Strengthen University Governance Through Culture & Leadership
Measure. Develop. Transform.
The New Standard for University Governance
Australia’s new governance principles make culture and leadership central to how universities are governed, led, and held accountable.
Universities are now expected to:
Promote positive institutional cultures that foster integrity, inclusion, and collaboration.
Ensure leadership capability and behaviours reflect public purpose and stakeholder trust.
Demonstrate ongoing improvement in governance, people, and culture outcomes.
As experts in Culture & Leadership, we help universities answer a key question: how will you measure, demonstrate, and sustain this alignment moving forward?
Our Proven Framework for Culture & Leadership Excellence
Helping universities align with the new Expert Council on University Governance Principles.
At Human Synergistics, we ‘ve spend over 50 years helping universities and public institutions measure, understand, and transform culture and leadership. Our solutions are evidence-based, research backed, and now more relevant than ever.
Our University Governance Alignment Program helps Institutions:
- Measure the current and ideal culture across leadership levels
- Assess leadership impact and alignment with values and purpose
- Develop Constructive leadership behaviours that build trust and performance
- Provide evidence-based governance reporting for councils and regulators.
What We Deliver
Our Culture & Leadership Alignment Framework gives universities a practical, data-driven roadmap to meet the new governance principles. Through four interconnected stages, we help councils and executive teams measure where they stand, understand what drives their culture, and build the leadership capability to sustain improvement.
Diagnose
Measure organisational Culture and Climate
The Organisational Culture Inventory® (OCI) + The Organisational Effectiveness Inventory™ (OEI)
Assess Leadership
Understand leadership style and impact
Align & Develop
Facilitate culture and leadership alignment
Constructive Leadership Workshops + Governance Culture Review
Embed & Review
Track progress and accountability
Annual Culture Pulse Review + Leadership Coaching and Development
Why Universities Choose Human Synergistics
- Trusted globally for over 50 years in culture and leadership measurement.
- Proven frameworks aligned with governance principles of integrity, inclusion, and accountability
- Research-backed diagnostics that give councils measurable evidence of cultural health
- Specialised experience with universities, public agencies, and research institutions.
“It has been an incredible experience working with Human Synergistics and one that we have deeply valued… It has been a positive and impactful experience and a key tool in our success.” – Nicole Gower | Macquarie Uni 2014-2024
The Outcome
Evidence-Based Governance
Show measurable progress on governance principles with clear, data-driven insights into culture and leadership. Our diagnostics turn expectations into tangible indicators you can track and report with confidence.
Strategic Culture Clarity
See the full picture of how your university’s culture operates – its strengths, risks, and levers for change. This clarity empowers leaders to focus effort where it matters most.
Clear Roadmap for Transformation
Translate insight into impact with an actionable Culture & Leadership Plan – defining priorities, milestones, and measures to embed constructive, future-ready governance.
Constructive Leadership Alignment
Develop a unified leadership mindset built on Constructive behaviours. Executives and councils gain the shared language and capability to make ethical, collaborative, and accountable decisions.
Strengthened Trust & Engagement
Foster deeper trust across staff, students, and stakeholders through transparent communication, inclusion, and consistent modelling of university values.
Sustainable Improvement Cycles
Embed a continuous rhythm of measurement and reflection. Regular reviews keep governance, leadership, and culture aligned with evolving sector expectations.