Why study leadership? | with the University of Essex Online
This week, we're joined by Luke Johnson from the University of Essex Online to dive into their MSc Leadership programme. This course is all about sustainability, smart decision-making, and innovative thinking. We'll uncover the difference between managing and leading with a mix of theory and practical tips to prepare you for today's challenges
Participants
- Emily Slade - podcast producer and host, Prospects
- Luke Johnson - programme coordinator for business, University of Essex Online
Transcript
Luke Johnson: On a personal level, the module touches on self leadership strategies, helping you sharpen kind of your own skills and develop practices that can enhance your effectiveness as a leader and a manager.
Emily Slade: Hello and welcome back to Future You, the podcast brought to you by graduate careers experts, Prospects. I’m your host Emily Slade and in this episode we discuss the MSc Leadership programme available from the University of Essex Online.
Luke Johnson: Hi. I'm Luke Johnson. I am a programme coordinator for business at the University of Essex Online I've got a Masters in project management, a BA Hons in Drama, a few teaching qualifications as well. I'm here to talk about the new MSc Leadership programme at the University of Essex Online.
Emily Slade: Brilliant. So what do you mean when you say leadership?
Luke Johnson: So, leadership and management often get kind of confused with each other. So leadership is really about the process of guiding, influencing and inspiring individuals and groups to achieve common goals or objectives. So it involves a combination of vision, interpersonal skills, decision-making, and, of course, the ability to motivate others. So effective leadership creates direction, fosters collaboration and drives progress within an organisation or community. So what people get confused with, what a manager really focuses on, is the planning side of things, the organising and executing tasks to maintain order and achieve set goals, while a leader kind of sets those goals. They inspire others, they motivate, and they guide people towards a shared vision or change.
Emily Slade: Okay, so what does the MSc Leadership programme entail?
Luke Johnson: So the MSc Leadership programme at the University of Essex Online is a flexible part-time, postgraduate degree designed to equip students with advanced leadership skills, insights and knowledge to address contemporary challenges in leadership. So it's tailored for professionals and graduates aiming to excel in leadership roles across a range of different industries, and it's delivered in a flexible part-time format. So it combines theoretical knowledge and practical applications to prepare students for modern leadership challenges. It's got a real focus. This programme on sustainability, innovation and decision making. So the central to the programme is the integration of sustainable practices and how they integrate into leadership, which obviously align with global, ongoing, sustainable developments. Students will learn how to drive long term, organisational and societal wellbeing the curriculum and how the programme has been developed really does emphasise practical application as well, so it ensures students can directly apply what they learn in the online classroom to their professional careers. So the programme prepares students to tackle leadership challenges in diverse cultural and organisational settings, making it, of course, highly relevant, and it will empower students to drive ethical, innovative and sustainable growth in organisations, really preparing them for more senior leadership roles in the future. So there's three main objectives, and that is to foster a deep understanding of leadership theories and development practices, and to emphasise sustainability and integration into organisational cultures, and to prepare students to lead with vision inclusivity, basically enabling them to create and nurture high performance teams, and throughout the studies, you'll build leadership skills and learn how to apply them in real world situations. Understand how to make data driven decisions, using tools to analyse and interpret data, enabling you to make more smarter and more strategic decisions in the future, you'll learn how to incorporate sustainability into your leadership strategies, ensuring that your organisation remains responsible and successful in the long term, and developing the ability to inspire others and guide teams manage change, particularly when the pressure is on, and that's all done by blending the theory with practical application, so you'll grow as a leader as you go through the programme to make a real impact.
Emily Slade: Yeah, fantastic. Sorry, I want to, I kind of want to ask about sustainability, but I don't really have a question. I basically want to know, like, how, like how, because when you first said sustainability, I thought environment, but you mean in terms of implementing things that will last. But then I guess my question to that is, like, when you talk about sustainability. Do you also include adaptability? Because while something might be sustainable, how do you ensure sustainability for a prolonged period of time?
Luke Johnson: Well, that's exactly it. So it's not just about the environment itself. Of course it does include that, especially in the world we live in today, but it's about being sustainable as a business and as an organisation. You know, there's so many different strategies out there today and things which organisations are looking to do to ensure that their business remains relevant. So it's it's such an integral part to to business and to organisations in this day and age, you'll see throughout the modules kind of how we build on it. But I suppose sustainability is important because it ensures long term viability by balancing economic growth with environmental protection and social responsibility, and it's all about building trust with stakeholders to reduce risks associated with resource depletion and regulatory changes.
Emily Slade: Perfect, so what does the programme focus on?
Luke Johnson: So the programme is structured around several core and compulsory modules designed to provide theoretical and practical knowledge. And I've been going on about that kind of blending theorem theoretical and practical application throughout, but it really is important to to most of our programmes at the University of Essex Online that we do this. If it's okay. Emily, I'll take you through the modules and what they entail.
Emily Slade: Yeah, please do.
Luke Johnson: The first module you'll take is high-impact leadership. So, the high-impact leadership module is all about giving you the skills to inspire and guide teams effectively, even in challenging situations. So you'll explore what it takes to drive meaningful change in today's dynamic business world. It will cover topics like sustainable business strategies, change management and stakeholder engagement. By the end of this module, you would have developed a deeper understanding of how leadership shapes organisations and the tools to lead with confidence, then we have leadership for sustainability. This is a real Capstone module of the whole programme. So if ensuring the sustainability of an organisation is not at the forefront of the minds of its leaders, then it can almost be suggested that the organisation is unlikely to exist in the long term or succeed in the long term. Therefore this module examines how sustainable practices can be embedded into leadership strategies to ensure organisation longevity and responsibility. The module allows students to gain a profound understanding of the criticality of leadership through its relationship with sustainability. So the module enables students to develop a comprehensive awareness of what sustainability is and how to understand the underpinning sustainable leadership practices that are out there. We've got innovation and entrepreneurship for enterprise. This explores how leaders can foster innovation and entrepreneurship entrepreneurial mindsets to drive business growth and adapt to market changes. In the module students will examine the contributions of innovation and entrepreneurship in emerging and developing economies. It will identify different paths that to create and capture value, such as creating and sharing knowledge, different leadership capabilities and business models that influence new ventures, such as success and growth. The module will delve into entrepreneurial goals and creativity and how to recognise innovation opportunities as well, and how to find the resources to develop sustainable innovations. Then we have leadership and management development. This module explores how leaders and managers grow and develop. You'll dive into strategies that organisations use to help their leaders and managers thrive, and how to assess their development needs, and the kinds of interventions that are out there that can help you make a real difference, and you'll also learn how to evaluate the success of these initiatives, because, after all, what works and what doesn't work is is key to improvement in any any walk of life, really, on a personal level, the module touches on self-leadership strategies, helping you sharpen kind of your own skills and develop practices that can enhance your effectiveness as a leader and a manager. It, again, it mixes the theory and practical insight designed to giving you tools you can use right away in your professional career. So if you're if you're studying and working, like a lot of our students, are a lot of these modules, and the things you'll be learning, you'll be able to apply them straight away in your in your work life, which is really what we're looking to do, and then in response to that, what you're doing in your work life, you'll be able to apply that back into your learning. So they really do complement each other. We have data and analytics for managers as well. So the data and analytics for managers module helps you use data to make better decisions. You'll learn how to collect and analyse data, how to apply it to create effective strategies. Luckily, for all people like me, it's not just about the numbers, it's also about understanding where where data comes from, ensuring its quality and ensuring that you use it ethically. You'll explore how to communicate data driven insights and handle challenges like data governance. This module will give you the skills to use data confidently in your decision making. Only a few modules left, and I'll be rambling on, but we've got leadership in practice. This module connects leadership theory with real world application. So this is the module where you'll really be applying everything that you're doing in your work life to your studies, and you'll explore different leadership theories, analyse real situations and assess how organisations shape leadership. You'll focus on your personal growth and help you evaluate your own leadership styles, set goals and create plans for improvement. Then we have the last two modules, which is the research methods module and final the project. So the research methods module prepares you for that that final research project by kind of teaching you how to design and carry out research effectively, you'll learn various research methods create a research proposal and develop skills in collecting data and analysing it. The module will help you think critically and work independently and apply research to real business issues. By the end of this module, you'll be ready to tackle your project with confidence. And then the final module, the business and management research report. This is the project where you'll explore a topic that aligns with your own career goals. You'll choose an issue related to leadership and be guided throughout the whole project with one of our experienced supervisors. The project is your own, allowing you to apply your allowing you to apply everything you've learned to real world problems using primary or secondary data, whether you choose a practical workplace project or even a theoretical review, the report will showcase your ability to tackle complex issues and provide actionable insights. The project really is a culmination of everything that you've learned. You can kind of show up everything you've learned and put it all in one piece of work. I know I've been through quite a lot there, so I apologise for rambling on, but I hope it's giving you a better understanding of what the programme is.
Emily Slade: No, that was really useful. Thank you. Perfect. So how will students study online?
Luke Johnson: Students will benefit from a flexible and supportive learning environment. So, the program is 100% online and tailored to both UK-based and international learners. We have a number of different learning methods that we use, so we have got pre recorded lecture casts. So pre recorded lectures, we call them lecture casts. Okay, so this, this is core content in every module, in every unit that is delivered through bite size, pre recorded videos available on the virtual learning platform. We have a dedicated learning technologist team that work solely with the subject matter experts to ensure that these vehicles of learning are engaging and enjoyable. So the lecture casts are available for students to go through at any time in their module, allowing students to kind of study at their own pace. There's the synchronous live sessions where students participate in live virtual seminars, where they can engage in discussions, ask questions, and interact with both tutors and peers. Sometimes it might be a peer discussion, sometimes it's a seminar, sometimes it's a Q, a session. It just depends on where you are in the module, there's there's group and individual tasks, so it really doesn't encourage that. Participation that alongside the live sessions of the lecture cast students are obviously expected to undertake independent study, so reviewing the course materials and the online resources are integral. Willing to extend your knowledge of the understanding of applying the theory to real world scenarios. There's quite a lot of peer collaboration as well. So despite it being online, though, there'll be a lot of communication and networking with your classmates. We really do try to enhance that throughout your studies as we understand that. You know, as it's 100% online, you're not going to the classroom and things like that. You might you might lose out on that aspect of learning, but we really try to to enhance that throughout the platform. This is done through group activities, group assignments, discussion forums. We're trying to foster that collaborative learning experience and environment that also simulates teamwork as well in leadership roles. So it's important that you know, maybe you're, you're just studying, and you you're not in the workplace, or you might not be in a leadership role just yet, if you're, you're working within groups and teams, you can also work on the skills that you're learning throughout your studies in those scenarios as well. We have a number of student support systems in place. So we have module tutor drop in sessions, so each module has a dedicated tutor who will be available for weekly drop in sessions, providing students with the opportunities to ask questions, get feedback on assignments, ask any additional guidance. We have a dedicated Business Student Support team who are available on on weekdays to help you with any kind of non-academic queries and any additional personal support you may need. They're really there to help mentor you throughout your studies. Yeah, everything really, obviously, there's the feedback to assessments, you know. So the feedback will be delivered electronically, and it'll help you improve and refine your work as you go on the research project. Is particularly important with that, because you'll have guidance provided throughout the whole project process with your supervisor, from the proposal all the way to the final report. Oh, there's technical support as well, of course. So we've got the virtual learning platform. I know I've mentioned that before, but the programme is virtual learning environment. We call it the VLE serves as the hub for for all the course materials that I've just mentioned there, including the readings, the lecture casts, the podcast, the videos, the discussion forums. It's it's almost a one-stop shop where students can engage with course content and then access all the resources they need for their studies in one place.
Emily Slade: Fantastic. And then do they all get to meet in real life, as it were at graduation?
Luke Johnson: They can do yes. So obviously, all of our programmes are completely validated by the University of Essex Online I actually studied on the university's online programme. My Masters in project management. So yeah, you everyone's invited to go down to the campus down in Colchester. And it's, it's a fantastic day. You get to meet some of your tutors, some of the student support team that has helped you throughout your class, your classmates. It's a really joyful experience.
Emily Slade: Brilliant, so what kind of what, what types of individuals are we looking for here? Who is it designed for?
Luke Johnson: So the programme is designed for quite a diverse group of students, really, who who all share a strong interest in leadership and enterprise development and sustainability. That's quite, quite a lot on sustainability for this programme, so students who have completed an undergraduate degree in business management or a related field and are looking to understand, to deepen their understanding of leadership and develop their the advanced skills needed to lead organisations effectively, would fit right in, but that's kind of the academic route. There's also an industry professional route that we have, which we require at least three years' relevant work experience in leadership or leadership development roles. These individuals may be seeking to formalise their expertise or gain a deeper theoretical understanding of leadership or enhance their leadership capabilities to progress in their careers. We're really looking for aspiring leaders, individuals who are motivated to take on a senior role or wish to move into leadership positions within the organisation that they are people who are looking to gain strategic insight and skills required to lead teams and drive innovation.
Emily Slade: Amazing. And finally, what other business programmes are provided?
Luke Johnson: So we provide a number of undergraduate programs. So if you don't meet the work experience entry that I've just mentioned, or the kind of holding an undergraduate degree that I've mentioned that might be a good path for you to go down. So the undergraduate courses we have our Business and Management, Business and Marketing, Business Psychology and Business Law, and then at postgraduate level, we have the Master of Business Management. We have Business with Finance, Project Management, a programme that I've studied myself, MSc Business and Management, Business Analytics, Global Digital Marketing, International Human Resource Management, and, of course, the new MSc Leadership programme. So, most things within the business world are covered so you can, you can take a look at all the programmes at the University of Essex on our website. And if you do go take a look, I do recommend just speaking to one of our admissions advisors. If you've got any queries at all they're really helpful.
Emily Slade: Amazing. Well, that's brilliant. That's everything from me. Was there anything else that you wanted to say?
Luke Johnson: No, that's everything.
Emily Slade: Perfect. Well, thank you so much for your time today.
Luke Johnson: Thank you very much.
Emily Slade: Thanks again to Luke for their time. For more information on the course, check out the show notes below. If you enjoyed the episode feel free to leave us a review on Apple or Spotify. Thank you as always for listening and good luck on your journey to future you.
Notes on transcript
This transcript was produced using a combination of automated software and human transcribers and may contain errors. The audio version is definitive and should be checked before quoting.
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