NGO Education Survey

Contents Courses of Instruction Courses by Faculty Courses by Subject Area How to use the Course Listings CD Course List Community Development (CD) 501 504 505 505A 505B 506 507 508 509 510 512 514 515 516

Grounds students in a solid understanding of the multiple historical, theoretical and conceptual frameworks of the role of civil society and the social economy in advancing progressive economic, political and social change, including the economics of social justice. The powerful intersection of theory and practice will be examined and critically assessed in the context of the capacity of co-operatives, non-profits and community development organizations to respond to key contemporary societal issues, global trends, and to consider implications for the future.

Leadership, Management and Governance within Organizations

Adult Learning and Education for Change

Aims to build basic understandings of key issues, theories and principles of adult education and its connections to community development and social change. Draws upon intensive and extensive fieldwork enriched by the writings, analysis and research by both scholars and practitioners. Includes historical foundations, philosophical approaches, and theoretical underpinnings.

Agenda for Social Change: Moving Forward

Surveys the key leverage points for exercising strategic leadership for addressing key trends at the local and regional level. Exemplary practice and understanding of key policy innovations are drawn from local and international sources. Provides an opportunity for students to engage in generative dialogue to explore learning that strategically advances civil society, social economy and strengthens communities. Understanding local and international key policy innovations are linked with the formulation of recommendations for action for moving forward.

Anchoring a Change Agenda: Foundations

Citizen Participation and Democratic Governance

Introduces students to concepts of citizenship, democracy and governance and addresses different histories and forms of democracy. The meanings of citizenship and its relationship to identity, engagement and participation are discussed. Explores different models of governance and reviews governance practices and structures at multiple levels in different jurisdictions. Also investigates the role of accountability in democratic governance, including forms and techniques of accountability.

Co-operatives in Global Perspective

Examines the diversity of co-operative experiences in Canada and around the world focusing on co-operative movements, organizations, and thought, and the development of co-operative economies in historical and contemporary contexts. Students will develop an understanding of how the co-op model is being adapted and reinvented to respond to traditional economic and social issues and as a means of developing an alternative economic paradigm at local, regional, and international levels.

Community Based Research: Foundations

Explores the values, goals and assumptions of community-based research and its methodologies. Participatory action research methods and lessons learned from best practices will be introduced. Students will experience a variety of approaches and develop the capacity to evaluate appropriate methods and their application for practice settings. This course will help shape the student's major project.

Community Based Research: Methods and Tools

Explores the values, goals and assumptions of community-based research and its methodologies. Participatory action research methods and lessons learned from best practices will be introduced. Students will experience a variety of approaches and develop the capacity to evaluate appropriate methods and their application for practice settings. This course will help shape the student's major project.

Community Based Research: Foundations

Critical Issues in Co-Op Governance and Management

Provides participants a deeper understanding of governance and management issues that arise throughout the development cycle of co-operatives. Students will examine a number of challenges and their potential solutions within co-operatives and co-op movements, including co-operative governance, stakeholder engagement, marketing strategies, employee relationships, capital formation, sector relationships, legislative frameworks, community responsibilities, and public policy affecting co-operative development.

Developing Capacities to Lead and Manage int he Non-Profit Sector

Focuses on developing the capacities of strategic planning, strategy and program management, resource generation, financial and human resource management, performance, information and communication technology, communications management, and ensuring accountability to multiple stakeholders. Students will develop an in-depth understanding of leading edge management frameworks and examine their relevance to leading and managing in the community sector.

Development Finance

A review of the current conventional sources (governments, banks, credit unions, etc.) of capital: how they are accessed, obstacles and opportunities. Considers specialized investment sources that have been created, how to match funds/investments and ideas for new institutional arrangements. The field will be explored from both the point of view of those seeking investment and those who make the investment (e.g. community investment loan funds).

Directed Studies

An international or local exchange, a study tour, self-directed reading, or an innovative personal learning design. Must be applicable to the field of study. Primary consideration will be given to its role and relevance in deepening skills and knowledge to strengthen the capacity of the student to provide leadership in the future.

Enterprise Development for Community Benefit

Analyzes the strategy, models and processes of planning and decision making for developing enterprises that link social and economic benefit to the community. Students will develop a clear understanding of key concepts within financial, information and community technologies, leadership and community capacity building elements that accompany organizational and community enterprise development. Stream-specific readings and practices will complement the core content.

Foundations of Community-Based Research: Setting a Research Agenda

Explores the values, goals and assumptions of community-based research and its methodologies. Participatory action research methods and lessons learned from best practices will be introduced. Students will experience a variety of approaches and develop the capacity to evaluate appropriate methods and their application for practice settings.

Government, Business, and Non-Profit Sector Relations

Examines the historical roots and the social, political, economic and legal framework that set the context for current and future organizational and sectoral influence and capacity. Explores the public policy process and its relation to leadership, management and collaborative ventures in Canada particularly. The evolving role of the private sector and inter-sectoral relations will be examined in the context of rapidly shifting attitudes and belief systems (local to global).

Group Project

A substantial analysis of a management, policy or program problem for a client in the community development sector. This group project is prepared in consultation with the client and an academic supervisor drawn from regular university faculty and qualified practitioners and must be both practical and academically rigorous. The group project is defended in an oral examination.

Leadership and Organizational Development for Communities

Explores leadership beliefs, values, and attitudes, and analyzes perspectives in shaping leadership in civil society, community development and the social economy. Introduces management, assessment, concepts and tools for developing strategic priorities and planning frameworks for organizations and communities. Includes scenario based exercises set in a variety of practice contexts relevant to students' experience and systems.

Leadership in Organizational Development for Communities

Leadership, Management and Governance within Organizations

Focuses on developing the capacities of strategic planning, strategy and program management, resource generation, financial and human resource management, performance, information and communication technology, communications management, and ensuring accountability to multiple stakeholders. Students will develop an in-depth understanding of leading edge management frameworks and examine their relevance to leading and managing in the community sector.

Leading and Managing in the Non-profit Sector

Managing Organizations, Systems and Community Transformations

Managing Organizations, Systems, and Community Transformations

Develops key competencies for personal, group, organizational and community leadership in: teamwork, facilitation, presentation skills, negotiation, conflict resolution, group dynamics and collaboration. Examines systemic factors that encourage and challenge innovation. Analysis of cases that demonstrate successful scaling, practices or particular innovations.

Master's Project

Expected to be a substantial analysis of a management, policy or program problem for a client in the community development sector. This major project is prepared in consultation with the client and an academic supervisor drawn from regular university faculty and qualified practitioners and must be both practical and academically rigorous. The Master's Project is defended in an oral examination.

Practices and Perspectives on Forging Change

Practices and Perspectives on Forging Change

The ideologies, assumptions, and practices of diverse models of change that engage citizens, organizational and institutional stakeholders for social benefit will be explored. Introduces a range of models, their strengths, limits and applications with particular focus on governance, power, influence and socioeconomic innovation. Challenges students to analyze and assess the relevance and value to their fields of interest, whether community economic development, co-operatives or non-profits. Uses a range of readings, case studies and practice experience drawing upon Canadian and international settings.

Program and Project Design, Management and Evaluations

Examines the various perspectives and approaches to program and project design, management and evaluation. Highlights the analytical activities and decisions involved in effective design, planning, implementation, reporting, and evaluation focusing on innovative and practical tools and processes that ensure effective outcomes and accountability. Attention will be paid to managing the complexity of multiple and collaborative projects and programs.

Strategic Communications, Engagement and Community Relations

Examines strategic communications, marketing, public/media relations, engagement approaches, the role and use of technology when community-based organizations engage others in the context of community and stakeholder relations.

The Comprehensive Development System

Explores the complexities and trade-offs that must be confronted and resolved in all community economic development activity and strategy. These include analyzing and choosing among the different tools for fulfilling key functions, integrating, staffing and managing complex programs, information management, creating multi-sectoral alliances, building community support, and a sustainable funding structure.

The Economics of Social Justice

Provides a conceptual grounding and the analytical tools for a critical understanding of the relation between economic theory and policy and their effects on questions of social justice. Theoretical models and practical applications for the development of more socially equitable economic systems from various sides of the political spectrum will be examined and critiqued.

Understanding and Mainstreaming Gender

Considers a range of conceptual and practical issues faced in the quest for a gender-just society. Topics include: definition and understanding of gender, gender based violence, gender in institutions as well as the creation of gender-sensitive environments. Course material and online discussions encourage critical analysis of diverse contemporary debates and perspectives. Also includes exercises and questions to stimulate critical thinking and reflection upon gender attitudes and perceptions.

Leading and Managing in the Nonprofit Sector

This course will provide an overview of management in Canada's non-profit and voluntary sector.

Managing in Public and Nonprofit Organizations

This course focuses on the skills of an effective manager in public and non-profit sector organizations and the interplay between management and key organizational processes such as planning, organizing, implementing and evaluating policies.