Learning philosophy

Approach to learning

The content of this programme is rooted in well-founded academic research and internationally benchmarked theory and practices. The main objective is to encourage students to combine academic rigour and experiential learning. Students are mentored throughout the programme. The learning philosophy of this programme is based on the following:

• Integrating theory and practice: This postgraduate diploma will provide learners with both the theoretical and practical underpinning of leadership development. The theoretical part of the course will be delivered through a class programme of lectures, case studies, tutorials and assignments, while the practical part will consist mainly of syndicate groups, peer-based coaching and workplace application.
• Finding an authentic personal leadership style: Participants will be exposed to various leadership models, approaches and frameworks. At the same time, each individual will be encouraged to discover and experiment with the approaches and frameworks that work best for him/her in order to develop a personal and authentic framework, approach and style of leadership.
• International application with local specialisation: The programme adheres to international best practice, while at the same time emphasising leadership development in a uniquely African context, shaped by diversity and varied cultural and educational backgrounds. It is particularly relevant to South African managers and leaders, as it takes into account the diversity, traditions and multicultural environments of this country and the greater African continent.
• Extensive support: Participants receive comprehensive support throughout the programme. Students will also be divided into syndicate groups (support groups of fellow students) based on their learning styles and place of residence.

Learning outcomes

On completion of the programme, successful participants will:

• Understand and be able to apply high-performance leadership across the four dimensions of Me (personal leadership), We (interpersonal or team leadership), Work (organisational leadership) and World (societal leadership).
• Understand personal leadership styles, perspectives and preferences, and use this knowledge to identify personal strengths and developmental needs.
• Understand and work with the dynamics of leadership in teams and at an interpersonal level to optimise team and/or interpersonal leadership.
• Understand how aspects of organisational leadership and development impact on sustainable performance, and assess the status of organisations against internationally benchmarked best practices: practicing strategy execution; utilising structures to create challenging work and drive performance through hierarchy; attracting, developing and retaining talent as a key competitive advantage; entrenching the business disciplines of leveraging information and performance management to drive performance and people commitment; aligning reward and recognition systems to achieve organisational goals; aligning the interests of diverse stakeholders; and turning change leadership into a core competence.
• Drive the transformation of leadership and values to entrench positive and sustainable leadership as the primary organising principle for leadership across all four dimensions.
• Assess the role of the organisation in the broader society in areas of governance, sustainable environments, private-public partnerships, contribution to societal transformation, and developing and executing an effective BBBEE strategy.