Illinois’ NCPRE launches third course in Coursera leadership specialization

The National Center for Professional and Research Ethics at the University of Illinois launched the third part of its Coursera leadership specialization this week. Building on content from Courses One and Two, Leadership and Influence aims to give participants the skills to exert influence and become effective team members and leaders.

The course is part of the “Professional IQ: Preventing and Solving Problems at Work” specialization, which tackles the pitfalls that professionals can encounter in the workplace. The specialization, which includes three courses and one capstone project, was created in collaboration with the University of Illinois' Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning. To date, nearly 5,000 students from 75 countries have participated in the specialization through the Coursera platform, with an average rating of 4.8 out of 5 per course.

"Self-assessment is one of the critical areas we cover in Leadership and Influence," says C. K. Gunsalus, Director of the National Center for Professional & Research Ethics and Professor Emerita of the College of Business at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. "Articulating your values and developing listening skills both underpin professional influence and leadership. We examine concepts and skills related to negotiation, and tools for addressing and resolving conflict, holding difficult conversations, and putting all these skills together to build your own leadership persona."

Participants in Leadership and Influence can expect to improve their performance in persuasion, giving and getting feedback, dealing with difficult people and crisis situations, and contributing to the nature of the environment they are working in. The first course of the specialization, Foundations of Professional Identity, began in April 2016 and new cohorts start every two weeks. Course Two, Shaping Your Professional Brand, launched in July. All three courses are open to the public.

Like the previous courses, Course Three includes guest experts from Advanced Micro Devices, Silicon Valley tech company Zip-DX, Sierra Training, the University of Illinois Community Credit Union, lawyers, management professionals and more. Guest experts include CEOs, as well as experts in marketing, professional communication, and management. Material is also drawn from Gunsalus’s book, “The Young Professional’s Survival Guide: From Cab Fares to Moral Snares,” published by Harvard University Press in 2012. The program includes quizzes and exercises. Those who complete all three courses and a capstone project on a fee-paying basis will qualify for Coursera's specialization track, and will receive a certificate.

More information on the courses and on how to enroll is available at these links:

·       Foundations of Professional Identity
·       Shaping Your Professional Brand
·       Leadership and Influence

Currently, access to the video material in these courses is free. Coursera is adjusting its charging structure, so please check its website for more information.