Drive transformative change

Strengthen your capacity to leverage systems change

Systems Change and Social Impact is a specialised short course, convened by the Bertha Centre for Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the UCT GSB, designed to give social purpose organisations, leaders of social enterprises, funders and government new tools and frameworks to deepen their impact, looking beyond the scale of their own organisations to initiating and building movements for social change.

This interactive course:

  • equips participants with the tools and frameworks to navigate complexity
  • strengthens capacity for transformative leadership and collaboration
  • promotes local and global networking amongst change-makers.

LEARN TO SOLVE SOCIAL PROBLEMS AT SCALE

Systems Change is the deliberate attempt to address social and ecological problems at the level of the system that causes them. Rather than assume to fix a problem in isolation, Systems Change acts to transform the system that creates it.

FAQ

- 10% Groups of 2 or more

- 15% Alumni of UCT, GSB Academic and Executive Education programmes (proof required)

- 25% NPO/NPC (proof required)

- 5% Course-specific events

Delegates on the Systems Change and Social Impact course will gain:

  • Tools and frameworks to look beyond the scale of individual organisations to transform sectors, systems and societies at large
  • Exposure to best practices of systems change through the use of Bertha Centre’s live case studies
  • An opportunity to learn and interact with ground-breaking systems practitioners and academics
  • An opportunity to be part of a growing network of change-agents better able to effect systems justice within themselves and in their sectors


This 5 day face-to-face course offers a rich learning experience that blends theory and practice.

Core Topics Include:

  • Fundamentals of Complexity in Theory and in Practice
  • Tools and tactics for Systems Change 
  • Understanding Foresight/Futures thinking for Systems Change
  • Building Partnerships & Collaborations for Systems Change
  • Building Advocacy strategies for Systems Change
  • Innovative Financing
  • Strengthening systems sensibilities for systems work


You will benefit highly from this course if you are:

  • A senior leader or manager in a social enterprise or non-profit organisation
  • Policymaker with an interest in promoting social change ecosystems
  • Funder seeking to become more effective in understanding your social change ecosystem
  • Leaders in private, public, and civic society with an interest in expanding their impact beyond their own institutions

We encourage two colleagues to apply together to support change within the institution.

The Bertha Centre, a specialised unit at the UCT GSB, convenes this course as part of its efforts to advance the social innovation and entrepreneurship sectors in Africa and globally. The Systems Change and Social Impact course draws upon the Centre's collaboration and research with the Rockefeller Foundation, Schwab Foundation, Motsepe Foundation and Transforming Change programme at the Stockholm Resilience Centre. 

Lecture-based and workshop-style sessions are delivered by a diverse representation of ground-breaking systems practitioners and academics. And, as such, the curriculum is a unique blend of global systems-innovation cases and frameworks.

The UCT Graduate School of Business takes pride in building future leaders and guiding the leaders of today toward sustainable impact in African business and society. 

Our degree programmes and short courses deliver learning experiences that are personally transformative because better people make better leaders. 

Our programmes are mostly offered at our vibrant Cape Town Breakwater Campus, at the heart of the city's most popular tourist attraction, the V&A Waterfront. 

The campus is equipped with modern lecture theatres, a library and syndicate rooms for group study, as well as restaurants and the Protea Hotel Breakwater Lodge that offers special rates for students. 

Find out more: https://www.gsb.uct.ac.za/student-experience

TAKE THE FIRST STEP TODAY

Acquire new competencies and move your career to the next level!

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