Social Policy and Social Impact Leadership
About This Course
This course is designed for middle-management social sector practitioners, professionals, and leaders in the social sector seeking to deepen their understanding of leadership in driving social change. It offers an exploration of the strategic evolution, development and implementation of social policies in Singapore, providing a critical analysis of the unique governance model that has shaped the nation’s response to complex social challenges.
Participants will engage head-on with policy dilemmas, trade-offs, and unravel seemingly contradictory governance and social policy principles such as self-reliance vs “We First”; meritocracy vs the “many helping hands” approach. These policy principles will be examined through a multidimensional leadership lens, analysing the leaders’ role in shaping policy solutions, community engagement, and fostering sustainable social impact.
There will be opportunities to critically discuss policies in the areas of housing, healthcare, education, employment, and family support, focusing on how these policy domains interact with emerging issues such as inequality, an aging population, social diversity, and national cohesion. The course will also explore the evolving roles of civil society, non-profit organisations, and the private sector, exploring how these sectors can be engaged to address systemic challenges. Case studies and interactive discussions will empower participants to design and implement innovative solutions to the pressing social issues of today. A senior social sector leader will also be invited as guest speaker to engage the participants in open and honest discussions of policy issues.
By the end of the course, participants will possess leadership and strategic insights to navigate the complexities of the social sector, forge effective partnerships, and drive meaningful, long-term change in their communities.
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What You'll Learn
At the end of this course, participants should be able to:
Demonstrate understanding of the structure and functioning of the social sector in Singapore.
Assess the role of different actors (including government, civil society, and the private sector) in the policy ecosystem.
Compare Singapore’s unique approach to social policy with other common models.
Key Skills (Practical Component)
At the end of this course, participants should be able to:
Analyse how historical, cultural, and political factors shape Singapore’s social policies.
Critically examine the effectiveness and limitations of key social policy initiatives.
Construct strategies for current social challenges and opportunities for policy innovation in Singapore.
Entry Requirements
• At least 2 years of experience working with or in the social sector or equivalent field
• Holding supervisory or leadership or equivalent responsibilities