The Importance Of Continuing Education in the NFP Sector

A range of higher education courses which teach the frameworks and approaches that lead to best practice and sustainable change in the not-for-profit sector are now available through the Centre for Social Impact.

How do you take your not-for-profit career to the next level? How do you up-skill, build capacity, and engage across sectors in a resource constrained environment? There is not only rapid growth in the NFP sector, but there is expanding complexity which brings with it an increasing range of challenges, whether you work in NFPs, business, or government.

With this in mind the Centre for Social Impact has implemented a range of higher education courses which teach the frameworks and approaches that lead to best practice and sustainable change in the for-purpose sector.

Postgraduate Certificate

For emerging social impact leaders, the Centre for Social Impact has developed a comprehensive postgraduate program, called the Graduate Certificate in Social Impact (GCSI). This program was designed for people from all sectors: not for profit, business and government, to come together to deepen their understandings of subject areas that are proven to make help effect change.

Some of the areas covered include: social innovation design, reporting and measuring social impact, social investment and philanthropy, corporate responsibility and accountability, leadership and cross-sectoral collaboration (all subjects are also available as non-award courses). The GCSI is offered through the business schools at UNSW Sydney, Swinburne University of Technology and the University of Western Australia.

Masters Programs

For established social impact leaders looking to formalise their position, the centre has partnered with the Australian Graduate School of Management (AGSM) at UNSW Business School, and the University of Western Australia Business School to offer MBAs in Social Impact.  The aim of both MBAs is to provide a strong platform for professionals seeking to develop key management skills and a deep understanding of how they can create real social impact.

In addition, at Swinburne, you can now study a Master in Social Impact designed for students seeking to build skills and advance their careers in the growing field of social impact And at UNSW Sydney, 2017 saw the new addition of the Master of Commerce in Global Sustainability and Social Enterprise.

Scholarships

There are a generous selection of partial and whole scholarships available for both the GCSI and the MBA, created especially for people working in the not-for-profit sector.

Click here and find out how to apply.

The findings from the Centre for Social Impact’s research indicate that there is not only a strong desire for professional development and continuing education in the social sector, but there is an urgent need.

And those organisations that do support further education have shown to improve their organisational effectiveness and therefore facilitate social change.

To find out more click here.