Development as a leader (5cr)

Evaluation scale

Pass/Fail

Content scheduling

Altogether 14 online sessions on Tuesdays from 17.00 to 18.30 during 2025-2026.
7 online sessions in the autumn 2025 semester on 9.9, 23.9, 7.10, 21.10, 4.11, 11.11, and 25.11
7 online sessions in the spring 2026 semester on 3.2, 19.2, 3.3, 17.3, 31.3, 14.4, and 28.4
Zoom link - https://jamk.zoom.us/j/5046363676

Objective

Purpose of the course
Leadership is a key competence in contemporary working life. In this course, you will deepen your understanding of your own leadership, strengthen your self‑awareness, and identify your strengths and areas for development. You will learn to analyse and evaluate your leadership from the perspectives of self‑leadership, people leadership and task leadership, and to develop your leadership approach systematically. You will also expand your knowledge of ethical and responsible leadership and learn to promote these principles within your organisation through reflective practice and role‑modelling. Through reflection, you will gain insight into your leadership career opportunities and be able to plan your professional development purposefully.

Developing as a leader is a process that requires time and self- and peer reflection to grow. Considering this development, the course lasts for a semester/year.

Competencies of the course
Learning to learn: You can evaluate and plan your leadership career in a versatile and goal-oriented way.
Ethics: You can promote the realisation of ethical principles in work communities and organisations with your leadership.

Learning Outcomes
Through a structured reflection process, you deepen your self‑awareness and are able to analyse and evaluate your leadership from the perspectives of self‑leadership, people leadership, and task leadership. You can apply key leadership theories and perspectives to strengthen your own leadership identity. You are able to promote the implementation of ethical principles in your work community and/or organisation by reflecting on your ethical leadership and acting as a role model. Through self‑reflection, you are also able to plan the development of your leadership career.

Execution methods

Lectures
Exercises
Online discussion

Content

In this course, you will learn about self-awareness, leadership identity, leadership theories and conceptions, ethical leadership, agency, self-leadership, and the development of a leadership career.

Materials

Coursebook:
Northouse, P. G. (2021). Leadership: Theory and practice. Sage publications.

Additional materials:
Banks, G. C., Fischer, T., Gooty, J., & Stock, G. (2021). Ethical leadership: Mapping the terrain for concept cleanup and a future research agenda. The Leadership Quarterly, 32(2021), 101471.

Bolden, R. (2011). Distributed leadership in organizations: A review of theory and research. International Journal of Management Reviews, 13, 251-269.

Eteläpelto, A. (2017). Emerging conceptualisations on professional agency and learning. In: M. Goller & S. Paloniemi (Eds.) Agency at work: An agentic perspective on professional learning and development (pp. 183-201). Springer.

Eteläpelto, A., Vähäsantanen, K., Hökkä, P., & Paloniemi, S. (2013). What is agency? Conceptualizing professional agency at work. Educational Research Review, 10(2013), 45-65.

Goller, M., & Harteis, C. (2017). Human agency at work: Towards a clarification and operationalisation of the concept. In: M. Goller & S. Paloniemi (Eds.) Agency at work: An agentic perspective on professional learning and development (pp. 85-103). Springer.

Harvard Business School Online (n.d.). How to become a more effective leader. https://info.email.online.hbs.edu/leadership-ebook?_gl=1*8o66d*_gcl_au*MTg3NjQ1ODc2OC4xNjk5MTE5NDIy&_ga=2.263844940.1157622686.1699437102-1314249758.1699119422

Hökkä, P. K., Vähäsantanen, K., Paloniemi, S., & Eteläpelto, A. (2017). The reciprocal relations between emotions and agency in the workplace. In: M. Goller & S. Paloniemi (Eds.) Agency at work: An agentic perspective on professional learning and development (pp. 161-181). Springer.

Landry, L. (2019). Why emotional intelligence is important in leadership. https://online.hbs.edu/blog/post/emotional-intelligence-in-leadership

Teaching methods

You will have weekly online contact sessions with lectures, workshops, and group discussions. In addition, you will study independently for your group and individual assignments.

Employer connections

There is no internship.

Exam schedules

There is no exam.

Completion alternatives

You have the right to apply for recognition of your studies if you have prior learning (e.g. university studies completed elsewhere) that can be accredited towards the degree you are currently completing.

The recognition of prior learning is possible in three primary ways: accreditation (replacement or inclusion), recognition of informal learning and studification. More precise info: JAMK Degree Regulations, section 17.

Student workload

Lectures 21 hours
Preparing for the lectures 21 hours
Group projects 54 hours
Individual assignments 39 hours

Assessment criteria, approved/failed

Pass: You are able to assess and analyse your own leadership by drawing on key leadership theories. You identify your strengths and areas for development and set well‑justified development goals based on them. You demonstrate advanced self-awareness and use reflection to strengthen your leadership identity. You are able to apply the principles of ethical and responsible leadership in your own actions and to evaluate the realisation of ethical practices within your work community. In addition, you recognise realistic career options and develop a goal-oriented plan for enhancing your leadership competence and advancing your leadership career.

Fail: The student does not achieve the competence goals of the course

Qualifications

No prior knowledge required.

Further information

Your assessment will be based on group projects, an individual assignment, and your active participation in class.