The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the existing social order across various social groups (i.e., individuals, organizations, governments, and societies), but the negative impacts have not been uniform. Within each social group, stories of resilience through the pandemic surface, creating potential learning opportunities.
In the upcoming Fall 2020/Winter 2021 academic term, Schulich will introduce a first-of-its-kind inter-disciplinary online course offering titled “Leading Through the Pandemic: Insights From Individuals, Organizations, Governments, and Societies”. Please note that this course will be delivered over the Fall and Winter semesters.
Led by Ashwin Joshi, Associate Professor of Marketing and Director of the MBA Program, this new Open Online Course (OOC) will bring together the expertise of 11 faculty members to provide students with important insight on the pandemic and offer the opportunity to reflect on:
- WHAT the impact of the pandemic has been across the following social groups: individuals, organizations, governments, and societies;
- WHY some members within each social group have been more negatively impacted than others;
- HOW some members within each social group have productively adapted to the pandemic.
Module Details and Leading Instructors
See below for a quick overview of the course modules and their topics. Download the session descriptions PDF if interested in the full module details. Note, the times mentioned are for the SYNCHRONOUS components only. The ASYNCHRONOUS components will entail readings/viewings.
Module One: Learning from the Past and Understanding the Present
Date: Sept 12, 2020 (9 am – 11 am)
Topic: Previous pandemics and their lasting impact: From individuals to geopolitics
Date: Sept 26, 2020 (9 am – 10:30 am)
Topic: Consumers, Businesses, the Economy and the Environment after COVID-19
Module Two: Insights for Individuals
Date: Oct 24, 2020 (9 am – 10:30 am)
Topic: What are the implications for employees?
Date: Nov 7, 2020 (9 am – 10:30 am)
Topic: Understanding the Consumer Behavior Effects of COVID-19
Date: Nov 21, 2020 (9 am – 10:30 am)
Topic: What are the implications for Leadership?
Module Three: Insights for Organizations
Date: Dec 5, 2020 (9 am – 10:30 am)
Topic: Strategically Navigating Ultra-Dynamic Change
Date: Jan 16, 2021 (9 am – 10:30 am)
Topic: Creating Trustworthy Supply Chains Post Pandemic
Date: Jan 30, 2021 (9 am – 10:30 am)
Topic: Constructive Responses to Covid-19 for Entrepreneurial Organizations
Module Four: Insights for Governments and Economy
Date: Feb 13, 2021 (9 am – 10:30 am)
Topic: What are the implications for government?
Date: Feb 27, 2021 (9 am – 10:30 am)
Topic: What are the implications on the economy and the natural environment?
Module Five: Insights for Organizations and Society
Date: March 13, 2021 (9 am – 10:30 am)
Topic: What are the implications for the organization of cities?
Date: March 27, 2021 (9 am – 10:30 am)
Topic: What are the implications for the role of organizations in society?
Why Take This Course?
Students will have the opportunity to:
- Interact with eleven of the best minds at the School, and benefit from sessions led by different instructors from a variety of disciplines;
- Connect and engage with students across different programs and careers;
- Learn important personal, organizational, and societal leadership lessons;
- Have their work showcased on the Schulich website and add something unique to their resume.
Who Is This Course Open To?
This course is open to students and alumni across ALL the degree programs (from BBA to Ph.D.) at the Schulich School of Business. Students have the option to take the course as an individual study (1.50 or 3.00) if they have a free elective in their program, or for a certificate if they do not. York University students from across all faculties are also welcome to join this course, and will be able to register for the ‘Participant’ study option. Note, there is no fee for the non-individual study options.
Course Formats
Individual Study For Credit Option: This course may be taken as a 1.50 or 3.00 credit individual study that counts toward degree requirements. The course will appear on students’ transcripts (as a pass/fail grade) and can be included on students’ resumes. For this option, students receive both the certificate and the commendation, as well as a pass/fail grade for the course.
Other Non-Credit Study Options: Students may also take the course in a variety of other ways:
- Certificate Option: Students will receive a physical certificate upon completion and can include the course in their resume. The course will not show up on students’ transcripts.
- Certificate Plus Commendation Option: On top of the certificate students will receive a commendation in the form of their Individual/Team Assignment being showcased on the Schulich website. This can also be referenced on a resume.
- Participant Option: Students can say they attended the course on their resume. Note: Alumni will be enrolled in this option.
Study Option Requirements:
| Requirements | Certificate | Certificate + Commendation | Participant* | Individual Study For 1.5 Credit | Individual Study For 3.0 Credit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Downloaded all the asynchronous content | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Participation/downloaded all the synchronous content | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 5 Individual Hand-in Assignments | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Individual/Team Assignment | No | Yes | No | No | Yes |
*Alumni will be enrolled in this option. This option is also available to Schulich students.
Access to the General Public: All the lectures will be made available via YouTube to the general public.
Course Details:
Start Date: Saturday, September 12, 2020.
End Date: Saturday, March 27th, 2021.
Frequency: Fall classes will run on alternate Saturdays starting September 12 and ending December 5.
Winter classes will run on alternate Saturdays starting January 16 and ending March 27.
Time: Synchronous sessions will be a maximum of 90 minutes (they will also be recorded for later viewing). They will take place from 9:00am – 10:30am EST/EDT. Note, the session on September 12th will be for 2 hours.
Individual Hand-in Assignments: For EACH of the five modules (see module details below), students will provide a 1 to 2-page written submission that identifies the following 3 points. All 5 assignments have to be handed in by Saturday, April 3, 2021.
- The top 5 key takeaways from both in-class presentations and readings from the module as a whole
- Two questions or topics students would like to know more about, arising from either the readings or the in-class sessions for the module
- Student contribution to the module’s chat board.
Individual / Team Project: Outstanding projects will be showcased by the School and will receive commendation. Students (individually or as a team) must submit their project by Saturday, April 3, 2021.
Example 1: Students will be assigned 1 publicly-traded company. They will be required to develop a presentation that covers three sections:
- DESCRIBE what the company did to manage the pandemic,
- ASSESS the effectiveness of the company’s actions, and
- RECOMMEND best ideas to the company based on course reflections/readings.
Example 2: Students will develop a podcast that reflects on various aspects of the pandemic. The podcast may include interviews with people who shed insight into their life experiences through the pandemic.
Example 3: Students do a photo exhibit that records visual images from the pandemic.
Registration and Enrolment:
Students should declare their options as soon as possible. They will have the flexibility to switch between options according to their program’s Important Enrolment Dates and the York University Refund Table. Note, York University students will be able to register for the ‘Participant’ study option on Monday, September 21st, 2020.
Please visit the course syllabus page to enroll.
Questions?
- For Faculty inquiries, contact ada@schulich.yorku.ca
- For Schulich student inquiries, contact studentservices@schulich.yorku.ca
- For York University (non-Schulich) student inquires, contact your Academic Advising Office