• British Council

Ideas for a Better World: Leading Change Through Policymaking

Learn about policymaking and leadership from experts and inspirational leaders, and create your own policy action plan.

45,332 enrolled on this course

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  • Duration

    4 weeks
  • Weekly study

    2 hours
  • Digital upgrade

    Free

Become a leader and start making a difference in the world through policymaking

Policy change can affect billions of lives. What if you could create policies to enhance societies, transform lives and change the impact we have on the world? On this course supported by the Møller Institute at Churchill College, University of Cambridge, you will build knowledge and awareness about policymaking and leadership.

You will learn from global policy experts and hear innovative perspectives from policy leaders creating change all around the world. Listen to guest speakers from the United Nations, UK House of Lords, and The Elders, and learn to create your own policy action plan.

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What topics will you cover?

Turning passion into policy

  • What is policy?
  • Who makes policy change?
  • How to use passion and purpose
  • Your role in making policy change

Learning from experts

  • Hearing from experts, world leaders and young people who have made change in the world

Insight and evidence

  • Evidence in policymaking
  • How to use evidence
  • Different kinds of evidence
  • Policy creation processes

Collaborating and influencing

  • Policy making tactics
  • “Policy windows” and the best time to take action
  • What are stakeholders?
  • How to understand and influence others to make change
  • Communication and influence
  • How to define and communicate your “vision” for change

Creating your policy action plan

  • Actions, tools and tactics to help you plan your policy
  • How to achieve long-term impact
  • Key things to consider as you are planning your path to change

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Identify the passion which drives your ambition to shape policy change
  • Reflect on how your policy idea ties in to your wider purpose
  • Explore what policy is and how it can lead to change in wider society
  • Assess the importance of different types of evidence in creating policy
  • Identify who your stakeholders are and learn how to influence them effectively
  • Develop your confidence and skills around policy leadership
  • Design an action plan that will set your policy idea in motion

Who is the course for?

This course is aimed at people who see themselves as future leaders in the field of policymaking.

Who will you learn with?

I'm the Head of Knowledge & Learning at the Møller Institute in Cambridge where we specialise in developing leaders who understand how they can make positive difference in the world.

I'm Engagement Manager at the Centre for Digital Built Britain, a partnership between UK's Dept. of BEIS and the University of Cambridge to deliver a smart digital economy for infrastructure.

After finishing my Physics PhD I'm moving into Science Policy, working towards better science and a better environment for scientists.

I am a female mechanical engineer, trying to work towards a more sustainable and just world!

Cambridge-based astrophysicist, educator, consultant and public speaker. Promotes gender balance in STEM and entrepreneurship as a consultant and through policy advisory roles in Cambridge and the UN.

I am an environmental social scientist based at the Global Sustainability Institute in Anglia Ruskin University . I research social-ecological resilience, sustainable agriculture & rural development.

Who developed the course?

British Council

The British Council builds connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and other countries through arts and culture, education and the English language.

We work on the ground in more than 100 countries. In 2019-20 we connected with 80 million people directly and with 791 million people overall, including online and through our broadcasts and publications.

Endorsers and supporters

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What's included?

British Council are offering everyone who joins this course a free digital upgrade, so that you can experience the full benefits of studying online for free. This means that you get:

  • Unlimited access to this course
  • Includes any articles, videos, peer reviews and quizzes
  • A PDF Certificate of Achievement to prove your success when you’re eligible
  • Learning on FutureLearn

    Your learning, your rules

    • Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
    • Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
    • Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

    Join a global classroom

    • Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
    • Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
    • Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others

    Map your progress

    • As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
    • Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
    • Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate

    Want to know more about learning on FutureLearn? Using FutureLearn

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