Advanced Courses

Advanced Course: Advanced Community Relations Practice within Extractive Industries

Course Aims

• To develop critical thinking and thought leadership.
• To challenge and expand current thinking on key topics related to Social Performance.
• To help manage human and social complexity i.e. systems thinking, development theory, and human behaviour.
• To build the capacity of practitioners for greater influence and impact in their organisations and communities.

Course Content

Theory and critical thinking:

• Systems theory. 
• Development theory. 
• Theories of human behaviour. 
• Case studies of community relations practice. 
• Types and sources of evidence relevant to community relations practice. Frameworks for best practice. 

Academic research and writing: 

• Skills in literature search. 
• Preparation of a literature review. 
• Academic writing and referencing. 

Thought leadership: 

• Presentation skills. 
• Knowledge management, digital and print platforms. 
• Design of thought leadership project.

Learning Outcome

At the end of the course, the student should be able to: 

• Critically reflect, explain and discuss the application of appropriate theory to case studies drawn from areas in community relations practice. 
• Apply leadership in one aspect of community relations practice in Africa through the utilisation of digital and/or print mediums.