Being a first-generation immigrant and a first-generation college student, I had to navigate a lot of obstacles and challenges but getting higher education truly transformed my life. As I grow professionally in higher education, there is no magic in "being successful" at your job. It all goes back to passion and dedication. Work hard, cherish every relationship, and genuinely care about student success. If you put your 100%, life will take you to amazing adventures!

First and foremost, gain deep expertise in core functions of higher education. Few in the field actually have much training in these areas. From my experience, most higher ed professionals know little about education as a system, including secondary education--that is, the previous institutions of our students. Faculty know little about teaching and even less about learning and, crucially, motivation. Most administrators-many coming from academic backgrounds-have little training in management, leadership, supervision which are the core domains of that kind of work. If you gain expertise in these and other areas you will notice how little most in the field actually know about education, teaching, learning--and the human beings we educate.

As a Higher Ed professional, we are in a unique position to have both the lived experience of being a student and also the understanding of HOW students grow, develop, and learn. I will often discuss with my colleagues how it is important to remember what it was like to be a student. Sometimes it is to remind us of generational changes, however most of the time it is to keep us aware of the human aspect of pursuing an education. Both help inform our learning and mastery as we read, research, and work directly with students.

Según mi experiencia, el ejercicio y la práctica profesional apalanca y fortalece los aspectos técnicos y doctrinarios de una determinada área de estudio; sin embargo, ésta debe ser complementada con una verdadera vocación de servicio y pedagogía académica para transmitir y compartir el conocimiento, una educación superior que transmita el marco teórico y práctico se constituye en una poderosa herramienta que sienta las bases de los nuevos profesionales; más en tratándose de áreas nuevas de emprendimiento que fomenten la economía circular, la responsabilidad social empresarial, la adaptación al cambio o resiliencia y el uso de las nuevas tecnologías emergentes.

Effective Communication is key for most profiles, but becomes especially important in higher education roles. In case of classroom lectures, always prepare and read up before a class and have a general outline of the flow of the lecture jotted down. This is helpful to ensure that the lecture does not go on a completely different tangent and it is easier to return back to the targeted outcome of the class. Whenever directions are to be given regarding an assignment or readings on email, double check to make sure the content is clear and exhaustively convey what is intended. Lastly, be open and prompt to responding to queries and feedback of the students.

Many factors can distinguish you as a higher education professional. Effective communication and leadership abilities are critical because they drive other factors such as expertise, innovation, and cultural competency.

One way to improve this could be to provide concrete examples or strategies for enhancing communication skills in higher education. For instance, suggesting techniques like breaking down complex concepts into digestible chunks, using visual aids, or incorporating interactive elements into presentations could offer actionable steps for improving communication effectiveness.

In today’s higher education environment, teamwork is prevalent. As a result, collaboration and effective communication have become crucial skills. To succeed in this context, individuals must learn how to build rapport with colleagues while maintaining a professional distance. Seeking recommendations from experts can help strike the right balance.

Effective leadership in both the classroom and with colleagues requires humility, caring about others, and emotional intelligence to manage one's own and others' emotions. The best teachers and educational leaders I have known lead with *both* their head and their heart.

Almost 35 years into a career in higher education and my people-centric leadership style has served me exceedingly well. I love playing a small part in helping to develop colleagues to be able to move on to bigger and better things in their careers.

For a young researcher, leadership ability is integral to advancing in higher education. It involves not only guiding research projects and teams effectively but also inspiring and mentoring others. Effective leadership also means making strategic decisions that drive research forward and improve educational outcomes. By developing these skills, you can contribute to shaping the academic direction of your department and fostering a positive and productive research environment. Leadership in academia also extends to taking initiative in collaborations and actively participating in academic committees or conferences.

People recognize leadership skills through various indicators such as your ability to inspire others, make strategic decisions, and navigate academic complexities effectively. Demonstrating initiative, problem-solving prowess, and mentorship abilities signals readiness for leadership roles. Employers value these traits as they contribute to institutional growth and effectiveness in higher education settings.

Nothing is constant except change. Best to be open minded and let anyone suggesting innovation have the opportunity to present their ideas. Hard to explain you motives when crazy ideas are ridiculed rather than ventilated and allowed to fail.

Siempre me ha resultado útil recordar que la innovación es una nueva respuesta a una vieja pregunta, para la que las respuestas ya existentes han quedado obsoletas. Esta es la mentalidad necesaria en tiempos de cambio, tiempos de saltos cualitativos. Ninguna institución que no vea esto cristalino sobrevivirá.

Innovation in education is really quite simple: go with the flow. (Remember, we are talking about innovation, not revolution). When I first started as a professor, I had to prepare all my lectures, like any new professor. Then Corona came along and I went fully digital: One camera, two lights, learning how to edit video, etc. What followed was "back to normal", only I had 3 more years of experience and changed the way I structured my lessons. Today it's AI. I simply cannot ask for the same seminar papers as before, so I am again changing the way my lectures, questions and exams are structured. Don't be afraid, just follow the need and you will have no problem with constant innovation.

Innovation Drive is a crucial trait for a young researcher in higher education. It involves continually seeking novel ideas and approaches within your field, challenging traditional methods, and pursuing new research opportunities. An innovative mindset can lead to groundbreaking discoveries and enhance the academic community's approach to complex problems. Embracing innovation means staying curious, being willing to take calculated risks, and always looking for ways to improve processes and outcomes in both research and teaching. This drive is essential for keeping your work relevant and impactful.

Innovation tends to emerge from existing pain points, and being open to trying out different approaches involves a measure of risk taking, since it also means being open to failures given its iterative nature. Institutions that are dynamic tend to provide an environment where colleagues feel both empowered and supported to take those risks as well as to recognise and reward such risk-taking behaviour. This begins with a willingness on the institutional side to hire for innovative mindset and those who are willing to champion ideas that resonate with their personal values as part of overall change management in the right direction of travel.

Dans un monde d'enseignements chercheurs parfois plus individualiste, la notion d'équipe reste toujours primordiale. Avancer sur des projets communs, partager des moments, dialoguer pour faire émerger des idées ...

Collaborative spirit is one of the key parameter for rapid growth in the subject especially in the multi-discipline research areas

La amplitud y profundidad del desarrollo de conocimientos en todas las disciplinas es tal, que resultaría soberbio considerar que una sola persona, por excelente que sea, pueda ver confiada en sí un proceso formativo, con exclusividad. El trabajo colaborativo se hace cada vez más necesario para mantener pertinentes los espacios educativos en general y en la educación universitaria en particular. En mi opinión, el trabajo colaborativo a todo nivel, desde la gestión educativa, hasta la docencia pura, exige como una competencia básica la capacidad de reconocer el aporte, la riqueza que puede haber en el trabajo en conjunto para plantear, analizar e intentar resolver todo tipo de retos relacionados a la educación.

In today's work environment, leading with a collaborative and teamwork approach goes a long way toward creating a sense of belonging and trust within teams. While individuals may be highly qualified and skillful, the lack of durable skills and emotional intelligence can make navigating the politics and systems within any higher education institution difficult.

Collaborative Spirit is essential for a young researcher to thrive in higher education. It involves actively engaging in partnerships across disciplines and institutions, sharing knowledge, and building networks that enhance research outcomes. A collaborative spirit not only fosters innovation through diverse perspectives but also creates a supportive academic environment conducive to learning and discovery. It helps in securing joint grants, co-authoring influential papers, and contributing to impactful projects that advance the field. Emphasizing collaboration can significantly enhance your research portfolio and academic reputation.

Cultural competency is a crucial attribute, reflecting an understanding and appreciation of the diverse backgrounds and perspectives that students and colleagues bring to the academic environment. A culturally competent professor recognizes and addresses the varied educational needs that arise from differences in ethnicity, gender, age, national origin, religion, ability, and other cultural backgrounds. By integrating a culturally aware approach into their teaching, research, and service, such professors create inclusive and supportive learning and working environments. This includes discussing topics that are culturally diverse and relevant, and fostering an open, respectful dialogue in the classroom.

Having cultural competency is quite helpful for professionals in higher education as they can successfully interact with diverse students, faculty, and stakeholders. By embracing various cultural viewpoints, individuals can create inclusive settings that promote fair learning opportunities. Employers highly value this skill as it improves communication, teamwork, and problem-solving within multicultural teams, ultimately helping attract and retain diverse talent while creating a respectful academic environment.

Having served as VP of a British university operating in China, I would hazard to say that cultural competency is fundamental to successful implementation. Going beyond the usual ethnic diversity and cultural differences that exist, it’s useful to recognise that culture in its broadest definition forms the context through which we collectively filter and make sense of the world, influences our values and guides our decision making. In this sense there are cultural boundaries between academics and administrators, and between different functional departments. Cultural competency allows one to navigate the nuanced contexts in order to generate stakeholder buy-in by understanding the “why”. Only then will the what and how follow.

With increased globalization, most of my classes have students coming from different cultural backgrounds. As I was an immigrant graduate student myself once, I understand the challenges an immigrant student faces while fitting into the culture. So, I create an in-class environment where all my students are respected and are treated equally. As I teach psychology, talking about different cultures and raising awareness about cultural sensitivities is part of the syllabus. I encourage my students to share anecdotes about their unique cultural heritage while I share mine. This creates a friendly open environment where everyone is proud and happy about who they are.

Standing out as a higher education professional involves cultivating strong interpersonal skills to effectively collaborate with colleagues and students, leveraging technology to enhance learning experiences, and demonstrating a deep understanding of current trends and issues in higher education. Additionally, individuls who demonstrate a strong commitment to student success, practice innovative teaching methods, and who actively engage in professional development opportunities quickly earn the reputation as a solid practitioner.

With more than half a century of leadership as a professor and administrator in higher education, I have had the responsibility to hire many professionals and academics. Over the years, I came to recognize that I was not hiring a CV or resume. First and foremost, I was hiring the right person for the position. By that I mean, the EQ, attitude, commitment to the mission, Integrity, and dedication to the institution were more important than the skills I sought. You see, I found that in most cases, the skills could be rather quickly learned, but the personal and interpersonal qualities were much more difficult to attain. As a result, a higher-than-expected percentage of my hires advanced to top positions with the institution and beyond.

I consider the following skills as inevitable skills for a higher education professional 1. A good understanding of the higher education scenario of the country and in global perspectives. 2. High level of intellectual competence along with exemplary communication skills. 3. Mentoring skills 4. Networking skills 5. Good understanding of pedagogy in higher education.

Authenticity and engagement! These are huge topics missing from this conversation. Young professionals that love to learn, ask questions, take initiative with professional relationships - these qualities really do make a difference in higher education!

Eco-pedagogy Centers: These centers would focus on integrating environmental education with artistic expression, pedagogical innovation, and open dialogue. The aim is to address pressing global challenges, such as climate change, through a multidisciplinary approach that fosters ecological awareness and action.