The Challenge
The Institute for Effective Education is a new research facility based in the University of York.
The Institute has an ambitious agenda, and was looking for an academic leader to develop internationally recognised, world-class research programmes.
Education is an incredibly high-profile field of academic study, with competing models of practice, and many different professional specialisms. And it is a touchstone political issue.
The Institute aims to encourage policy-makers to adopt an evidence-based approach, and the founding Director therefore needed to bring exceptional skills and qualities: academic excellence; leadership; and credibility with government.
Our Solution
We recognised at once that this is a unique organisation. Our international search identified academic leaders with global reputations, and the search took in four continents. We advertised in relevant media both in the USA and Australia.
Successful international executive search is about more than matching skills.
Candidates may know little about the city (or even country) in which they will be based, and the logistical challenges can be considerable: time differences, the need to conduct much of the process by telephone – even language barriers.
The Result
Our deep understanding of the education sector, combined with our global research capability, meant that we could present an excellent shortlist to the client.
Leading educational psychologist Professor Robert Slavin, formerly of John Hopkins University, Maryland, took up the post – a world class academic thinker.