UNIC International Sustainability Leadership Autumn School 2026

Are you interested in Sustainability Leadership?

Urgent transformative action is needed to address the sustainability crises we are collectively facing such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and resource depletion. Beyond the requirement for radical technological and business innovations we need new forms of individual and collective leadership. Sustainability leaders are those who inspire and drive us towards a more sustainable world and have the competences to understand and tackle sustainability challenges under conditions of extreme urgency, rapid change, and uncertainty.

The focus of the UNIC International Sustainability Leadership Autumn School is on leadership skills and sustainability competences which complement the deep domain specific knowledge acquired within academic disciplines e.g. systems thinking, futures thinking, sustainability values, societal impact, and interdisciplinarity. Within this Autumn School we will develop a “sustainability mindset” to think, plan and act with empathy, responsibility, and care for our planet. The Autumn School will also draw upon living laboratory methodologies for co-creation, critical reflection, and experiential learning developed and refined within the UNIC Centre for City Futures.

Learning outcomes of the Autumn School

• Explain futures thinking approaches and methodologies to envision and craft 'rich pictures' for preferred sustainable futures.
• Explain the role of trust and empathy when working across diverse stakeholder groups as a part of successful change processes.
• Map and reconcile values and principles for planetary boundaries and societal development and, as a part of this, be able to reflect on their own values.
• Understand and critically evaluate individual leadership styles as well as their role in active change management.

Programme Overview

• Online and in person Autumn School
• Length: 4 x 2 hour online sessions (starting Sept 9th) plus one week in-person Autumn School (5th-9th October, 2026)
• Accreditation: 5 ECTS
• Location: Malmö University, Malmö, Sweden
• Language: The Autumn School will be delivered in English

How to apply

Apply to the Atumn school by filling in the Application form. The Application Form must be completed by interested applicants by 5PM, Monday May 11th. Successful applicants will be notified and offered a place at UNIC Autumn School by Thursday, June 4th.

Application Form for the UNIC International Sustainability Leadership Autumn School 2026

If you have any queries about the school please contact UNIC Autumn School facilitator Anna Bruun Månsson, Malmö University anna.bruun-mansson@mau.se

We are looking forward to your application!