National Comenius Course

The National Comenius Course is an executive programme about vision and strategy. It offers a cluster of insights from many scientific disciplines. Each module focuses on one scientific field. The participants will become acquainted with field-transcending fundamental insights from these fields of science by entering into a dialogue with prominent Dutch professors. The modules will not just be about what is known as state-of-the-art knowledge, you will also be presented with progressive views on the future, society, mankind, and organisation. Subsequently you will learn how to change context, which increases the quality of strategies.

The Course will offer a sanctuary to executives who wish to (further) develop their leadership abilities. The Course will also stimulate their capacity to interact creatively and in an innovative way with change. The Course is an investment in the versatility and decisiveness of the participants and a platform for a mutual exchange of experiences.

Insights after the course

Executives have a strong need to achieve some kind of leadership that stands up to the challenges of the future but also reflects one’s personal authenticity. Comenius will not present ready-made answers but primarily a learning context in which meeting prominent knowledge bearers as well as learning from each other is fundamental. One will become more aware of the framework of one’s own mindset and learn how to shift its borders.

Practical information

Duration
7 x 2 consecutive days, spread out across a period of 7 months

Start
2 x per year
The autumn edition will start on 17 November 2011

Location
Modules 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 7: middle of the country
Module 6: Maastricht

Admission
Based on a mutual exploratory conversation.

Group
A maximum of 16 participants 

Participant’s profile

The participants, who are able to work and think at academic level, are aged from forty upwards, and come from 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

Prominent lecturers from the world of science will be involved in this Course. Our lecturers include:

• Prof.Dr.Ir. Sander Bais (University of Amsterdam);
• Mgr. Bär;
• Em.Prof.Dr. Heleen Dupuis (University of Leyden);
• Prof.Dr.Mr. Afshin Ellian (University of Leyden);  
• Prof.Dr. John Rijsman (University of Tilburg);
• Prof.Drs. Paul Scheffer (University of Amsterdam);
• Prof.Dr. Paul van Tongeren (Radboud University of Nijmegen);
• Prof.Dr. Martin van Hees (University of Groningen);
• Prof.Dr. Marjan Verkerk (University of Groningen). 

Programme & procedure

The course consists of seven modules of two consecutive days (from Thursday morning to Friday afternoon). Each module will focus on one science, and deals with the various constituent subjects of that specific discipline.

• Philosophy and Religion;
• Social Sciences;
• Medical Sciences;
• Law;
• Natural Sciences;
• Literature, Art and Culture;
• Economic Sciences.