American Comenius Course

Innovative thinking is important not only in times of economic prosperity. The ability to find solutions outside the existing framework is also crucial in times of stagnation, when the old ways and thinking patterns have stalled.

Unlike the National (Dutch) and European Comenius Courses which focus on the seven scientific disciplines, the American programme focuses on the theme of 'leadership and spirit'. The course exists of two study weeks and, as such, will offer insight into the driving forces behind and dynamics of the American mindset. This will offer leads for change: in the World, in organisations and within ourselves. The process will be stimulated by prominent professors from America’s most renowned universities.

During the first week we will be hosted by Harvard and Yale. During the second week and after an impressive train journey from Denver to San Francisco with the California Zephyr we will visit Stanford and Berkeley. The lecturers will talk about unexpected aspects of their disciplines. More than anything, this module will result not only in new insights, but also in rejuvenated mental energy.

Insights after the Course

During the course a mirror will be held in front of the participants to look at their own leadership. During the train journey a well-known actor will travel along and he will break through set patterns in workshops. At Harvard there will be specific attention to widening and deepening the personal leadership roles.

The American Comenius Course aims to enhance the ability of executives to:

• step outside existing ways of thinking;
• bring about fundamental changes in themselves;
• increase their own capacity for innovative thought and action.

Practical information

Duration
3 separate days in the Netherlands and two one-week study trips

Start
2 x per year
The study trip of the autumn edition will start on 6 November 2011

Locations
Harvard University in Cambridge, Yale University in New Haven, train journey on the California Zephyr, Stanford University in Stanford and Berkeley, University of California

Admission
Based on a mutual exploratory conversation.

Group
A maximum of 12 participants

Participant’s profile

The participants, who are able to work and think at academic level, are aged from forty upwards, and are working in the public sector or business:

• Enterprising managers (director of own company, top consultant);
• Business unit managers;
• General Managers, members of boards of directors, directors of public services, directors of political, ideological and social organisations and other managers;
• Specific professional groups, e.g. artists, journalists and doctors. 

Lecturers

The lecturers collaborating on this American Comenius Course include:

• Prof. Paul Bracken (Yale University);
• Prof. Alex Filippenko (Berkeley University of California);
• Dr. Hugh O'Doherty (Harvard University);
• Prof. Hank Greely (Stanford University);
• Prof. Joseph Nye (Harvard University);
• Prof. John Searle (Berkeley University of California);
• Prof. Miroslav Volf (Yale University);
• dr. Allan Wallis (Colorado University in Denver). 

Programme & procedure

The course consists of four modules, divided over two separate weeks. During the first study week we will first visit Harvard University where top lecturers will focus on ‘The concept of power’. At Yale ‘The concept of dignity’ will be the central theme. The second study tour will start with a two-day train journey from Denver to San Francisco. While passing breath-taking landscapes, there will be lectures and workshops with an actor on the theme of ‘breaking new ground’. Once we have arrived in the West, lecturers from Stanford University and Berkeley University of California at the Berkeley University of California will share their insights on the topic of ‘out-of-the-box’ thinking.