Abstract:

This presentation is reporting a case study of innovative teaching methods involved in developing practical leadership competencies in Psychology of Leadership elective course, which is part of an online Masters programmes. Constanly evolving demands in organizations necessitate the development of effective leaders who possess a deep understanding of psychological principles, high self awareness, empathy and excellent communication skills, like active listening, open questions and constructive feedback. The psychology of leadership is a critical area of study for postgraduate students who aspire to assume leadership roles in various sectors. However, conventional teaching methods, which primarily focus on lectures and textbook readings often fail to engage students fully or to bridge the gap between theory and practice and may therefore not adequately prepare students for the complex, real-world challenges they will face. This necessitates the exploration of novel teaching strategies that engage students more deeply and provide practical, applicable skills.

The innovative approaches discussed in this presentation were implemented in a block tought intense postgraduate psychology of leadership course with 240 students over the period of 8 weeks in total.

The course incorporated the following elements:
- Experiential Learning: Students participated in role-playing scenarios, leadership simulations, and real-world projects with local organizations. These activities were designed to provide hands-on experience and immediate application of psychological concepts.
- Technology Integration: Utilizing virtual e learning environment with online communication tools, working in virtual teams, developing digital skills and contributing to flexibility of learning by facilitating peer collaboration and discussion, and thus extending learning beyond the classroom.
- Reflective Practice: Students maintained reflective journals and participated in regular debriefing sessions to critically analyze their experiences and integrate feedback into their learning process.
- Colaborations with local businesses: More than 60 % of students engage local businesses to conduct a 30 minute leadership development workshop for their chosen organisation.

Preliminary assessments of both teaching and learning process indicate that these innovative teaching methods significantly enhanced student engagement and understanding of psychology of leadership and the development of leadership skills and competencies in real life environment. Students reported higher satisfaction levels and perceived a greater relevance of course material to real-world applications. Performance metrics, including leadership development workshop evaluations and reflective report assessments, demonstrated improved critical thinking, self reflection, and leadership competencies.

Innovative teaching approaches in the Course are essential to meet the dynamic needs of today's global, dynamic and multicultural work environments. By embracing experiential learning, technology, and industry collaborations, educators can significantly enhance the preparation of postgraduate students for leadership roles, equipping them with the skills necessary to thrive in complex, ever-changing contexts and the competencies to develop others to do so.

Keywords:

Psychology of leadership, postgraduate education, experiential learning, self reflection, technology integration, industry collaboration, leadership development, socially responsible teaching and learning.