Foundations of Public Leadership Microcredential Suite

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The Leadership and Democracy Lab Micro Credential Suite offers students a new opportunity to access a series of innovative micro-credential courses in the field of political leadership. 

Participants are required to complete 3 mandatory courses and 5 elective courses to complete the full Foundations of Public Leadership micro-credential.

Alternatively, participants may choose to register in individual courses that are relevant to their needs.

The micro-credential suite is supported in part by funds gifted to Trent from the RBC Foundation in support of the Jarislowsky Chair in Trust and Political Leadership.

The mandatory courses are:

1. Foundations of Political Leadership: What It Is and Why It Matters (FREE!)

   This video-based tutorial introduces learners to the field of political leadership studies and surveys the objectives and rationale of the other nine courses in the suite.

          Register now!

2. Leading in Government: Navigating Public Service Roles and Teams

   This course surveys the importance of leadership in the civil service at the federal and provincial levels.  The formal hierarchy of bureaucracy is explained, along with some key strategies for working in a team-based environment and for leading teams to secure group objectives. Important aspects of working in government are outlined to help new employees understand the expectations of public service leaders.

3. Ethical Leadership in Politics: Integrity, Duty, and Accountability

   This course focuses on the key role that ethics plays in modern political leadership and representative government. It covers some central ideas and concepts such as the meaning of integrity, the importance of fiduciary duty, and the centrality of accountability.

The elective courses include:

• Facilitating Public Dialogue in Policymaking 

  This course focuses on participatory (vs. values & evidence-based) approaches to policymaking, which require the policy analyst to step back and take on a facilitator role in discussions led by the public/affected interests. Key questions to be considered concern how to involve people in contributing to public policy ideas, and how to find consensus within a set of divergent views.

           Register now!

• Women Taking Charge in Politics and in Life

  As women continue to move into leadership positions within government and public administration, they often face unusual challenges and dilemmas. This course explores the challenges women leaders encounter in public service and provides strategies to support their success.

           Register your interest, and we'll notify you once the program goes live

• Plain Language for the Public Sector

  This course surveys the method and practicality of learning to communicate in a clear, efficient way within a bureaucratic setting. This skill is often mentioned by Policy Field Placement students as being very valuable to their placement work.

           Register now!

• Diversity in Leadership

• Intercultural Communication for Public Leaders

  In today’s increasingly diverse communities, the ability to understand and work effectively across cultures is more important than ever. This course will equip you with practical tools, real-world insights, and hands-on experiences to strengthen your cross-cultural communication skills and promote inclusive, welcoming spaces.

  Register now!

Click to register for individual courses.