This course is designed to help students define the concept of leadership, which is relevant to a more diverse and rapidly changing world. Students will explore some of the existing leadership models and identify the pros and cons of each model. Students will also be introduced to a variety of communication techniques that are essential for working with people from different cultural or professional backgrounds. A strong emphasis is put on learning by doing; students will be asked to do group activities, in which they get to develop the skills that are key to successful co-creation. Throughout the course, students will be expected to think outside the box, reflect on their learning, and provide thoughtful feedback for their peers. It is hoped that the composition of the class will be diverse—a good mix of international students and Japanese students.
By the end of this course, students will have critically explored some of the most common theories of leadership, reflected on their own concepts and experiences, and begun to articulate what leadership means for them. Likewise, students will have applied some of these concepts or styles of leadership explored during the course to facilitate group work. Throughout the course, students will also learn to develop intercultural competence and effective communication skills.
Leadership, discussion, workshop, facilitation, persuasion, problem solving
Specialist skills | ✔ Intercultural skills | ✔ Communication skills | ✔ Critical thinking skills | ✔ Practical and/or problem-solving skills |
The class is highly interactive. Therefore, students’ strong commitment and active participation are key to success, not only for themselves, but also for the entire class.
Each week, we will explore a different topic (e.g. leadership model, case study, intercultural competence) in the first half of the class. Students are expected to complete all the readings provided by the instructor and come to class prepared for a meaningful discussion. In the second half of the class, students will be engaged in group work, followed by a de-briefing session.
Course schedule | Required learning | |
---|---|---|
Class 1 | Course introduction Team-building exercise | How to lead, engage, or motivate people toward a common goal. |
Class 2 | Understanding leadership and management Sharing narratives of personal leadership experience | Learn to respect differences in terms of thought process, approach, motivation, and philosophy. |
Class 3 | Workshop on intercultural competence | How to improve one’s own cultural sensitivity, how to increase cultural awareness in the workplace. |
Class 4 | Exploring different models of leadership Creative-thinking exercise | Understand the traditional models of leadership and analyze why they can be irrelevant in today’s context. |
Class 5 | Introduction to effective communication Communication exercise | Students should be able to use attentive/active listening skills and empathy for getting buy-in from their peers. |
Class 6 | Defining leadership in today’s world Due: Reflection paper | Students should be able to identify key factors for successful co-creation: What works and what doesn’t? |
Class 7 | Presentations | Students will deliver presentations based on their reflection papers and receive feedback from their peers. |
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.
None
The instructor will provide handouts in advance of the class.
The grade will be determined as follows.
Class participation: 20% (Evaluation will be based on attitude, contribution, and a willingness to learn)
Reflective paper: 40%
Presentation: 40%
The desired level of English skills is upper-intermediate and above.
If the number of students enrolled is smaller than expected, it is possible that only one course (A or B) will be offered.