Postgraduate of Leading Change by Design
Antwerp, Belgium
Postgraduate Certificate
DURATION
1 year
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2026
TUITION FEES
EUR 6,900 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* 2000 euro must be paid in advance when the application is submitted. Until the advance fee has been paid, the application will not be considered. The balance, of 4900 euro, must be paid to the programme before the end of August 25. Until the fee has
Key Summary
Leading Change by Design is a brand new post-academic programme, developed by the Department of Product Development at the Faculty of Design Sciences (University of Antwerp), to combine leadership development with the mindset and methodologies of design, empowering you to tackle complexity, learn through experimentation, and cultivate a purpose-driven approach to leadership.
Learn to master the design tools and techniques to inspire action and co-create sustainable transformation. This is your opportunity to shift perspectives, embrace learning by doing, and lead impactful change through design!
Why this programme?
‘Leading Change by Design’ is crafted for professionals ready to expand their horizons, regardless of their background in design.
Programme Highlights
- Balanced approach: A learning journey split into 25% theory, 25% applied frameworks, and 50% hands-on, challenge-based projects.
- Methodology: Learn and apply core principles of Service Design and Systemic Design to real-world scenarios.
Self-development track: Build self-awareness and cultivate a mindset of self-leadership. - Core modules: Explore themes like sensemaking in uncertainty, navigating complexity, leading and creating change, and communicating for impact.
- Skills development: Gain expertise in complex problem-solving, interdisciplinary collaboration, co-creation, agility, creativity, scoping, and leadership.
- Expert guidance: Be inspired by over 15 thought leaders and practitioners from academia and industry.
About the programme
The programme is structured around two core methodologies applied in two challenge-based projects, a self-development track, and five thematical modules. Together, these components provide a comprehensive learning experience that balances theory, applied learning, and personal growth.
- Challenge-based projects: Half of the programme is dedicated to applying the methodologies of service design and systemic design in real-world challenges. Participants work step-by-step under close guidance, learning the approaches as they progress in a collaborative setting.
- Self-development track: This individual track focuses on developing leadership skills through guided reflection and practical exercises.
- Thematical and applied modules: These modules provide essential background knowledge and conceptual support, enabling participants to better understand and apply the methodologies in practice.
Is this for you?
- Are you a curious, open-minded individual who thrives on exploring new ideas and uncovering hidden opportunities in the world around you?
- Do you flourish when collaborating with others?
- Are you prepared to break down old ways of thinking and operating?
- Does interdisciplinary thinking come naturally to you?
You have several years of experience in an organization, and you feel the need to expand your knowledge on driving change and inspiring teams towards transformation. You want to experience and master the methodologies to address innovation, future opportunities, and complex problem-solving. You want to learn how service design and systemic design techniques can help you in your daily practice, and how to develop a purposeful leadership attitude towards organizational change.
The University of Antwerp directly participates in the selection process of certain scholarship programmes. In addition students can also check if they are eligible for external funding opportunities. Scholarships are available for Bachelor, Master, PhD or for shorter stay programmes.
For this programme, the SME e-wallet is available.
Challenge-based projects
Participants learn to apply the methodologies of service and systemic design in real-world challenges.
- Service Design challenge
- Systemic Design challenge
Self-development track
The self-development track is an individualized process designed to enhance leadership and self-leadership skills. Guided by peers, this track encourages participants to stretch their personal skills and attitudes, enabling them to take on leadership roles effectively.
Modules
The challenge-based projects are supported by five core modules designed to provide participants with the theoretical frameworks, background knowledge, and practical insights needed to apply these frameworks effectively in real-world cases.
Module 1: Sensemaking in uncertainty
This module focuses on identifying and defining opportunities for change and innovation amidst ambiguity. Participants will learn:
- Scoping and exploration techniques to discover, reframe and define challenges.
- User research methods to uncover deep insights.
- Futures thinking approaches to anticipate trends and envision possibilities.
Module 2: Navigating complexity
Focusing on developing meaningful strategies at the organizational or societal level, this module explores:
- Value mapping
- The concept of transitions to understand change processes.
- Strategies for implementation and scaling of innovations.
Module 3: Leading change
This module explores the multifaceted nature of leadership in driving systemic transformation, including:
- Self-leadership and personal growth.
- Shared leadership and fostering team dynamics.
- The Theory of change.
- Ethical considerations, diversity, and the unintended consequences of systemic interventions.
Module 4: Creating change
This module focuses on fostering creativity and collaboration to drive innovation. Participants will gain expertise in:
- Creativity and facilitation techniques for collaborative design processes.
- Design validation to ensure delivering added value and impact
- Building networks and partnerships to sustain change efforts.
Module 5: Communicating for impact
Effective communication is key to driving innovation and transformation. This module enhances participants' communicative skills by focusing on:
- Design communication to articulate ideas clearly.
- Trans-media storytelling techniques to convey narratives across diverse platforms.
- Strategies to report on innovative and transformative projects in a compelling way.
The University of Antwerp, which was founded in 2003, scores extremely well in Young University Rankings.
- Times Higher Education Millennials 2020 - Rank 5
- Times Higher Education Young University Ranking 2024 - Rank 12
- QS 50 under 50 2021 - Rank 20
World University Rankings
- Times Higher Education 2025 - Rank 168
- Shanghai (ARWU) 2024 - Rank 300-401
- QS World Ranking 2025 - Rank 267
- Best Global Universities Ranking 2024 - Rank 213
- Europe’s Most Innovative Ranking 2019 - Rank 93
What will you learn?
You will learn how to tackle organizational and societal challenges by mastering methodologies that enable you to reframe problems and think in terms of opportunities and solutions. You’ll gain practical skills to analyze complexity, understand systems, and design impactful interventions to address real-world issues with confidence and creativity.
You will develop hands-on expertise in generating ideas and co-creating solutions, learning to navigate the uncertainty and ambiguity that comes with innovation.
Through this learning journey, you’ll understand how to build and leverage networks to drive systemic change. You’ll gain the skills to foster collaboration across disciplines and act as a catalyst for transformation. Beyond technical skills, you’ll cultivate a proactive mindset, and the personal agency needed to take meaningful, constructive initiatives within organizations, innovation consultancies, or broader societal contexts.
Our university is located in the city of Antwerp, in the heart of Belgium and Europe. Antwerp is not just an ancient medieval and baroque city rich in history, but also a bustling metropolis with a vibrant social scene, impressive architecture, and striking cultural contrasts. The port of Antwerp is one of the largest and most important in the world, and over 170 nationalities live here - similar to New York! This cosmopolitan vibe is also reflected at the University of Antwerp.
First-rate research and education make the University of Antwerp a wonderful place to study and work. We foster the nexus between research, education, and societal impact. Internationalisation is a key element of our mission statement. It is no coincidence that the University of Antwerp is a partner in one of the most promising European university alliances, Young Universities for the Future of Europe (YUFE), and maintains excellent relationships with hundreds of renowned institutions around the world.
As a home away from home to over 23,000 students, the University of Antwerp is committed to sustainability and operates on a human scale. We believe in co-creation with our students, ensuring their voices are heard in our decision-making processes. Our faculty and staff will welcome you to top-notch facilities on one of our four campuses. While you’re here, immerse yourself in our lively cultural offerings, take advantage of premier sports facilities, and explore a wide array of student services and activities designed to enrich your experience.
Keen to learn more about the University of Antwerp?
Contact our International Students Office or visit
www.uantwerp.be