Levels of holistic academic development and leadership

This paper frames levels of leadership, as micro-, meso-, macro-, and mega-, to explore leadership-in-context as spheres of influence. In this Reflection on Practice, we map the diverse levels of leadership involved in various aspects of what we as academic developers (ADs) do. ADs operate across a spectrum of leadership levels that are often informal, distributed and situationally dynamic. They are ‘local leaders’ in academic development and in their context, impact measures are difficult to ascertain, as AD roles are continuously shifting and being negotiated. Operating across micro-, meso-, macro-, and mega levels enables ADs to transcend formal hierarchies and conventional definitions of leadership. Clearer recognition of these activities as legitimate and impactful leadership is essential to build institutional credibility around ADs’ contributions and recognise their value.