Overview
Postgraduate Certificate in Action Learning Facilitation Brochure PDF
An innovative programme and qualification designed for those passionate about guiding their teams and organisations through collaborative learning experiences that lead to real, actionable outcomes at the level of self, team, organisation, and society.
Your current job role requires you to mobilise groups and teams to research real world challenges and to take action and learn through effective collaboration. You may be a consultant or organisation-based agent of change looking to build your expertise beyond instruction and knowledge delivery. This programme enables you to define your own facilitator research question such as:
- How can I support teams to facing into the unknown?
- What is my role as a facilitator when established project methodologies and presentations aren’t cutting it?
- How can I support teams to shift beyond decisions to action?
- How can I enable teams to communicate what they are really thinking?
- How can I enable integration of human value with AI development across our future product and service offer?
You investigate your own Action Learning Facilitator Question with support of a coach and other programme members and build a portfolio of evidence demonstrating your capability as a facilitator of Action Learning.
Who is the programme designed for?
The programme is aimed at:
- Leadership and learning professionals;
- Organisation development specialists;
- Change agents and consultants;
- Leaders and managers in business, public service or third sector and community organisations;
- Programme and project managers.
What is Action Learning?
Action learning empowers organisations to thrive in an uncertain world by equipping leaders and teams with the tools to excel. Our action learning programmes tackle critical business and societal challenges through experiential peer-to-peer learning. Designed to drive measurable results, we focus on developing the essential human-centred skills and actionable strategies in the flow of action on live business challenges, helping individuals and teams to succeed and collaborate in today’s fast-paced and uncertain world. This is based on a proven business focused approach to action learning, the Action Learning Question method.
Aims of the Programme
The programme enables participants to:
- Deliver a return on investment from change programmes;
- Gain confidence is facilitating deeper levels of inquiry and problem solving;
- Build capability in tackling complexity, uncertainty and ambiguity;
- Develop their craft in working with challenging group dynamics.
- Become a catalyst for personal, team and organisational learning.
Programme Delivery Methods & Structure
The programme is delivered over two modules, each of which must be completed along with required assessment through building and presenting a Portfolio of evidence of personal learning and reflection. This follows the format of the Action Learning Question methodology. Participants are enrolled with the University at the start of the programme and have access to learning resources and platforms including: Moodle, Pebblepad, online libraries. They also join a cohort Teams channel where they share learning and access a bespoke Action Learning library.
Module 1 – Action Learning Facilitator Question (40 credits postgraduate level 7) – 6 Months
Following the Action Learning Question process participants scope, research action and reflect on their learning based on a real work-based facilitation challenge opportunity. There are 4 workshops (remote or in-house in-person), action learning set meetings, and personal coaching support. Participants complete self-study, including work-based activities and reading, working up to a final presentation of their learning journey. A portfolio of learning including a plan for ongoing Continuing Professional Development is submitted as evidence for assessment.
Principles
- • Context and basis of Action Learning (AL) • Working with different learning styles preferences • How AL contributes to individual and organizational development • The 3 key roles that make AL sustainable • Establishing the Action Learning Set for success • The Action Learning Question (ALQ) system.
Facilitating
- • Develop set facilitation skills, coaching style questions and co-consulting • Strategies to manage challenging situations • Applying a range of intervention methods • Useful problem-solving tools • Knowledge Mapping process – where theory meets practice and goes underground.
Impact
- • Supporting the role of emotion in AL • Consider the organisational/systemic impact • Systemic failure – can AL prevent this? • Coaching skills for AL • Supporting EDI through AL experiences • Enabling personal, team and organisational change.
Reflection
- • Overcoming inertia – helping others to take action • Working with vulnerability in Action Learning Sets • Creating a well-articulated account of your learning journey as an Action Learning Facilitator • Meeting the criteria as a qualified Action Learning Facilitator.
Module 2 – Self as an Instrument of Change (20 credits) – 2 months
The programme is run in collaboration with York St John University London and includes two one day workshops hosted at the Docklands based London campus. This includes a self-diagnostic and development of coaching capability. This module is assessed through submission of a written account of learning and creative portfolio.
Workshop Dates
Public programme
| Date | Time | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 20th May, 2025 | 09:00–11:00 BST | Webinar workshop |
| 10th June, 2025 | 09:00–11:00 BST | Webinar workshop |
| 24th June, 2025 | 1 day | York St John University, London |
| 8th July, 2025 | 09:00–11:00 BST | Webinar workshop |
| 22nd July, 2025 | 09:00–11:00 BST | York St John University, London |
Qualification
Successful completion earns the qualification - Postgraduate Certificate in Action Learning Facilitation and the right to use the post nominal PGCert.
Graduation is held in November and March and ceremonies are held at London Guildhall.
Completion also entitles graduates to use the Action Learning Question method in their work practice, subject to agreement over copyright and use of associated trademarks.
Requirements
You will come to the programme with a real opportunity to use the Action Learning approach in your work and organisation.
You will need to prioritise the workshop and ALS sessions in your diary to ensure full participation.
The programme is at postgraduate level and requires completion of the ALQ Journal/Portfolio.
Reasonable adjustments will be made to support participants with specific learning difficulties.
<>Prior qualifications are not a pre-requisite however you will have professional experience and may have qualifications in fields such as Leadership, Learning & Development, Organization Development, Change Management, Programme/Project Management, HRD.
Meet the Facilitators
Dr Alex Morgan
Executive coach, accredited Action Learning Facilitator, Action Researcher and Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. Masters degree and Doctorate were completed using Action Learning and Action Research methodologies.
Research has focused on inclusion and belonging in international teams, an interest fuelled by running a language and intercultural training school. Was introduced to Action Learning whilst working in the NHS and worked alongside Dr Richard Hale in introducing AL to large organizations to support the development of leaders in business and the public sector.
Dr Richard Hale
Action learning thought leader and practitioner with early career in industry in HR, learning and development roles with GEC Marconi Avionics and BSkyB.
Doctoral supervisor Ashridge Hult Executive Doctorate in Organizational Change. External Examiner, Irish Management Institute, MSc in Management Practice.Qualified Higher Education tutor, Fellow of CIPD, Masters in Work Based Learning. Doctoral research into the dynamics of coaching and mentoring relationships supervised by Prof Alan Mumford.
Creator of the Action Learning Question methodology. Consulting and leadership development career over 30 years in UK, Europe, Africa, Australia and USA. Author of several books and articles in the field of action learning, leadership and personal skills.
Fees
£3,480.00 payable on enrolment, includes programme delivery and university fees.
The programme is delivered under a partnership agreement between Value Improvement Projects Ltd and York St. John University, London Campus.
Participants Say…
“Action Learning Facilitation helps with both soft and hard influencing skills”
“It definitely improves ways of working”
“It helps foster participation by encouraging quieter voices and managing discussions effectively”
“Learning how to contract effectively with a group is critical”
“Action Learning helps get to the crux of an issue through insightful questioning”
“Through knowledge mapping, I noticed the importance of the underground, in other words exploring what people really think and feel”
“Action Learning develops both emotion and intellect”
“Action Learning proves that many minds make more effective decisions”
“Sharing lived experience is so valuable”
“Action Learning is about empowerment, mutual support and a shared sense of purpose”
“Action Learning supports the tackling of wicked problems”
