Leadership and Democracy

Please note: Existing University of Cumbria students need to email absadmissons@cumbria.ac.uk in order to apply. They do not need to go through the full application process.

Why study with us?

This course is part of the widely renowned postgraduate programme for Development Trainers and Outdoor and Experiential Educators provided by specialists at the university in partnership with world-class development training organisations.

Resources and facilities

We are situated in the Lake District National Park and in the middle of the world’s centre for Development Training practice.

Entry requirements See course specific entry requirements listed below.

More about levels and credits

Additional contact information

Chris Loynes, Senior Lecturer.
email: chris.loynes@cumbria.ac.uk

UCAS Link

Visit UCAS

Course summary

The aims of the course are to explore the history of leadership theory and current approaches with special reference to the relationship between the idea and practices of leadership and the idea and practices of democracy. You will also examine critically and practice methods of group dialogue and decision-making. Students will examine their immediate experience of the module group, in order to describe and understand the patterns of leadership and democratic process. The course will include case studies and exercises in textual analysis designed to bring out otherwise unnoticed patterns of domination and exclusion in organisational life and in learning groups. An important aim is to develop students’ capacity to reflect upon the ways in which their practice is formed by habits and assumptions that mirror broader patterns of exclusion and to adapt their practice, thus extending their range of options as group leaders.

Led by Impact International, this is a highly practical course giving participants the chance to try out and develop their practice with feedback from world-renowned facilitators and colleagues. Practice will be analysed with theory to help participants make sense of and review their work.

This course is taught as a 4 or 5 day block. Dates are available on request. It attracts 20 level 7 credits towards postgraduate level qualifications. Students completing the course can progress to other modules or transfer to the related postgraduate courses below. They may also be able to transfer this credit to other postgraduate courses at this or other universities.

Suitable for outdoor education and development training professionals working towards IOL Accredited Practitioner status and above or for general CPD. Also ideal for nurses, therapists, social workers, youth workers, teachers and trainers working with this approach. Credit available towards postgraduate qualifications. Case studies

‘My ability to understand groups and help them learn went up in leaps and bounds’.