Critical Skills and Knowledge for Senior Campus International Leaders

Dear International Education Leadership Knowledge Community (IEL KC),

The Task Force on Skills and Competencies is pleased to present the outcome of the Delphi survey on the essential knowledge and skills needed by campus senior international education leaders. You will find much in the report that is significant in shaping the future directions of the IEL KC.

The report provides a detailed analysis of what thirty-five successful campus senior international officers believe to be the essential skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in such leadership positions. The report includes a series of charts and graphs to make these results easily accessible. However, here is the list of the top ten knowledge and skill areas identified:

1. Communication
2. Leadership
3. Strategic Planning
4. Energy and Passion
5. Cross-cultural Skills
6. Overseas Experience
7. Ethics
8. Prioritizing
9. Organization
10. Diplomacy and Tact

These ten items are those that were rated as most important to the Delphi respondents based on the compilation of their ratings. However, many more skill and knowledge areas have been identified as important to being a successful SIO, and IEL KC attention should not be limited to this group.

The Task Force believes that the findings from the Delphi study are particularly important in defining the IEL KC’s training and professional development programs.

We look forward to feedback from the community on our efforts.

Sincerely,

The Task Force on Skills and Competencies
Susan Lambert, UNC Charlotte
Riall Nolan, Purdue University
Norm Peterson, Montana State University
Deborah Pierce, Northern Illinois University