Teaching
In addition to attending the residential workshops, it is estimated that to complete the blended programme successfully students will need to spend the equivalent of 1 day per week (8 hours) on directed learning, independent study, reading, accessing one-on-one support, and completing work for assessment. In addition, students admitted to the programme are also expected to be in a position to undertake personal reflection, apply the learning in practice and/or gain relevant practical experience related to the themes of the programme for at least 1 day per week. This is an average across the 9 months of the programme for a typical student, and variations in individual approaches to scheduling and learning can result in weeks where the workload may be heavier or lighter.
Our applied, practitioner-oriented postgraduate programmes are designed to support personal and professional development. The following are key features that underpin CISL’s distinctive approach to learning:
Flexible: Programmes are designed for professionals working full time; hence the intensive workshops are blended with remote working on assignments and other course-related activities.
Thought leadership: The speakers, lecturers and facilitators are leading experts and practitioners from academia, business, government and civil society.
Practical relevance: Business case studies and hearing from leading industry figures are an integral part of the taught content, and assignments are focused on organisational contexts; thereby developing skills needed to translate cutting-edge insights into practice.
Topical: The content includes developing a robust ‘business case’ for sustainability, a focus on sustainability leadership aims and responses, and change management, covering both established and emergent experience.
Interactive: The learning approach is highly interactive, collaborative, interdisciplinary, and designed to encourage reflection and debate.
Diversity of perspectives: Students come from a wide range of functions, sectors, and geographies; hence provide a wide spectrum of insights and opportunities to benchmark against how other organisations are responding to sustainability.
Peer-learning: Shared learning and networking with between peers and the extensive range of contributors together provide a rich co-learning environment.
Support and mentorship: A dedicated CISL team and expert supervisors support the learning journey, including by providing feedback on assignments that are focused on organisational contexts.
Personal application: Students are encouraged to identify personal opportunities for leadership and engage in reflective practice throughout the programme, supported by peers and supervisors.
The primary approaches to teaching and learning are:
• taught plenary and small group sessions by academics and practitioners, who are thought-leaders and/or case study contributors;
• group work, involving dialogue, debate and presentations throughout the taught modules, as well as a group research assignment;
• individual work, involving structured reading and reflection, research, and written presentation of findings on selected topics;
• support and facilitation by a CISL-led team of supervisors;
• an E-learning component including an online module and structured reading and preparation.
| One to one supervision |
Six hours during the nine-month course. Supervisions take place at the face-to-face residential workshops and virtually when students are away from Cambridge. |
|---|---|
| Seminars & classes |
Four hours over the nine-month course. |
| Lectures |
Forty hours over the nine-month course. Lectures are provided by academics and industry experts. |
| Small group teaching |
Six hours over the nine-month programme. |
| Literature Reviews |
The individual assignments and group project include undertaking short literature reviews. |
| Posters and Presentations |
Each student will contribute to a group project presentation. This is not summatively assessed; however, the groups do receive constructive feedback. |
| Taught/Research Balance |
Predominantly Taught
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Feedback
Students submit a plan for each assignment and one draft copy to their assigned supervisor. The supervisor will then provide verbal or written feedback on the plan and the draft with the intention of allowing the student to improve their paper before final submission. All of the submitted assignments are double marked and consolidated feedback from both assessors' is given to the student.
Assessment
Thesis / Dissertation
N/A
Essays
Three written assignments:
- A 3,000-word Analysis Paper which takes the form of a detailed, critical analysis of a sustainability challenge or opportunity for a specific organisation, culminating in clear strategic recommendations.
- A 3,000-word Strategic Action Plan, building on the Analysis Paper, developing a practical implementation plan for taking forward one or more of the recommendations, supported by a sound rationale and existing literature and cases.
- A 7,000-word Group Project (undertaken with five to seven other students) on an issue relevant to sustainability, business and leadership, producing an original piece of research that draws upon the group’s collective interest and experience.