The first cohort of Activate Business School’s Determined to Lead Oxford programme graduated at a special ceremony held at City of Oxford College and University Centre on Wednesday 11 June.
Determined to Lead Oxford is a Level 7 Leadership and Management programme delivered by Activate Business School at City of Oxford College’s Technology Campus in dedicated facilities.
This transformative programme was developed to enable middle-level managers to grow their management skills, knowledge and techniques, while working – an approach that enables students to apply what they learn to their roles in real time.
The first cohort to participate in this programme consisted of 18 managerial delegates from the University of Oxford’s ‘Oxford Colleges Group’, which consists of 43 colleges.
The bespoke nine-month programme was launched using Insights, a psychometric tool designed to help people understand themselves and others in order to make the most of their relationships in the workplace.
The programme included nine face-to-face delivery days, and 10-hours of mentorship that guided participants, helping them to become more confident and effective leaders.
The tailored mentorship was delivered in four, two-and-a-half-hour sessions, which were personalised to each delegate.
The programme was all developed using Activate Learning’s award-winning Learning Philosophy, a neuroscience-based approach to teaching and learning that places the student at the centre of their educational experience.
During the event, staff from Activate Business School and Activate Learning welcomed the 18 managerial delegates, who collected graduation certificates from Gary Headland DL, Chief Executive at Activate Learning.
A speech on effective leadership was given by Dr Andrew Roe, Rector of Exeter College at the University of Oxford.
Craig Hibberd, Accommodation Manager at St Anne’s College at the University of Oxford, and Determined to Lead graduate, said: “The programme was fantastic. Every single session was thought-provoking. The speakers who came in were great.
“The main thing that I’m taking away is the mentoring. We all had our own mentor, and it was great having someone that you can bounce ideas off and that could listen to how I do things. Someone with so much knowledge and life experience – it really was invaluable.”
“I’ve already started to apply things to my work. I have three teams, and it’s about being a mentor for them and encouraging them to go out, be comfortable and be confident.”
Gary Headland DL, Chief Executive of Activate Learning, said: “We were delighted to pilot Determined to Lead, a new leadership development programme for managers across the colleges of the University of Oxford.
“I had the pleasure of attending the matriculation and was honoured to present certificates to the graduates of this inaugural nine-month journey.
“It’s especially encouraging to note the programme achieved 100% retention: a testament to its value and impact. As graduates, they now join the Activate Learning alumni community, and I was proud to present each of them with their alumni badge, which I hope they will wear with pride.”
Frances Rutter, Course Leader for Determined to Lead Oxford, said: “It’s absolutely brilliant to have had such a great group of people. They’ve been energetic, and they’ve shown up even when they’ve been busy at work. They’ve been practising what they’ve been learning in the workplace.
“We’ve had a couple of people who have been promoted, and we’ve now got people who feel they have the skills and the confidence to go for the next step.”
Jayne Atkinson, Head of Sales at Activate Business School, said: “We’re so proud to have worked with the Oxford College Group to develop Determined to Lead Oxford. This is a new initiative that we’ve developed between us, and we’re so thrilled to see the students graduate today.”
Discover more about the Determined to Lead Oxford programme or contact Activate Learning via 0800 612 6008.
