University of Essex Online

Online Professional Course in Leadership in Practice

Course structure

You’ll study the following topics as part of the online professional course:

• traditional and contemporary models of leadership, their research methodologies and critical assessments
• critical incidents relevant to the organisational sector
• organisation type, purpose, values and culture – their interaction and their impact on the leadership role
• the criteria used to judge effective leadership and associated behaviours in different types of organization
• skills and techniques for evaluation of personal behaviour and performance; and seeking and objectively evaluating feedback
• models and techniques of reflective learning
• concepts of capability and competence, learning and cognition, personality and motivation
• psychometric, intelligence, skills and other test types; validity of tests, and test methodologies
• personal development planning

Teaching methods

Studying online gives you the freedom to complete your qualification when and where it suits you – at home, during your lunch hour or in a café.

Our online professional courses are delivered through a virtual learning environment (VLE) instead of a traditional campus. This means you’ll have access to your study materials 24/7, including:

• multimedia lecturecasts made up of written content, short videos, animation, audio recordings, infographics, short tests and mini-assignments
• discussion forums for you to chat about the module content with fellow students
• live Q&A sessions with your tutors
• a comprehensive eLibrary of textbooks and academic journals
• support from academic staff and your dedicated Student Support team
• To ensure you receive high-quality tutor support, each class is capped at 20 students.

Assessment methods

You’ll be assessed exclusively through assignments. These include assessed discussion forums, written assignments and journal entries.

We’re committed to providing frequent and transparent feedback in the following ways:

• our assessment criteria are designed to be simple and transparent
• you’ll always be aware of your current provisional grade, right from the start
• you’ll be able to clearly view your marks in your gradebook whenever you log on to the learning platform
• there’s a seven-day turnaround for marking and feedback of assessed work
• you’ll have regular contact with your Student Support team, with whom you can discuss any concerns as soon as they arise

Study duration

Our Leadership in Practice online professional course has a study duration of 13 weeks, including a one-week induction to help you settle into online study.

The Leadership in Practice online professional course offers a whole host of opportunities. This will be beneficial whether you’re looking to climb the career ladder or take the first step into business – helping you stand out amongst the competition.

If you wish to continue your studies and boost your prospects, you could choose additional business online professional courses. Alternatively, you could progress on to a PG Cert Business Management (60 credits); PG Dip Business Management (120 credits) or the full Master of Business Management (180 credits).

Please note that acceptance on to a postgraduate qualification is subject to meeting the entry requirements of your chosen programme.