Business School Netherlands
Action Learning
BSN and KIVI join forces for future-oriented leadership in engineering
Learning in the language of the engineer
Business School Netherlands (BSN) and the Royal Institute of Engineers (KIVI) are launching a collaboration to strengthen engineers in their role as leaders of technological and societal transitions. With a modular offering of master classes and an Action Learning MBA, engineers will have the opportunity to develop their strategic, entrepreneurial and societal skills. The programmes fit seamlessly with the culture of the engineering profession and contribute to sustainable employability, job satisfaction and agility in a rapidly changing world.
The programmes provide guidance and coaching to support engineers in their personal and professional development. The focus is on developing new ways of thinking and acting in line with societal and, indirectly, technological changes.
Master classes
Through four series of master classes, we focus on strengthening the required competences according to the E4E Training Suite. This translates into the programmes below:
Leadership of Change
In many change processes, the complexity is underestimated and too little attention is paid to behaviour and patterns in projects and on the shop floor, aka lived reality. As a result, many changes are doomed to fail. In the Master class Leadership of Change, you learn to change from the perspective of lived reality instead of reasoning from the utopian ambitions of an organisation. You take responsibility for tackling change personally and setting a good example for others.
what will the Leadership of Change master class give you?
- You learn to make a problem analysis from a change perspective
- You gain insight into formal and informal relationships
- You learn to recognise a neglected organisation
- You can choose the right interventions
- You will gain insight into emotions and unconscious processes
- You gain insight into the parallel between parenting styles and leadership styles
- You know how to lead change processes with attention for and clear expectations towards people
- You know how to stay fit and help the team cope with emotions
- You develop competences in Life competences and Entrepreneurship Skills
Duration of the master class: three days
Strategic Agility
How do you ensure that your organisation remains strategically agile in a dynamic and uncertain environment, with both short-term and long-term success? This question is becoming increasingly topical in most organisations. Think, for example, of the ever-changing sustainability requirements and new application possibilities of technologies such as AI, or the growing dependence of organisations on external data and on often very large and powerful companies that facilitate these data flows.
What will the Strategic Agility masterclass give you?
After this masterclass, as a strategic leader, you will be able to develop and navigate a strategically agile course for your organisation:
- You know what the success factors for strategic agility are, you can assess your organisation accordingly and can indicate what is needed to make your organisation more strategically agile
- You know how to start exploring the future that presents itself for your organisation and can assess the strategic impact of future developments
- You can apply new insights and strategic leadership skills that are important for reviewing and making strategic choices
- You can introduce a way of working in your organisation to keep working process-wise on strategic agility
- You will develop competences in Digital Skills and Entrepreneurship Skills.
Duration of the master class: three days
Digital Transition
Digitalisation affects every layer of an organisation, from the boardroom to the shop floor. It touches strategy, processes and employees. But how do you make digitisation work effectively for you?
- Digitalisation is not just about technology; it requires change management and a focus on people. Understand why digitalisation matters, how to leverage technology without in-depth knowledge, and how to recognise and apply trends.
- AI is playing an increasing role in business operations. Learn what AI is, how it is changing organisations, and how to consciously exploit opportunities and risks.
- Security and ethics are essential. Protect your digital environment from threats and comply with legal requirements.
What will the Digital Transition masterclass give you?
This masterclass provides the knowledge, skills and strategies to successfully lead your organisation through the digital transition, by:
- In-depth understanding of the impact of digitalisation and AI on strategy, processes and change management
- Skills to effectively leverage technology and digitalisation trends, including generative AI and AI-prompting
- Understanding of legal expectations, digital security and the ethical aspects of AI
- Practical experience and awareness of cyber risks
- Development of Digital Skills and Entrepreneurship Skills
Duration of the masterclass: three days from 09:30 - 17:00.
Sustainability master classes
Masterclass 1: The transition to sustainability
How do you give direction to the sustainable transition within your organisation? During this interactive and practice-oriented Action Learning Session, you will discover how you as a professional or leader can make an impact - with inspiring leadership that moves people and organisations.
Under the guidance of sustainability expert and Sustainable Leadership teacher Alexander Heijkamp MBA, you will explore your own role in the transition. You work together with peers on current issues, share experiences and develop directly applicable solutions. You will not only go home with new insights, but also with concrete tools to make a difference the very next day.
Get acquainted with new insights in the field of sustainability and ESG, but also with the power of Action Learning, a tried-and-tested BSN learning method in which learning and doing go hand in hand.
Masterclass 2: Revitalise industry
The industrial world is facing a transformation. Digitalisation, sustainability and new business models are forcing companies to adapt. How do you make sure your company is not left behind? That's what we will cover together.
You will discover the 5 basic laws for a future-proof industry. In the books, 'The manufacturing industry crashes, revitalise your business' and 'Restart the industry, survival guide for millenials', Gerard Ekhart (lecturer) has laid the foundations for a vital and sustainable industry. During this intensive half-day, he will share his knowledge and experience with you.
What will you learn from these two master classes, and how?
- Stimulate innovation and discover new growth opportunities
- Integrate sustainability in your business model
- Attract and retain talent
- Collaborate with start-ups and scale-ups
- Accelerate digital transformation
These are two master classes that can be taken separately, but are mutually reinforcing.
Why these master classes at Business School Netherlands?
- The meetings and teaching materials are in Dutch
- You receive a certificate from an internationally accredited business school
- You work on your own organisational issues
- You have direct results in your own practice
- You learn from experts in the field
- You work together in small groups
Learning by doing: Action Learning
The four master classes mentioned above provide a solid foundation and can serve as a stepping stone to Business School Netherlands' full MBA programme, which is based on the Action Learning approach.
Action Learning is a powerful learning and change method in which participants tackle and solve concrete issues from their own organisation. Linking theory directly to practice creates in-depth learning with immediate results. This approach fits perfectly with the solution-oriented way of thinking of engineers: analytical, systematic and impact-oriented.
Participants are challenged to critically reflect on their actions, work together in learning teams and continuously hone their leadership skills. In this way, they grow into professionals who not only understand change, but actually shape it.
Four key areas for impactful development
BSN's programmes are built around the four pillars of the E4U competences, which engineers can use to strengthen themselves on various fronts:
- Life Competences: Skills such as empathy, self-regulation and flexibility, essential for effective collaboration and leadership.
- Entrepreneurship Skills: Consider creativity, financial acumen and planning skills that contribute to entrepreneurial thinking and action.
- Digital Skills: Competencies such as data literacy and cybersecurity, essential in a digitising society.
- Green Skills: Awareness of sustainable action and taking responsibility within the context of the Green Deal and climate goals.
With this collaboration, BSN and KIVI are building a future in which engineers not only design smart solutions, but also determine the direction in which we move as a society.
We have a passion for leadership that combines business success with social responsibility.
Business School Netherlands
Business School Netherlands is founded in the Netherlands in 1988 and recognised by the Minister of Education as a University of Applied Sciences.
BSN is the pioneer in applying 'Action Learning' in MBA programmes, a learning method that ensures that what is learned sticks more because it is directly tested and applied in practice.
It is not knowledge that should be the starting point for learning, but the need to solve a problem, an important issue for your organisation, now and later. BSN teaches participants to gather, select, use knowledge when faced with a problem and arrive at an acceptable solution. Action Learning is based on the premise that you only really learn when a solution is implemented and you see its real results. This is therefore a fixed part of our learning processes: implementing and reflecting. In doing so, we follow the ancient wisdom of Confucius: "I Hear And I Forget. I See And I Remember. I Do And I Understand."
Personalised advice from BSN
Would you like to develop further as a future-oriented leader? Then register for one of the four master classes and take the next step in your professional growth.
Or contact Business School Netherlands for more information about these master classes or the full (modular) MBA programme.
T: 0344-579050
E: studieadvies@bsn.eu
