Contemporary Leadership

This course is a survey of leadership thought and practice and its application in the Asia Pacific region.  We will exam broad issues such as ethics and leadership as well as the development of leadership thought through the Trait, Skills, Style, Situational, Contingency, and Service theories and approaches to leadership.  Our core text will be Leadership: Theory and Practice, by Peter Northouse which will be supplemented with additional readings.  Key elements of leadership are honesty and integrity so this course will encourage spirited class discussions where uncomfortable truths and controversial opinions will be welcome.

Film & Leadership

The Hawaii International Film Festival originated at the East-West Center more than 20 years ago in an effort to strengthen relations and understanding among the nations of the Asia Pacific community. Continuing that goal, the purpose of this course is to expose students to a wide range of films and readings that deal with themes of leadership. The course will feature cutting-edge movies and documentaries from Japan, China, Korea, New Zealand, America and other cultures in the Asia Pacific region.

The readings will include classic theories of leadership from Sun Tzu to Machiavelli to Martin Luther King, Jr. Students will study universal themes of leadership that transcend time, place and culture, while also examining unique indigenous models. By analyzing the dynamics of leadership through film and literature, students will then develop their own ideas and beliefs about what it means to be an effective leader.

Applied Leadership Project

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, concerned citizens can change world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever had.” Margaret Mead

The objective of the Applied Leadership Project is to provide an experiential learning opportunity for participants of the East-West Center Leadership Certificate and to apply the leadership theories of the Year One while contributing and connecting to the local community.  The fall semester is designed for participants to reflect on their interests, to research community needs through organization site visits and interviews, and to begin project planning.  Participants are encouraged to form project groups where interests and expertise are aligned.  The spring semester is dedicated to project implementation and assessment.  Throughout the year a cyclical process of planning, action, and reflection will be used to maximize leadership learning and project effectiveness. 

Year Two is uniquely focused on action and leadership implementation.  The majority of participants’ time and effort will be spent working directly on projects with a sponsoring organization, with class meetings and advisor check-ins used to enhance, share and assess project progress.