Study Guide

Objective

After completing this course, the students will be able to
• analyse their strengths and development needs as a leader and an innovator and to develop their skills in a goal-oriented manner
• use career stories and systematic and continuous reflection to clarify their professional values and goals and to develop their professional identity and leadership style
• compare different leadership theories and models and evaluate their relevance for their own work
• create and maintain partnerships and networks to support their work as a leader

Content

• Leadership and innovation in creative businesses
• Different career paths to leadership and management positions
• Leadership skills and qualities of a good leader
• Role of values, ethics, empathy and emotions in working life and leadership
• Different leadership theories, models and styles
• Role of collaboration and networks in leadership

Materials

Learning materials are available online and are instructed on the itslearning course platform.

Teaching methods

Lectures and discussions, reading learning materials, and individual assignments.

Completion alternatives

-

Student workload

Learning assignments:
1) writing a mini essay on innovations (based on readings) (8 h)
2) creating a digital career story (18 h)
3) keeping regular reflective diary on given themes and sharing a monthly insight on a Padlet wall for the group and teachers (34 h)
4) creating a visual presentation on leadership (20 h)
5) creating a shortened business plan (20 h)
6) writing a reflective report based on the reflective diary (8 h)

The course is worth 5 credits = ca. 155 hours of workby students. 1 credits (27 hours) of the workload consists of participating in and preparing for the online sessions. 4 credits (108 hours) consists of doing assignments independently.

Content scheduling

Part I: Innovation (Autumn term 2023)
- Types of innovation
- Methods of innovating
- Managing and leading innovations
- Online lecture & instructions for the assignment 1.9., readings and written assignment by 30.9.

Part II: Digital Career Story & Reflective Diary (Autum term 2023 & spring term 2024)
- Different career paths leading to management and leadership positions
- Skills and qualities required in leadership postitions
- Personal professional goals and values; strengths and competences useful in management and leadership position
- Online workshop meetings 1.9., 6.9., 7.9. and 20.9.
- Creating the digital story by 18.9.
- Keeping the diary regularly 21.9.-30.4.
- Reflective discussions based on the reflective diary: 18.10., 15.11. & 13.12. (and 2 - 3 meetings in Jan-April 2024, dates to be announced by December 2023)

Part III: Leadership (Spring term 2024)
- skills and qualities needed to lead and manage customer-oriented media and communication projects
- different leadership paradigms, theories and styles
- role of values, ethics, empathy and emotions in leadership
- creating customer-inspired innovations and business plans 
- the role of collaboration and networks in leadership 
- different career paths to leadership and management position
- Lectures, readings and assignments in January-March 2024 (dates to be announced by December 2023)

Evaluation scale

Hyväksytty/Hylätty

Assessment methods and criteria

Assessment is based on assignments. All the assignments (1-6) need to be approved for the course to be approved ("pass").