In this international leadership programme at the University of Antwerp, participants explore leadership as a personal and relational practice in today’s complex professional environments. The programme starts with self-leadership: developing self-awareness, emotional agility, and the ability to reflect on one’s motivations, values and purpose. Participants learn how these insights translate into a personal mission, concrete goals and responsible action.
Building on this foundation, the programme focuses further on collaboration and leadership in teams. Participants explore psychological safety, constructive feedback, and communication skills that enable effective and respectful teamwork. They also engage with contemporary approaches to organising and collaborating, such as agile and participatory ways of working.
The learning experience combines academic frameworks with practical tools, personal reflection and peer dialogue in an international group of master students and young professionals. Through online sessions and an intensive in-person week in Antwerp, participants actively apply concepts to real personal and professional situations.
By the end of the programme, participants will have strengthened their self-leadership, collaboration and communication skills, enabling them to contribute more effectively to teams and organisations while supporting others to grow.
Target group
Bachelor’s and Master’s students as well as young professionals. Students with an interest in leadership, personal development, and international collaboration. Participants from diverse academic backgrounds (often business, economics, social sciences, but not limited to these). Students who are motivated to engage in self-reflection, teamwork, and intercultural exchange, and are looking for a short, intensive international experience. Because of its focus on self-leadership and teaming up, the programme is particularly suitable for students who are preparing for future leadership roles or international careers.
Micro-credential and study credits (ECTS)
Successful completion of the summer school can be awarded with 3 credits according to the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). Credits will be awarded by the University of Antwerp based on attendance of the online sessions, 100% (active) participation during the in-person week, group work, and submission of an individual paper after the course.
Learning outcomes
- Analyst: You are able and willing to take diverse perspectives on specific real-life leadership related challenges. You participate in this program with an open, curious, inclusive mind and heart.
- Analyst: You can critically reflect on your behaviour and learning process and on how theoretical frameworks and exercises contributed to your own personal development.
- Strategist: You can integrate and unite different perspectives to come up with valuable syntheses and win-win solutions that can work on the long term, in a sustainable way.
- Creator: You are capable of formulating different, potential solutions and recommendations which can be applied in practice. You can also co-create potential solutions with a diverse group of people, in team, in an open and constructive way.
- Coordinator: You are able to integrate and apply different frameworks, concepts and tools to specific real-life situations. You are able to deal with different learning formats (in terms of content and planning)
- Inspirer: You are able to discuss your analyses, solutions and learnings in a clear and respectful way with others, write them down in a clear and coherent paper and present them in an inspiring way when needed.
Social programme
Antwerp Summer & Winter University offers a number of fun social activities to let participants discover the beautiful city of Antwerp and meet fellow students in a more informal way. Examples of activities in past editions are a networking reception, a guided city walk, a pub quiz, a boardgame night, and rooftop yoga. All activities in the social programme are offered free of charge. A few weeks before the start of the summer school, confirmed participants will receive an overview of all activities available during the programme, along with the opportunity to register.
Campus
This summer school takes place at Stadscampus (Prinsstraat 13, 2000 Antwerp) of the University of Antwerp. This campus is located in the city centre