Course Structure
This course is organized into three areas of practice, which are overlapping and mutually reinforcing:
- Engaging and communicating with internal and external partners and collaborators;
- Building lasting collaborative partnerships; and
- Embedding climate adaptation strategies into organizational priorities.
To support learning in each of these areas, the course modules are organized into topics that build on one another and support the following areas of practice:
- Foundational Concepts – Strategy and self/reflection in system;
- Psychology of climate change and adaptation;
- Climate communications: good practices;
- Dialogue and thinking/learning together;
- Principles of organizational change: embedding adaptation into organizational priorities;
- Principles of partnership, collaboration and interdisciplinary teams;
- Community engagement; and
- Putting it together: strategy in the context of complex adaptive systems.
Each of these modules could be a course unto itself and, as noted above, there will be concepts and skills that apply to more than one practice area or topic. This course aims to find a balance between depth and breadth, with each module offering a good balance of background theory, context, and skills building opportunities as well as insights into application through case studies and guest presenters. In all cases, the required readings are supplemented with optional readings to deepen your learning in any one area. The online discussion opportunities are also designed to honour and activate the knowledge that course participants bring from your own experiences and backgrounds.
