Leadership for Change and Innovation

Short description of the course:

This course explores advanced theories and practices of leadership as a catalyst for change, innovation, and transformation in complex organizational, social, and research contexts. It integrates classical and contemporary leadership paradigms, emphasizing systems thinking, reflective self-leadership, ethical decision-making, and collaborative influence in interdisciplinary environments. Doctoral students will critically analyze leadership as a multi-level phenomenon—individual, team, organizational, and societal- developing the ability to lead transformative initiatives in research, policy, and practice. Through experiential activities, dialogue, and self-reflection, participants will strengthen their leadership identity and capacity to navigate uncertainty and complexity.

Learning outcomes:

At the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• critically analyze and synthesize advanced theories and paradigms of leadership, change, and innovation within interdisciplinary and global contexts;
• conceptualize leadership as a dynamic and systemic process that integrates personal, relational, organizational, and societal dimensions;
• demonstrate reflective self-leadership, including awareness of personal values, emotions, and ethical responsibilities in research and professional practice;
• design and lead transformative initiatives that foster innovation, sustainability, and social responsibility in academic, organizational, or community settings;
• employ advanced research and analytical methods to examine leadership phenomena and their impact on organizational and societal change;
• facilitate collaborative processes, engaging diverse stakeholders through dialogue, co-creation, and shared decision-making;
• critically evaluate leadership practices and policies using evidence-based frameworks, identifying enablers and barriers to change;
• contribute to theoretical and practical knowledge of leadership by integrating insights from doctoral research into broader contexts of innovation and transformation.