Fundamentals of Community Engagement and Stakeholder Relations
Be Transformed
Offered in partnership with Synergy Global Consulting
Course Overview
In recent years, the context of businesses and society has evolved significantly. There is a growing recognition that businesses cannot operate in isolation from the communities and societies in which they operate. Understanding community stakeholder engagement within the broader ambit of social impact management in socially complex environments, has become increasingly important for businesses globally. This course provides students with an introduction to the required knowledge, methods and tools for establishing and sustaining positive relationships with local communities and project stakeholders.
What you will walk away with
- An opportunity to network and debate with delegates from different industries and functional areas from across sub-Saharan Africa
- Practical on-the-ground experience with a post-programme assignment which ensures that learning is implemented back in the workplace
- An understanding of the factors influencing stakeholder relations and community engagement.
- The ability to assess the risks and opportunities associated with different levels of community support and stakeholder relations.
- Various approaches to stakeholder identification, mapping and analysis based on the project context.
- Techniques to design effective stakeholder engagement plans.
- Skills required for effective communication and engagement.
- A deeper understanding into the causes of conflict and methods for managing conflict.
- Access to the vast UCT GSB global alumni community
Additional Course Information
MODULE BREAKDOWN
Curriculum Overview
Module 1
Foundational Concepts and Principles
This module provides the background for social performance and stakeholder engagement in natural resource projects, including the key drivers and challenges influencing project-linked community relations. It also covers key terminology and guiding principles, legal requirements for stakeholder engagement, as well as introducing the concept of Social License to Operate (SLTO) and understanding community support.
Module 2
Planning and Techniques for Stakeholder Engagement
This module introduces participants to the stakeholder engagement planning process, examines key approaches for identifying and mapping project stakeholders, and presents an overview of techniques used for stakeholder engagement.
Module 3
Effective Communication and Managing Expectations
This module analyses the factors influencing project and community stakeholder expectations, and presents important techniques used to manage this challenging aspect of stakeholder engagement. The module also introduces useful new engagement techniques (e.g. Time to Think).
Module 4
Understanding and Managing Competing Interests
This module provides a theoretical framework for analysing company-community conflict, and provides several conflict-sensitive approaches for managing the causes and effects of conflict.
Module 5
Grievance Mechanisms and Stakeholder Integration
This module introduces key concepts and approaches for managing and resolving project-level complaints and grievances.
Module 6
Skills, Capacity, and Competencies
This module analyses practices for effectively incorporating stakeholder engagement into an organization's operations and strategy. The module also examines the key competencies required for effective stakeholder and community engagement.
Minimum Requirements:
- National Senior Certificate, NQF 4 or equivalent
- English proficiency
Who should apply:
Entry to mid-level social impact professionals
Partnership
This course is offered in partnership with Synergy Global Consulting, with 24 years’ experience in stakeholder relations
What our alumni say
Learn with the best
Our Internationally acclaimed researchers and teachers are all dedicated and gifted individuals who contribute directly to UCT GSB's reputation of excellence.
Course Convenor
Ralph is a professor at the UCT Graduate School of Business and works on business sustainability and social innovation and entrepreneurship.
Course Convenor
As a social scientist, the focus of Alison’s work over the past 25 years has been in the field of ‘social performance’, predominantly in the extractive industry (mining), and over recent years, in the renewable energy sector.FAQ
15% for 3 - 6 applicants (bulk discount applied from third applicant)
10% for 7+ applicants (bulk discount applied to all applicants)
10% for alumni of UCT GSB academic and Executive Education courses
The UCT GSB's Breakwater Campus is situated in the heart of Cape Town's most popular tourist attraction, the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront. Centrally located and easily accessed, the UCT GSB is just 1.5km away from the central business district and 20 minutes from Cape Town International Airport.
As an added benefit to studying at the UCT GSB, you'll be situated in one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
Certificate of completion
Flights & accommodation costs are not included.
The course is a non-credit-bearing course delivered at the equivalent of an NQF 8 postgraduate level of study.
The course is accredited through UCT, which is a registered public higher education institution with the Council on Higher Education (CHE). Each programme is accredited through an internal UCT quality assurance process, as delegated by the CHE, ensuring the excellent quality of our offering.
In short, this course does not refer to NQF levels.
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