the form below to apply for a place - Leadership in Action Application Form.
You will be asked to pay a £50 deposit on application. Applications will close at 5pm, 13 July 2026.
Your application will be reviewed soon after submission and we will send you further details once we have confirmed your place. At which stage you will either be asked to confirm acceptance and pay the full course fee of £1,500 (minus your deposit) or your deposit will be returned to you. You will need to pay the balance of the course fee within seven days of being offered a place.
Questions?
Contact us at training@mpls.ox.ac.uk if you have any questions.