Shaping Organizational Leadership: The SaskPower Certificate from Levene Graduate School
The Levene Graduate School of Business and SaskPower have collaborated on a unique delivery of the school’s Master’s Certificate in Organizational Leadership.
In the Spring 2024, SaskPower approached Levene about the possibility of a Certificate program to an exclusive cohort of 15 SaskPower Directors. The request was also to deliver the program at SaskPower offices.
The Levene team saw the proposal as a unique opportunity for collaboration between academia and industry. The program delivered to the SaskPower cohort comprises a series of graduate business courses taught by faculty members but with business cases tailored to the work done by SaskPower employees. Three courses comprise the SaskPower Certificate program: Leadership: Theory and Practice; Corporate Finance; and Business Government and Society. While Corporate Finance is not typically part of the Master’s Certificate in Organizational Leadership, it was included in this customized offering to reflect SaskPower’s specific organizational needs. This tailored approach ensured the content was highly relevant to participants’ day-to-day work and leadership responsibilities.
Dr. Carleton, who teaches in the program, said it is the cohort approach that makes the program unique and provides the setting for deep learning and rich discussion.
“There are some really great things about cohort learning. Because the students know each other, they're more willing to share their ideas within the class. They're much more open and willing to share their opinions. It tends to generate more insightful and in depth, conversation in the classroom,” said Dr. Carleton.
According to Carleton, delivering the program to a cohort made exclusively of SaskPower employees offered some interesting benefits. She said the program also plays an important role in helping to bridge the gap between academia and industry.
“Some of the people in this program haven't been to university in 20 or more years, and some of them have never been to university. So, their success in this program enables them to know that they can excel in graduate level training. It also provides us with insight into their industry, which is important in helping us to curate some of the cases we use in the class, and the research we discuss” she said.
Carleton said this type of an industry cohort program is helping to build bonds within the community.
The initiative not only benefits participants but also contributes to the depth of skills in the community, enhancing Regina’s effective and innovative pool of leaders.
“Establishing linkages between the Hill and Levene Schools and a major Crown Corps in our province is really important – and it has led to other benefits, such as having individuals from SaskPower speak in Hill and Levene classes. So, it's deepening and strengthening relations between the Hill and Levene Schools of Business and the community,” said Dr. Carleton.
The goal of the cohort program is to enhance the leadership skills for those in leadership positions. It is intended for individuals who want to further develop their skills as leaders.
“One important thing about having a university-based certificate is that the individuals teaching these programs are academics who understand the research and literature in the area that they are teaching. They have some of the most recent knowledge in those areas, which gives the individuals in the class some more recent perspectives, which is really important,” she said.
The SaskPower Master’s Certificate in Organizational Leadership cohort began in the fall of 2024 and runs to the spring of 2025. According to Dr. Carleton, if the pilot is successful, it could become a continued offering and could be expanded to other Crown Corporations and industry organizations. Certificate participants are also able to ladder into other graduate degree programs.