DIPLOMA IN DEVELOPMENT LEADERSHIP March 15 to November 30, 2023 Our Diploma in Development Leadership
to enhance their leadership competencies
is designed for those who are passionate
and their abilities to motivate and support
about creating positive change in their
people in creating a better world for future
communities. The program is designed for a
generations. The program is deeply rooted
diverse cohort of practitioners from around
in a community-driven and adult education
the world who represent a wide cross-
approach that draws on over 50 years of
section of civil society, public, and private
practical experience.
groups, and organizations. Together, they will learn innovative skills and approaches for leadership in asset-based, just, and sustainable development.
Throughout the program, a collaborative relationship is fostered among facilitators and participants to draw out lessons and insights from their rich and diverse
The Diploma program strengthens
experiences. This sharing and co-creation of
participants’ capacity to confront the complex
knowledge is a cornerstone to the Diploma
issues they face and to propose pragmatic
program. Graduates leave with greater
strategies for change. Throughout the
confidence and even stronger leadership
program, participants build and draw upon a
skills, joining a global network of committed
critical and reflective social change framework
Coady graduates.
The Diploma is delivered through a blended model, divided into three mandatory modules: • Module 1 (March 15 to April 15, 2023) consists of an online course focused on the introduction to core concepts and relationship building within the cohort.
• Module 2 (May 15 to July 24, 2023) consists
By the end of the program, participants should be able to: • practice transformative leadership to support sustainable, asset-based, and equitable development, driven by those most impacted by development initiatives; • apply a broad range of participatory adult education methodologies; • develop or adapt innovative practices
of a 10-week, in-person residency at the
that support the planning, monitoring, and
Coady Institute that includes a foundational
evaluation of asset-based development
course in leadership grounded in asset-based
initiatives;
development, social justice and feminist practice, and facilitating social change through an adult education-informed lens. This is followed by electives centered on topics relevant to community development practitioners, and a final course focused on integration of learnings and planning for implementation in Module 3. Potential Electives include: • Advocacy: Increasing Citizen Voice and Agency • Community-Led Action in a Changing Climate • Livelihoods and Markets
• Module 3 (September 15 to November 30, 2023) consists of a 10-week practical module where participants will have the opportunity to reflect on their learnings in practice with the accompaniment of Coady facilitators and through peer learning. The program goal is to strengthen individuals and organizations involved in sustainable, asset-based, and equitable development by providing leadership development opportunities for emergent and established leaders.
• pursue self-directed research and learning goals, including applying action research methods or inquiry-based processes for social learning at the organizational and community level; • apply their learning directly to a change initiative in support of sustainable, equitable development in their organization and/or community; • act collectively through knowledge sharing, networking, and multi-stakeholder processes at national and global levels; and, • participate in ongoing co-learning to address contemporary issues and trends in development.
Program Eligibility
Cost of the program:
The Diploma in Development Leadership is for
The full cost of the program is $25,000, This
leaders who:
includes tuition for all three modules, and room and board for the 10-week residency at Coady
• Possess a minimum of five years of
Institute on the campus of St. Francis Xavier
demonstrated leadership experience in a social
University, Antigonish, Nova Scotia during
or economic development endeavor in sectors
Module 2.
such as livelihoods or inclusive economic development, food security, environment, access to education and health care,
Coady Institute strives to ensure that
governance, socio-political equity and inclusion
participants working with marginalized
among equity-seeking groups;
communities around the world have
• Will be immediately returning to their
access to its courses. This is made possible
community and sector following the program
through the provision of bursaries that
to put their learning into practice;
are funded by many individual and institutional donors. Partial bursaries
• Have great drive and passion for their work, demonstrated through their outstanding
of up to $20,000 are available for
contributions in their organizations and
international candidates. Those receiving
communities;
a bursary will be responsible for paying the balance of $5,000 CAD before the
• Are practitioners in civil society organizations
designated deadline.
including community-based organizations and not for profits, or active in public or private institutions, donor/philanthropic agencies, social movements or in a social enterprise/business; • Hold a combination of post-secondary education and/or lived experience; and • Have strong oral and written English language competencies.
All travel related expenses including airfare and visa fees are the responsibility of the participant. Coady Institute will arrange and cover ground transportation costs between Halifax Stanfield International Airport and the Coady Institute.
To apply visit coady.stfx.ca
Established in 1959, Coady Institute is committed to accompanying generations of global leaders skilled in the application of citizen-led, asset-based, and community-driven leadership for economic and social change. Located in Mi’kma’ki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq People, on the campus of St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, Nova Scotia. Coady Institute includes a network of leaders in 130 countries globally. -3-