'Learn to Lead' delivers remarkable outcomes for our global community
UNSW’S overwhelmingly popular online short course for alumni, Learn to Lead, has exceeded all expectations - enhancing the leadership skills of 3,071 global community members and receiving an overall rating by participants of 8.83/10.
Encouragingly, 80% of attendees can’t wait to sign up for the next UNSW short course.
Delivered over two weeks, Learn to Lead was presented by UNSW Alumni & Engagement in collaboration with AGSM @ UNSW Business School and delivered on OpenLearning, one of the world’s largest online educational platforms.
With the knowledge that online learning can be challenging, our facilitators, all renowned leadership experts, designed a course to deeply engage and absorb our alumni. Delivered through lectures, interactive Q&A sessions, and supported course work, the program featured four modules and saw participants eagerly dive-in dedicating 15,542 hours to develop their professional skills.
Alumni from 71 different countries devoted their time to the program - 48% of whom hadn’t previously engaged with the University after their graduation (welcome back folks!).
Change and Leadership Strategist, Janine Cahill, facilitated the first module on Leading in Change. Janine’s teachings couldn’t be more pertinent to our current difficult work environment. Participating alumni took away practical skills in developing their emotional intelligence, mapping stakeholders, and building resilience.
This module really helped me to discover myself - to know and manage myself so that I can be aware about other people’s emotions and so that I can work better with them. It is amazing to understand the basic principle that a good leader comes from an individual who deeply recognises themself.
Senior Lecturer in Design, Innovation and Entrepreneurship at UNSW Art & Design, Selena Griffith, led the second module, titled Design Thinking. Selena guided participants to create their own positive future using tools and methods to assist with the development of innovation, collaboration and transformative design thinking.
Great questions and resources provided! I’m excited to explore different models and implement design thinking in both my personal and professional life. Thank you!
Dr Samantha Johnston, expert in Leadership Performance and Strategic Organisational Behaviour and a Lecturer at UNSW Canberra, managed the third module focusing on organisational commitment and its direct impact on performance. Samantha encouraged participants to reflect on their commitment to their work and provided tricks and techniques to better understand the commitment levels of those they lead.
I have already started implementing and reflecting on my own and my colleague’s commitment. This lecture has already helped me better understand values in the workplace and solutions to reoccurring issues.
Finally, Ben Pronk, Managing Partner at Mettle Global and Executive in Residence at AGSM Business School, led the fourth and final module on Decision Making in Complex Environments. As a former SAS Officer, Ben shared learnings from the military and helped course participants understand how to be better leaders in high pressure situations.
Thank you, Ben for the fantastic insights and background into the military and explaining how many concepts can be applied to any industry! Thank you for making us all aware of the impact of cognitive dissonance, and cognitive bias on our decision-making capabilities and how to manage them better!
After an inspiring and content rich two-week program, those who completed all modules were awarded a digital badge designed to be used on social media platforms and resumes. This badge is an important testament to the participants’ hard work and commitment and provides an opportunity to celebrate UNSW’s pledge to provide ongoing access to educational resources and lifelong learning through the University.
We are proud to receive such positive feedback and delighted that our valued alumni have, once again, advanced their professional skills. Stay connected with us on social to be the first to hear about more opportunities available to enhance your professional expertise.
