Program Overview

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Leadership, Communication & Digital Transformation (Postgraduate Certificate, L9, 30 ECTS)

Course Overview

This postgraduate certificate in Leadership, Communication & Digital Transformation is a one-year part-time programme for those who seek to progress or develop their leadership capacity in their workplace, community, and/or society. We are living in a time of rapid change. Covid 19, the exponential growth of remote/hybrid working and the ever-changing digital technologies, has taught us that for organisations to thrive, we as leaders must be able to understand, navigate and lead change.

The core aim of this programme is to help you become a proactive change agent and thus become a driver of sustainable change both regionally and nationally.

One of the core pillars of the Postgraduate Certificate programme is how leadership, communication and digital literacies are inextricably linked in business and society and that ultimately self is the key instrument of change.

This 30-credit leadership, level 9 programme consists of 3 modules:

Module 1: Change Leadership

• Change Leadership

The aim of this module is to help participants develop their knowledge and skill as creative leaders in their chosen field. It provides a wonderful opportunity for you to stop, reflect and assess what kind of a leader you are now, identify the leadership model you resonate most with and to develop a plan to help you become the kind of leader you want to be. In this course we recognize the importance of the interpersonal skills of leaders. After all, we often associate a great leader as being an excellent communicator who can transcend conflict and inspire others to work towards a compelling vision. We will explore how people really experience change and examine key frameworks of change theory to help us better understand organisational change. Understanding who you are as a person and how change really happens in organisations are two core essentials to help you be a much more effective leader.

The core subject areas include leadership theory, principles & emerging trends, creativity, the psychology of teams and organisational change. Using the principles of process consultation, participants will lead a change project that addresses a particular issue/opportunity in their relevant field.

On completion of this module the learner will be able to: Apply and evaluate key concepts, theories and emerging trends of leadership, analyse team dynamics to facilitate change and communicate professionally.

Time Commitment: For Semester 1, this module will be delivered over 3 weekends (Friday & Saturday) at TUS Clonmel Campus. In addition, to help you with your learning, optional one to one time with the lecturer will be available.

Module 2: Communication, Contexts and Culture

• Communication: Contexts and Culture

Communication is a part of every aspect of our lives. Language use is influenced by organisations, individuals and society and in turn influences each of these. These online and offline contexts and cultures are key to developing our understanding of communication. This variation in communication and cultures provides the context for studying how we communicate as individuals and as groups.

This module will examine communication and cultures from an individual, organisational and societal perspective. Students will study the factors that shape communication and culture in a hybrid and increasingly multinational workplace.

Some of the key topics studied include the links between language and power, language and identity, culture and communication, and key theories and practices of organisational communication. Students will also revise academic writing styles and referencing, and search strategies for academic and personal research. Participants in this module will use communication examples from their own experience and readings relevant to their own area of work to examine these concepts.

On completion of this module the learner will be able to: Critique theories and practices underpinning intercultural communication, understand the links between language and power, and critique different perspectives on organisational communication.

Time Commitment: 10 Tuesday evenings (6-9pm) and 1 Thursday evening (6-9pm). In addition, to help you with your learning, optional one to one time with the lecturer will be available and students will be notified of these dates at the start of the module.

Module 3: Digital Transformation

• Digital Transformation

Students will learn how to set up and revise a series of processes culminating in the development of personal knowledge management (PKM) that is relevant to their workplace. This module involves reflecting on the use of new technologies and students will develop their mastery of emerging technology.

On completion of this module the learner will be able to: Understand how to locate, vet and annotate trusted sources of quality information, have mastered technology that enables the discovery and review of information sources and will have established a PKM process suitable for use in the workplace.

Time Commitment: 8 Tuesday evenings (6-9pm). There are also in-person sessions that will take place as part of your Change Leadership weekends. In addition, to help you with your learning, optional one to one time with the lecturer will be available and students will be notified of these dates at the start of the module.

What are the entry requirements?

• Admission for Postgraduate Certificate (Level 9): (a) A minimum PASS honours degree (Level 8) in Arts, Business, Humanities, Social Sciences; or (b) A minimum PASS honours degree (Level 8) in an area outside the fields mentioned above, but with evidence of strong interest, experience and ability in the area, as determined during the interview; or (c) Equivalent Qualifications. Applicants with equivalent qualifications on the European and International frameworks will also be considered, but with evidence of strong interest, experience and ability in the area, as determined during the interview.
• Recognised Prior Learning (RPL) – Assessment

Please review the entry requirements for this programme.

If you do not hold these qualifications but would like your application to be assessed under RPL please select YES on the online application form.

• ENGLISH LANGUAGE: Applicants who do not have English as their first language must ensure they satisfy English Language requirements. For entry to undergraduate courses, a score of 5.5 in an IELTS or equivalent exam is required. For postgraduate courses, a score of 6.0 in an IELTS or equivalent exam is required. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure their English proficiency meets these requirements.

What can you do after this programme?

Career Opportunities

The postgraduate certificate in Leadership, Communication & Digital Transformation is primarily for those at work in the business, community and voluntary sector who seek further professional development to progress their career in management or leadership. It is also for those seeking new skills who already have an undergraduate or equivalent qualification. The ideal candidate is someone who wishes to develop their personal and interpersonal capacity to become an effective change agent in their relevant field. This course offers opportunities on 2 key levels:

1. Personal: It is an opportunity for you to reflect on you as a leader – review your own personal leadership skills audit and assess the areas you wish to develop further. It will help you to develop your understanding and self-confidence as a leader.
2. Professional: This programme can be used as a way to progress to a leadership role since it is a University based level 9 (masters level) programme. If you are already in a leadership position, this course provides you with an opportunity to upskill and refresh your knowledge/competence in terms of leadership, communication and digital skills. Since this programme is open to all industries/sectors, it is a great way to build a very diverse network. The fact that it is a part time programme also means that it can be used as a stepping stone to further study i.e. you could progress to a diploma or MA.

There are several reasons students take the Postgraduate Certificate in Leadership: Communication & Digitial Transformation. Some people are already in a leadership position and want to reflect and review on their role and update their skills. Other students say that they gained a leadership position based on their experience and now they are looking for the language or the theory or even the piece of paper to back up what they are doing. Some students also come on this programme because they would like to apply for a leadership position and think that a leadership programme will give them the training and confidence they need for career progression. Still, there are others who take this programme because they would like to do a master’s degree, but take on a 30 credit programme to see if they can do well at a level 9 standard.

Here is what some of our previous students have to say:

• I learned anyone can be a leader and I learned I can go for more leadership roles and not to limit myself. Great course and would return to do a masters. Joy, 2024
• I loved it. Definitely impacted y work life and improved my skills. Neilson, 2024
• I am capable of more than I think I am. Fiona, 2024
• Leadership is to be practised every day and reflect often!!!! Grateful to have met lovely people. Michelle, 2023
• I learned about the importance of vision, self-awareness and clear communication, Rosangela, 2023
• It has been a real mind-opening journey for me personally and I appreciated learning from the sharing with my classmates. Yannick, 2023
• Leadership is a skill that can be learned. That understanding of the individuals in the team you are leading is essential. I learned that some aspects of my personality that I had considered as weaknesses in relation to leadership could be strengths. Barry, 2022
• I had a very positive experience completing this course. I would recommend to individuals that would like to learn how to develop effective leadership skills. Carla, 2022

Further Study

Successful completion of the postgraduate certificate in Leadership, Communication & Digital Transformation would mean that students could apply for the following:

• The Postgraduate Certificate in Leadership: Inclusion and Action Research (30 Credits)
• The Postgraduate Diploma in Creative Leadership Practice (60 credits)
• The MA in Creative Leadership Practice (90 credits)

More Information

Delivery

• The proposed delivery schedule is subject to change.

Modules will be delivered over one year in a blended learning format as follows

• Semester 1 – Change Leadership
  • Weekend 1: Friday September 26th 10am till 5pm In person Clonmel Campus
  • Saturday September 27th 10am till 5pm In person Clonmel Campus
  • Weekend 2: Friday October 24th 10am till 5pm In person Clonmel Campus
  • Saturday October 25th 10am till 5pm In person Clonmel Campus
  • Weekend 3: Friday November 21st 10am till 5pm In person Clonmel Campus
  • Saturday November 22nd 10am till 5pm In person Clonmel Campus
• Semester 1 – Communications: Context and Culture
  • Tuesday September 30th 6pm till 9pm Online
  • Tuesday October 7th 6pm till 9pm Online
  • Tuesday October 14th 6pm till 9pm Online
  • Tuesday October 21st 6pm till 9pm Online
  • Tuesday November 4th 6pm till 9pm Online
  • Tuesday November 11th 6pm till 9pm Online
  • Tuesday November 18th 6pm till 9pm Online
  • Tuesday November 25th 6pm till 9pm Online
  • Tuesday December 2nd 6pm till 9pm Online
  • Thursday December 4th 6pm till 9pm Online
  • Tuesday December 9th 6pm till 9pm Online
• Semester 2 – Change Leadership
  • Weekend 4: Friday January 23rd 10am till 5pm In person Clonmel Campus
  • Saturday January 24th 10am till 5pm In person Clonmel Campus
  • Weekend 5: Friday February 27th 10am till 5pm In person Clonmel Campus
  • Saturday February 28th 10am till 5pm In person Clonmel Campus
  • Weekend 6: Friday March 27th 10am till 5pm In person Clonmel Campus
  • Saturday March 28th 10am till 5pm In person Clonmel Campus
  • Weekend 7: Friday April 24th 10am till 5pm In person Clonmel Campus
  • Saturday April 25th 10am till 5pm In person Clonmel Campus
• Semester 2 – Digital Transformation
  • Tuesday January 27th 6pm till 9pm Online
  • Tuesday February 3rd 6pm till 9pm Online
  • Tuesday February 10th 6pm till 9pm Online
  • Tuesday February 24th 6pm till 9pm Online
  • Tuesday March 3rd 6pm till 9pm Online
  • Tuesday March 10th 6pm till 9pm Online
  • Tuesday March 24th 6pm till 9pm Online
  • Tuesday March 31st 6pm till 9pm Online

What will the time commitment be?

• Each 5 credits will normally equate to approximately 100 Total Learning Hours. Total Learning Hours includes the time you spend in class (lectures, tutorials, practical elements) and the time you spend completing work outside of college. The balance between these two varies by discipline, and by level of study. You should bear in mind that the workload will increase at particular times e.g. when assignments are due.

Assessment

• Continuous assessment (100% online). No end of semester exams.

Qualification

• Postgraduate Certificate in Leadership, Communication & Digital Transformation (Level 9, 30 ECTS)

Fees

• €3,300* This programme was Springboard+ funded in 2024.

Successful applicants in employment will qualify for 90% Springboard+ funding & will be liable for the balance of the 10% fee of €330.

Successful applicants on a qualifying DSP payment will qualify for 100% funding.

Application Deadline

• To be confirmed for September 2025. Places are allocated on a first come first served basis, prioritizing unemployed and returning applicants. Course will be closed once the maximum number of applicants is reached. Courses run subject to viable numbers.