Lien Centre at SMU launches professional course to build non-profit sector leadership

The Lien Centre for Social Innovation at Singapore Management University (Lien Centre at SMU) has launched a new programme to grow effective management and leadership capabilities of leaders, senior executives and key administrators working in the non-profit sector. Combining management and academic perspectives with thought-leadership and experiential learning from non-profit organisations and experts, the iLEAP Professional Course for Non-Profit Leaders (iLEAP) is designed to support professional development in non-profit organisations in areas including social and health services, community development, charities, education, the arts and environment.

Developed with close consultation with leading non-profit practitioners and experts, iLEAP comprises 14 modules (see Annex 1 for list of modules) in a curriculum architecture designed to address the competency needs of non-profit professionals in the following areas: Strategic Leadership, Engaging People, Ensuring Sustainability, Non-Profit Environment and Strategy, Stewardship and Governance, and Strategic Management. The modules will be taught by 15 Course Facilitators and 32 Practice Leaders drawn from distinguished SMU faculty and non-profit sector leaders (see Annex 2). Each module is conducted in different community partner premises to provide meaningful and enriching on-site learning experience of real-world non-profit issues.

iLEAP is spearheaded by curriculum director Thomas Menkhoff, Associate Professor of Organisational Behaviour and Human Resources at SMU, programme consultant Usha Menon, Executive Chairman of Management Centre Asia; and programme manager Farheen Mukri, Manager for Research and Programmes at the Lien Centre at SMU. Collaborative inputs from 16 Community Partners (see Annex 3), who have also extended the use of their premises to conduct classes, provide actionable knowledge, actual case-studies and also practical insights into non-profit organisation operations.

“We designed iLEAP together with practitioners from the non-profit sector to create a programme that can effectively address the competency needs of non-profit professionals. Participants will develop better appreciation and perspective of non-profit organisational management, fortified leadership capabilities, and a better understanding of how their own organisational mission can be aligned and integrated with strategic economic and management requirements. I also hope to see everyone build strong networks and benefit from the interaction and exchange of ideas with their course mates and course leaders,” said Associate Professor Thomas Menkhoff.

“The course extends the work of the Lien Centre in building the capacity of the non-profit sector. We have sought to produce a differentiated and effective offering for non-profit leaders. We have a unique approach of using the non-profit community to build the non-profit community with the participation of community partners, renowned leaders of the industry and the non-profit attendees themselves,” said Mr Willie Cheng, Chairman of the Lien Centre at SMU.

“Non-profits are responsible not only for effective service delivery but also to stimulate public confidence, which is central to mobilising support for the cause. Who better to set exemplary standards of transparency, accountability and good governance pratices, than the non-profit leaders themselves. This programme will immensely help build such a group of nonprofit leaders,” said Mrs Fang Ai Lian, Chairman, Charity Council. Mrs Fang is a practice leader for the module on ‘Ethics and Governance'.

“A non-profit leader has to have the ability to deal with the tension of the two opposing poles of the rational, economic, legal solutions of the head and the social, ethical, emotional arguments of the heart. I am glad that this course provides a good coverage of both poles. It will help the non-profit leader to balance between them in formulating policies and determining solutions,” said Mr Gerard Ee, Chairman, Council for Third Age and the New National Kidney Foundation. Mr Ee is a practice leader for the introductory module on ‘The Non-Profit Environment'.

iLEAP commences on 8 January 2010. Courses are full-day sessions and conducted on Fridays across 14 weeks until 23 April 2010, covering one module each week. At the end of 14 weeks, participants will present an Action Plan that applies 7 of the 14 modules to address critical performance issues in their own organisation as part of their assessment. Certificates of completion will be awarded. Programme fee is $4,950 (with GST). However, eligible participants working in non-profit organisations can enrol in the programme with the Volunteer Welfare Organisations-Charity Capability Fund subsidised fee of $990. 25 places are available. Registration is now opened and will close on 8 December 2009.

About the Lien Centre for Social Innovation at SMU

The Lien Centre for Social Innovation at SMU, a partnership between the Lien Foundation and the University, was established in 2006 to advance the thinking and capability of the not-for-profit sector. The Lien Centre at SMU aims to help cultivate dynamic, principled and insightful leaders who can stimulate social innovation and create social and environmental value. We aim to inspire students and alumni, scholars and the larger community to contribute to solutions that enable positive social change in our society.