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Professional Development
The Executive Certificate in Higher Education Leadership (ECHE) broadens your leadership skills to meet the challenges of today’s rapidly changing higher education environment.
In accordance with Harvard University policy, Professional Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education affirms the right of all individuals to equal treatment in education without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions, or any other characteristic protected by law.
In higher education institutions around the world, academic and administrative leaders are facing a faster pace of change than ever before. Thriving as a higher education leader means responding to challenges on a number of fronts, from recruiting and managing financial resources to student mental health and managing campus crises.
The Executive Certificate in Higher Education Leadership is a distinguished credential designed to foster strategic thinking, innovation, and resilience in the face of evolving institutional challenges. You’ll choose your own learning experience based on your unique institutional and professional needs. You’ll develop advanced leadership skills tailored to the higher education context. And you’ll engage with a network of peers and higher education experts from around the world.
To earn the Executive Certificate from the Harvard Institutes for Higher Education (HIHE), participants must complete three qualifying programs within a 36-month period.
Certificate candidates can apply up to two previously completed qualifying programs toward their certificate. However, all three programs must fall within a 36-month window, which starts on the first day of the earliest program you count toward the certificate.
Management Development Program – June 2023Mental Health in Higher Education – April 2025Time remaining to complete your third program: 12 months
Foundational programs focus on personal and institutional leadership development, helping you grow as a leader in the higher education context. You must complete at least one foundational program from the list below.
Gain the support of expert faculty and a community of extraordinary peers throughout your first year in your new role as a college/university president.
Hone your leadership abilities, manage change and improvement, and advance your institution’s mission through an immersive institute designed for senior-level higher education leaders.
Strengthen the leadership skills and strategies you need to manage change effectively within your higher education institution, as well as address current and emerging challenges.
Enhance your leadership skills, connect with other LGBTQIA+ professionals, and make a greater impact on your organization and across higher education.
Gain critical skills and strategies that can help you navigate complex higher education landscapes – particularly as you assume new leadership responsibilities.
Strengthen your leadership practices in a supportive community of your peers, guided by HGSE faculty.
Organizational programs center on pressing challenges and systems-level issues in higher education, offering tools and strategies to improve specific areas within your institution.
Explore the strategic and operational issues for your campus to better prepare for, respond to, and recover from crises.
A strategic exploration of financial management fundamentals for higher education leaders working outside the finance field.
Strengthen institutional research leadership skills and develop new approaches to create an effective data culture on your campus.
Learn to develop, implement, assess, and improve recruitment, enrollment, and retention plans using data-informed tools and strategies.
Evaluate institutional supports and design meaningful programs that genuinely meet students’ mental health needs.
Francesca Purcell is a specialist in higher education policy and practice, with expertise on topics including college completion, student transfer, and developmental education.
The certificate is designed for academic and administrative leaders in higher education, from emerging leaders and mid-level managers to senior executives and college/university presidents. If you're working to advance your leadership practice or address institutional challenges, this certificate can help you build the skills and knowledge to lead with impact.
For more detailed audience guidance, please refer to the Who Should Attend section on the individual program pages.
To earn the certificate, you must complete three qualifying programs from the Harvard Institutes for Higher Education (HIHE) within 36 months. Qualifying programs completed since January 2022 are eligible for the certificate, as long as they fall within the 36-month window from the start date of your first qualifying program. At least one program must be a foundational program, and the remaining two can be selected from either foundational or organizational programs.
Apply to each program individually: You do not need to apply for the certificate itself. Instead, you apply to each program separately. After completing the third qualifying program, the certificate will be automatically awarded to you by our team.
Automatic credential granting: Once you complete a qualifying program, your credentials will be automatically updated in the Professional Education Community. No further action is required.
To view your programs and their completion dates:
Is it possible to select different programs than those listed? No. Candidates may only choose from the programs listed.
Do qualifying programs I have taken in the past count towards the certificate?You may apply up to two qualifying programs that you have completed in the past 36 months. All three of the programs must be completed within the 36-month window; the amount of time remaining will depend on the date of the first qualifying program for which you claim credit.
If I took a program that is no longer offered, will it count towards the certificate? If you took one or more of the following discontinued programs within your 36-month window, they would qualify.
Is there a discount available?No.
What is the cost of the Executive Certificate in Higher Education Leadership?The total cost of the certificate will depend on the programs you select.