DIES University Leadership and Management Training Course (UNILEAD) 2026

UNILEAD (University Leadership and Managament Training) is an English-language continuing education programme that aims to support participants from countries in the Global South in developing, organising and implementing innovative reform projects at their own universities. Within this framework, content is taught in areas such as project management, strategic management, human resource management and leadership. Almost 600 participants have already completed the University Leadership and Management Training (UNILEAD) programme.

Since 2021, the C3L – Centre for Lifelong Learning at the University of Oldenburg has been offering the programme in cooperation with the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). The programme has been existing since 2008 and is funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). A large part of the nine-month training takes place online. Participants also meet twice in Oldenburg, primarily to get hands-on approach in work on specific projects and get to know the German higher education landscape and German culture.

Selection criteria include:

• Personal profile match (position, managerial experience)
• Motivation letter
• Description of the change project and its relevance for the university’s strategic development
• Institutional profile match
• Recommendation from the university’s top management

Selected candidates will be notified of the outcome of the selection process by mid-December 2025.

Application process:
Applications must be submitted via the online application form on the UNILEAD website: https://c3lms.uni-oldenburg.de/unilead-2026/

Deadline: 7 October 2025, 10:00 (CEST)

Read more here: DIES UNILEAD 2026