www.exeter.ac.uk/leadership

The Centre for Leadership Studies

MA Pathway in Leadership Studies by Coached Distance Learning

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“I found the two years with the Centre forLeadership Studies to be an amazingexperience. I learnt so much about myself andmy framing of my leadership arena. This camefrom not only the course material, but also thecoaching that the experienced staff providedand the experiences of other students, whocame from very different workingenvironments and therefore could providecontrasting perspectives on topical issues.”

Bobby Watkins, Consumer Division Manager, Acer UK

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MA Pathway in Leadership Studies | Welcome

The MA Pathway in Leadership Studies at the University ofExeter Business School is best described as 'close distancelearning'. Many business schools claim to provide uniqueforms of management and leadership education; our mix ofe-learning, coaching, and workshops is definitely out of theordinary. For over ten years, the Centre for LeadershipStudies has been working with practising and potentialleaders from all kinds of organization to encourage acritically reflective approach. We see leading and leadershipas activity and theory, inseparable, that both need thinkingabout in depth and detail. Our academic faculty and coachesall see leading as socially and culturally embedded. This informs our MA programme and makes it relevant tostudents around the world. Finally the flexibility of theprogramme allows it to fit with and around already busyworking lives. We look forward to welcoming you on theprogramme.

Dr Scott TaylorProgramme Director

WELCOME

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MA Pathway in Leadership Studies | The Centre for Leadership Studies

The Centre for Leadership Studies is part of The University of Exeter BusinessSchool, which offers a research-learning culture that delivers an outstandingstudent experience, backed by an international presence and reputation. Thesequalities have contributed to substantial growth in income, research capabilitiesand student numbers in recent years.

The Business School has risen rapidly in the league tables. The 2009 Times GoodUniversity Guide now ranks the Business School in the Top Ten for all of itssubjects. This rise in reputation is matched by the University as a whole; theUniversity of Exeter is a top twenty university, ranked at 13 in The Times 2009Good University Guide, and was the Times Higher University of the Year 2007-8.

For more information see www.exeter.ac.uk/business-school

THE UNIVERSITY OF EXETER BUSINESS SCHOOL

The Centre for Leadership Studies, is one of the leading European windows ontothe study, development and practice of leadership. The Centre works withpartners and associates around the world to research leading in action, developleadership talent, and advise on leadership strategies. Faculty conduct researchinto the personal challenges of leadership, leadership education anddevelopment, leading for organizational performance, and leading change.

For more information see www.exeter.ac.uk/leadership

THE CENTRE FOR LEADERSHIP STUDIES

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MA Pathway in Leadership Studies | The Centre for Leadership Studies

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MA Pathway in Leadership Studies | Why Study the MA Pathway in Leadership Studies?

“MBA taught me about how a business functions, theMA in leadership studies is far more inward looking.It is teaching me how I fit within the organisation. The MBA teaches what you need to do in a modernorganisation, the MA in leadership is more about howyou go about doing it. It is therefore a very personalexperience as what you are taught is subject to yourown thoughts and ideas on the body of knowledgeon the subject , and how you go about practisingleadership in your day to day role.”

Ian Richards Regional Operations Manager- Central and Scotland, Sibelco UK

How is the MA Pathway in Leadership Studies

different from an MBA?

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MA Pathway in Leadership Studies | Why Study the MA Pathway in Leadership Studies?

If you are experiencing the need to develop yourself as a leader, this programme willhelp you. It addresses a wide range of leadership development topics, which canbenefit you at different levels, depending on your experience. You might be a newleader, so the programme could help you make the transition from individual contributorto effective leader. You might be a more experienced leader; then the programme canhelp you address situational decisions you face. Wherever you are in your career andwhatever organization you work in, the programme will help you work through theethical dilemmas, complexity, and tensions of leading.

This multi-faceted approach encourages analysis of individual situations, identification ofrelevant characteristics and issues, and appropriate decision making. The programme isbased on the understanding that leadership problems are always unique and requireevaluation of many criteria to come to decisions.

We are also proud that there is no archetypal student studying the MA Pathway inLeadership Studies. Some characteristics are common. She or he will have severalyears' work experience, will occupy a senior management position, may already havestudied general management, and will welcome the opportunity to prepare for arelevant higher qualification while maintaining their day-to-day responsibilities.

WHY STUDY THE MA PATHWAY IN LEADERSHIP STUDIES?

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MA Pathway in Leadership Studies | Coached Distance Learning

Organizations today require leaders who think flexibly, practice subtlemanagement skills, communicate well, and can work with diverse groups ofpeople. With our unique coached distance learning, you can develop thesecapabilities and others with like-minded professionals from all over the world.

For the leaders we work with, we find that traditional classroom methodsstruggle to deliver these capabilities. Practising and studying leadership involvesengaging with the experience of your own leadership situations, and conventionaleducation may miss the opportunity to use this experience as part of the learningprocess. Coached learning means the learning and advice you receive is closelyrelated to your current practice.

The unique coached element of the MA programme is a weekly two-waydialogue with an experienced leadership coach that will significantly develop theway you practice and think about leadership. Relating theories and ideas to yourown personal experience as both a leader and a follower is the main aim of thecoaching relationship.

With coached distance learning, all of your coursework, class discussion andgroup projects take place at times that suit your own schedule. There are no fixedlecture times, the classroom is always open and you do not need to fit intosomeone else’s timescale. You can interact with your coach and fellow studentswhenever and wherever you like.

Of course, you would expect a degree from the University of Exeter to bedemanding, and you would be right. The academic standards required for ouronline programmes are just as high as those for the on-campus equivalents. This is no soft option. However, while the programme is challenging it never feelslike a solo effort. From the moment your programme starts, you are in constantdiscussion with your classmates, you get regular feedback from your coach, andcontinuous support from programme manager and director.

COACHED DISTANCE LEARNING

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MA Pathway in Leadership Studies | Coached Distance Learning

“Leadership knows no boundaries.You don't need to be in a classroomto fully grasp and understandleadership. The Centre for LeadershipStudies creates an interactive,relevant and dynamic program that Ican feel part of...all the way fromCanada. It is where you can combinethoughts and practice to betterunderstand yourself, the class andthe concepts.” Sam (Ajit) Thiara, Student Affairs Officer, Faculty of Business, Simon Fraser University, Canada

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MA Pathway in Leadership Studies | Programme Structure

PROGRAMME STRUCTURE

Stage 3: Master of Arts in Leadership Studies (6 months)

● Leadership Enquiry

Stage 1: Postgraduate Certificate in Leadership Studies (9 months)

● Leadership and You

● Perspectives on Leadership

● Leadership Exchange

Stage 2: Postgraduate Diploma in Leadership Studies (9 months)

● Leadership Strategies

● Interventions in Leadership

● Leadership Futures

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“Can you believe a Tokyo-based, middle-agedbusiness man who isbusy travelling the worldis studying leadership atExeter University everynight? The leadership I’mstudying here might bedifferent from what youthink it is. I find it is moreartistic than scientific.”

Saburo Haruta, Team Leader, LNG & Tank Calibration Team, Second Survey Service Center, NKKK (Nippon Kaiji Kentei Kyokai), Japan

Not sure whether to commit to a Masters programme? You can enrol at PostgraduateCertificate or Diploma level and leave with that award, or you can continue to build yourcredits towards the final award of an MA

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MA Pathway in Leadership Studies | Postgraduate Certificate in Leadership Studies

“For a practice such asleadership, I see ‘knowing’ assomething to be produced inthe midst of action. One of myroles is to continually challengeany easy acceptance ofacademic ideas and theoriesthe students are readingabout. When I see thishappening, I encourage themto pay attention to their ownexperience and the personaltheories of action they’vedeveloped, and to use thisknowing to examine theseideas and models morecritically. What is important isthe practical learning thatoccurs in the interplaybetween enactment andfeedback in real time, wheretheory informs practice, andpractice informs theory.”

Keith Kinsella, Coach, MA Pathway in Leadership Studies

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MA Pathway in Leadership Studies | Postgraduate Certificate in Leadership Studies

Phase 1: Leadership and You

Beginning with an analysis of your own leadership learningpreferences, needs, personality and leadership style, youwill gain insight into the psychological and sociologicaldimensions of leadership and team working inorganizations. These insights, supported by feedback frompeers and your coach, will enable you to construct your ownprogramme to guide your development and growth as aneffective leader.

Phase 2: Perspectives on Leadership

Leadership is not what it appears to be. In this phase youreview classical and traditional perspectives on leadership,and encounter others developed more recently. In buildingup your understanding of these perspectives, you willengage with inter-related bodies of knowledge, includingleadership studies, social psychology, organization theory,strategic management, philosophy, and social anthropology.These perspectives will give you the tools to challenge yourown and others’ traditional understandings of leadershipand develop more sophisticated explanations of howleadership works within organizations.

POSTGRADUATE CERTIFICATE IN LEADERSHIP STUDIES

Phase 3: Leadership Exchange

In Phase 2 you explore how leadership happens in theory; inthis phase you see how it really happens in practice. Usingexperiential learning and anthropological research methods,you closely observe another leader, a fellow student fromthe programme, performing her or his organizational role. In turn, you are also observed by your exchange partner,giving and receiving feedback on each other’s approach toleadership. You discuss the experience with your exchangepartner and your coach, deriving the key learning points todevelop your effectiveness as a leader.

The Postgraduate Certificate in Leadership Studies gives you insight into your own leadershipstyle, a new perspective on what leadership is, and the chance to gain insight into the actualprocess of leadership by observing another leader.

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MA Pathway in Leadership Studies | Postgraduate Diploma in Leadership Studies

Phase 4: Leadership Strategies

Making strategy and managing change are key leadershipactivities that are always guided by concepts and modelsdeveloped through research, whether we are aware of themor not. In this phase you will learn about key conceptsrelating to formulation and implementation of strategy. You will also study a range of tools and models concernedwith the process of managing strategic change, applying allof this learning to detailed case studies. This phaseencourages you to pay particular attention to the human,emotional, and ethical dimensions of organizational strategyand change.

Phase 5: Interventions in Leadership

This phase looks at leadership development interventions,such as coaching. You will develop the context-sensitiveskills required to contract for, and decide upon,developmental interventions and enhance existing skillsrequired to bring developmental projects to a successfulconclusion. Consulting skills are also covered, and you willexplore problem diagnosis and giving feedback.

POSTGRADUATE DIPLOMA IN LEADERSHIP STUDIES

Phase 6: Leadership Futures

The overall aim of this phase is to help you become awareof differences in approaches to research prevalent in thestudy of leadership, with an eye to current and futurechallenges facing leaders and leadership. In order to do this,the phase revisits territory covered in previous phases but,in each case, the terrain is explored in a deeper and morecritical manner. There is emphasis on critical analysis oftheories of leadership, how cultural values inform notions ofleading and leadership (including analysis of Chinese,Islamic, and Indian contexts), and the potential contributionof leaders to shaping difficult, often contested,organizational futures.

Following on from the Certificate, the Diploma investigates how leadership works withstrategy and the process of change, explores the nature and practice of leadershipinterventions such as coaching, and takes a look into contemporary and future challenges toleadership.

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MA Pathway in Leadership Studies | Master of Arts in Leadership Studies

Phase 7: Leadership Enquiry

The first part of this phase asks you to write a shortresearch proposal, to explore the knowledge and skillsneeded to undertake research into leadership. Anunderstanding of what counts as reliable knowledge iscrucial to reading and conducting research, so we ask you tothink about what knowledge is and how it is derived whenstudying organizations and leadership. You look into researchmethods that have proven successful in the study ofleadership to identify the best method for undertaking yourown dissertation research.

MASTER OF ARTS IN LEADERSHIP STUDIES

Equipped with this understanding of research methods andmethodology, you can embark upon your dissertationresearch. What this is will be entirely individual, dependingon how your interest has developed over the course of theprogramme. You may have become fascinated by an issueconnected with leadership theory; alternatively, you maywish to investigate a practical issue connected withleadership, or most likely, a combination of theory andpractice.

This final stage results in the award of an MA in Leadership Studies. It draws on the variousapproaches to research introduced during the programme phases, and challenges you to putthem into practice by undertaking research into leadership. This involves working on adissertation that investigates a theoretical or practical issue in leadership, with expertsupervision and support from faculty throughout. Faculty and coaches also run a dissertationworkshop before this phase that you can choose to attend.

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MA Pathway in Leadership Studies | Faculty

The international faculty in the Centre bring a wide range of interests and research methods to the study of leading,leadership, and being led. Most have experience either in organizations or as consultants. Their research looks at thesocial identity of leaders, differences/similarities between managers and leaders, team leadership, gender andleadership, organizational change, board-level leadership, and spiritual/religious leadership. They work with all sorts ofleaders, in private, public and voluntary sectors, men and women. They make use of theory from leadership studies,business and management studies, psychology, sociology, and anthropology. All faculty present their work atacademic and practitioner conferences around the world, and write peer-reviewed academic papers, books, articles inpractitioner journals and newspapers, and research reports. There are more details on the Centre for LeadershipStudies website (www.exeter.ac.uk/leadership).

FACULTY

Programme Director

Scott Taylor

Scott joined the Centre for Leadership Studiesin September 2008, from the University ofEssex. He has also researched and lectured inthe business schools of Manchester

Metropolitan, Open and Birmingham universities. Scott’sresearch is based on analysis of people’s experiences ofwork, management, and leadership. He is currentlyresearching spirituality and leadership, charismaticleadership, and the marriage bar.

Coaches

Geoff Ahern

Geoff holds degrees from University of Oxfordand the London School of Economics, and hastutored with the Open University. He is currently a Fellow of the Centre for

Leadership Studies. He has delivered executive coachingand organizational consulting to over thirty household nameorganizations, and led the executive coaching delivery forRightCoutts Management Consultants. He was Director ofResearch and Programmes at Maresfield Curnow, withparticular responsibility for continuing professionaldevelopment of experienced management consultants.

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MA Pathway in Leadership Studies | Faculty

Val Brookes

Val works independently as a coach withleaders and managers, mainly in the publicsector. She works with individuals, teams andnetworks that are seeking to improve their

effectiveness, improve strategic thinking, or looking to makea ‘transition’ in their career/role. She usually works throughone to one coaching or facilitation of small group work. She is also an active Fellow of the Centre for LeadershipStudies, holds an MPhil in Education, and is currentlyexternal examiner for the Scandinavian InternationalManagement Institute, Copenhagen.

Sue Chapman

Sue is an independent managementconsultant, coach and group facilitator basednear Exeter. Her local clients in Cornwall andDevon include The Eden Project, Tate St Ives,

Truro College Business Centre and Riverford OrganicVegetables. She is a graduate of the Management School at Lancaster University and tutors at University of Warwick.In addition to her role as coach on the MA LeadershipStudies programme. Sue is also an Affiliate of the Centre for Leadership Studies, with responsibility for the ExecutiveEducation Cluster exploring how organizations addresssustainable development.

Keith Kinsella

Keith is an engineer and has an MBA from theLondon Business School. He has worked formany years designing and facilitating situatedand ‘emergent’ development programmes for

executive teams, action inquiry sets, and partnershipnetworks with firms like the BBC, VISA, NATS, Selex andthe Prudential. He focuses on helping individuals and groupsexploit tacit knowledge, adopt improvisatory approaches tochange, and embed their learning in everyday practice. He isa long-standing Affiliate of the Centre for Leadership Studiesand is currently completing his PhD on ‘close learning’ -developing leadership in real time - at the University of Bath.

Jamie Stewart

For the past twenty years Jamie Stewart hasspecialised in executive development in awide range of organizations both in the publicand private sectors, including Heinz, BBC,

Pfizer and UK strategic health authorities. He currentlyspends most of his time designing and delivering leadershipand senior executive team development solutions, includingexecutive coaching, for large global organizations such as,Disneyland Paris, Deutsche Bank, the Wrigley Company,Mars and Diageo. He is a graduate from the ManagementSchool at Lancaster University and an Affiliate of the Centrefor Leadership Studies.

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MA Pathway in Leadership Studies | Fees and funding

Fees and funding

Tuition fees for the PG Certificate, PG Diploma and MAprogrammes can be found on our website at:

www.exeter.ac.uk/leadership/ma/fees

Bursaries

We are able to offer a bursary to self-funding students of upto £1,000.

Groups

We believe that organizations benefit most from ourprogramme when several people participate as a group andoffer a discount when three or more members of the sameorganization are sponsored on the programme. Please contact us for further information.

FEES AND FUNDING

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MA Pathway in Leadership Studies | How to apply

If you would like more information about the programmeor our entry requirements please contact

Sue MurchLeadership Programme ManagerT: +44 (0)1392 262558E: Sue.Murch@exeter.ac.uk

You can apply online by visiting

www.exeter.ac.uk/leadership/ma/apply

If you would like a paper copy of the application formplease contact Sue Murch as above and return the formto:

Sue MurchLeadership Programme ManagerUniversity of Exeter Business SchoolXfi Building, Rennes DriveExeter EX4 4ST

HOW TO APPLY

Programme Manager

Sue Murch

Sue has extensive experience ofadministration in executive educationhaving previously worked on the ExeterMBA programme. In 1997 she was

appointed Administrator at the Centre for LeadershipStudies when it was established as a specialistcentre for the advanced study of leadership andleadership development. Sue is now LeadershipProgramme Manager for a range of programmes runby the Centre including the MA, MRes andCertificate and Diploma in Leadership Studies. Her role is to ensure that your pathway through theprogramme runs smoothly by acting as your point ofcontact from your first enquiry until the day yougraduate.

University of Exeter Business School

Xfi Building, Rennes DriveExeter EX4 4ST

Tel: +44(0)1392 262558Email: Sue.Murch@exeter.ac.ukWeb: www.exeter.ac.uk/leadership

Disclaimer

This document forms part of the University's PostgraduateProspectus. Every effort has been made to ensure that theinformation contained in the Prospectus is correct at thetime of going to press. However, the University cannotguarantee the accuracy of the information contained withinthe Prospectus and reserves the right to make variations tothe services offered where such action is considered to benecessary by the University. For further information, pleaserefer to the Postgraduate Prospectus (available atwww.exeter.ac.uk/pgp/disclaimer/).