Development, Implementation and Sustainability Report: PhD course in Authentic Leadership

This report summarises all activities related to the development and implementation of the PhD course in ‘Authentic Leadership’. This course was part of the project Intellectual Output 1 (IO1) that had the objective to enhance the quality of doctoral entrepreneurial training, skills and competences and employability in and outside academia.
The PhD course in Authentic Leadership was designed as a 5 ECTS course to tackle skills gaps using innovative pedagogies to design a curriculum with learning-outcomes that meet the learning needs of doctoral researchers. In knowledge and skills, the course adhered to the European Qualifications Framework. The training included components of innovation and creativity. By fostering entrepreneurial, open, innovative skills, postgraduate researchers can apply authentic leadership skills to their PhD and the business environment. The PhD course trained doctoral researchers in employability skills endorsed by the EU.
The PhD course in Authentic Leadership was developed by a dedicated project team led by LUT University, with regular inputs from the whole consortium and the project external quality auditor on working versions of the curriculum and the programme. Local project leaders from LUT University and Siegen University were responsible for the implementation of the pilots.
The course was first piloted in May of 2021, hosted on-line by LUT University. 18 PhD students from 5 partner universities participated. The programme comprised five full days of work as well as pre-course and post-course assignments. The course was evaluated by the participants, the project external quality auditor, and the project team. The aggregated feedback was taken into account in enhancing next version of the course. The next pilot took place in March of 2022. It was hosted by University of Siegen online. 10 PhD students from all 4 partner universities participated. The same approach to the course assessment was adopted. The totalled feedback contributed to the development of a generic curriculum and programme of the PhD course in Authentic Leadership, which serve as sustainability implementation actions.