Avondale Business School comes alive every winter when the Postgraduate students (Masters and Graduate Diplomas) arrive on campus for the annual winter school. Students who are studying the leadership and management programs come for a residential component of their program, lasting either one or two weeks, depending on their units of study. This year we welcomed students studying Communication for Leaders, Organisational Processes and Change, Accounting for Leaders, and Introduction to Research.
The Straw Tower Teams
The residential program provides an opportunity for interaction and face-to face learning, and professional networking. Classes are oriented toward the application of what students have studied leading up to winter school, where participants share from their own experiences. Coordinator of the Postgraduate Leadership studies program, Dr Warrick Long comments that this is his most enjoyable teaching experiences at Avondale because “…not only is it a mutual learning experience for students and lecturer, but the students really hold me accountable – they have given up a lot to be at winter school and expect to get high quality programs and learning experiences.”
The Straw Towers
Participants in the unit studying organisational processes and change were tasked in one session with building towers out of straws and sticky tape to balance a cup of water 30cm off the ground. Having just explored the topics of groups and teams, their new learning was put to the test to be the team that built the most effective tower. Debriefing afterwards, the students reflected on how much the pressure of the task tested their teamwork and effectiveness, highlighting how leaders can often forego good leadership practices when pressured for time and results.
If you would lie to explore the possibility of further studies in leadership and management, contact Dr Warrick long via [email protected].