Leading from within: capacity building for ESD leadership

This is an open course for staff in Higher and Further Education accounting for 25 learner hours over 7 weeks. Participants who complete the course will be awarded a digital badge. The aim is to develop the capacity of Higher and Further Education staff to take leadership roles in Education for Sustainability. The course explores different forms and levels of leadership for sustainability – taking a holistic approach and going beyond business-oriented leadership approaches (e.g. mentoring, advocacy, role-modelling, activism). Using innovative and reflexive activities and methods, it explores and harnesses the creative arts and humanities to foster self-awareness, empathy, critical reflection, creative collaboration and problem-solving.   Throughout the course, participants will engage with peer groups to collaborate, share and learn. They will also begin to apply their learning by planning leadership actions relevant to their professional context. They will be encouraged to implement these during the course if possible. As a cross-institutional, collaborative initiative, it is anticipated that the course will lead to a strengthening of ESD across the sector and develop a network of leaders taking action at a local level.