Leading Change by Design at the University of Antwerp

Step into the world of co-creating change

What will you learn?

You will learn how to tackle organizational and societal challenges by mastering methodologies that enable you to reframe problems and think in terms of opportunities and solutions. You’ll gain practical skills to analyze complexity, understand systems, and design impactful interventions to address real-world issues with confidence and creativity.
You will develop hands-on expertise in generating ideas and co-creating solutions, learning to navigate the uncertainty and ambiguity that comes with innovation.
Through this learning journey, you’ll understand how to build and leverage networks to drive systemic change. You’ll gain the skills to foster collaboration across disciplines and act as a catalyst for transformation. Beyond technical skills, you’ll cultivate a proactive mindset, and the personal agency needed to take meaningful, constructive initiatives within organizations, innovation consultancies, or broader societal contexts.

Why design?

If you're already a designer, feel free to skip this part. However, if you're new to the world of design, here’s what you need to know.
For many, design is synonymous with stylish objects or beautiful lifestyle products, but design is also a process and a mindset. Over time, it has transformed into a creative problem-solving discipline, applying its methods, tools, and techniques to areas beyond products, designing services, processes, organizations, and entire systems. Today, design drives innovation, delivering solutions not only in physical artifacts but also in intangible applications across diverse fields.

What sets design apart is its interdisciplinary approach, integrating human-centered, economic, sustainability and technological perspectives into comprehensive solutions. Design thrives on creative synthesis, going beyond merely analyzing the world as it is to envision and experimenting how it could be. It excels in lateral thinking, reframing challenges, generating ideas, prototyping solutions, and validating them to ensure the best possible implementation in the real world.

At its core, design flourishes collaboration and co-creation, emphasizing teamwork and synergy to address challenges from a holistic perspective. Yet, when it comes to solving complex problems, no single discipline can succeed alone. True transformation relies on the combined expertise of many fields working together toward shared goals.

While this programme won’t make you an experienced designer in a year, it will equip you with the skills to expand your disciplinary expertise, adopt a design mindset, and broaden your perspective on how to create meaningful change.

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Leading Change by Design at the University of Antwerp

The programme is structured around two core methodologies applied in two challenge-based projects, a self-development track, and five thematical modules. Together, these components provide a comprehensive learning experience that balances theory, applied learning, and personal growth.

• Challenge-based projects: Half of the programme is dedicated to applying the methodologies of service design and systemic design in real-world challenges. Participants work step-by-step under close guidance, learning the approaches as they progress in a collaborative setting.
• Self-development track: This individual track focuses on developing leadership skills through guided reflection and practical exercises.
• Thematical and applied modules: These modules provide essential background knowledge and conceptual support, enabling participants to better understand and apply the methodologies in practice.
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More information is published on:

https://www.uantwerpen.be/en/study/programmes/all-programmes/leading-change-by-design/about-the-programme/.   

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Leading Change by Design at the University of Antwerp

Just finished your Bachelor’s or Master’s programme?

You have finished a Bachelor’'s or master’'s programme in a specific discipline (natural sciences, social sciences, design sciences, applied sciences, humanities, …...) and you want to expand your knowledge and skills in a cross-disciplinary setting. You want to experience how design techniques can enrich your disciplinary knowledge and arm you with individual skills to act in a collaborative setting.

You have some years of experience?

You have several years of experience in an organization, and you feel the need to expand your knowledge on driving change and inspiring teams towards transformation. You want to experience and master the methodologies to address innovation, future opportunities, and complex problem solving. You want to learn how service design and systemic design techniques can help you in your daily practice, and how to develop a purposeful leadership attitude towards organizational change.

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Leading Change by Design at the University of Antwerp

Entry requirements

The programme is open to candidates with a Bachelor's or Master’'s degree. Other diplomas may be considered for admission provided applicants can proof relevant study areas or work experience. As the programme aims for interdisciplinary collaboration, there are no restrictions regarding the background discipline. However, the academic coordinator reserves the right to select a balanced and diverse cohort of incoming students to ensure a well-balanced group.

Language requirements

Applicants need to be proficient in English, the language of instruction for the postgraduate. To assure active participation, a good command of English in all aspects (written, spoken, and comprehension) is a prerequisite. If English is not your first or native language, you must provide evidence of advanced written and spoken English skills during the interview.

If there would be any doubts, applicants can prove their proficiency in English by: 

• Submitting proof, you have completed a minimum of one academic year (equivalent to 60 ECTS credits) in a master's programme conducted in English
• Submitting one of the following language certificates with a test validity of maximum 2 years:
• -- TOEFL iBT (Test of English as a Foreign Language; taken at a test center - Home editions are not accepted): a minimum score of 80. You can find more information about TOEFL at www.toefl.org
• -- IELTS (International English Language Testing System): a minimum score of at least 6.5, and on each part minimum 6.0.

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Leading Change by Design (Postgraduate programme) - Impressionen zum Masterstudium

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Übersicht der Masterstudiengänge - University of Antwerp

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Important information regarding cancellation

1. Cancellation by the organisation 

Should the postgraduate be cancelled by the organiser for organisational reasons or as a result of force majeure, the organiser will refund the registration fee. Claims for further liabilities or damages are excluded.

2. Cancellation by the participant

If a participant decides to cancel their enrolment in the postgraduate, they must notify the organiser in writing. The following cancellation policy applies:

• Cancellation more than six weeks before the programme’s start date: 20% of the full tuition fee* will be retained as a cancellation cost.
• Cancellation between two and six weeks before the programme’s start date: 50% of the full tuition fee* will be retained as a cancellation cost.
• Cancellation less than two weeks before the programme’s start date: No refund will be issued.

* Cancellation costs are based on the full tuition fee.

The organiser will not be liable for any further claims, damages, or losses resulting from the participant's cancellation. We strongly encourage securing travel insurance to protect against potential losses resulting from cancellation.
All refunds are processed in euros. The organisation cannot refund any shortfalls due to exchange rate fluctuations or bank charges.

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The enrolment fee for the programme Leading Change by Design is 6.900 euro (including all teaching materials). 2000 euro of which must be paid in advance when the application is submitted. Until the advance fee has been paid, the application will not be considered. The balance, of 4900 euro, must be paid to the programme before the end of August 25. Until the fee has been received in full, admission to the programme is not complete and the student card will not be issued. 

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