Creating and Developing a Leadership Brand (5cr)

Objectives (course unit)

Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: • Understand the key concepts of personal branding in the context of leadership. • Identify their own strengths and areas for development in personal branding, and apply these insights to personal, professional, and organizational goals. • Design and implement a personal branding development plan and communicate it effectively. • Evaluate and enhance their personal brand based on evidence and theoretical knowledge.

Content (course unit)

Course Content • Theoretical foundations, applied methodologies, and strategic communication approaches in personal branding. • Identification and articulation of leadership strengths. • Development of a personal branding strategy and creation of a professional portfolio. • Continuous improvement and evaluation of the personal brand.

Assessment methods and criteria

Assessment focuses on the learning tasks completed during the course and the written examination as follows: - Assignment 2. Assessment: pass/fail. - Assignment 3. Assessment: pass/fail. - Assignment 4. Assessment: fail / 1–5. By enrolling in the course, you agree to comply with the current rules on cheating on study tasks and plagiarism as well as the guidelines provided on the use of artificial intelligence of Turku University of Applied Sciences. The possible use of artificial intelligence varies by learning task. Guidance on its use is provided for each task during the course.

Assessment scale

H-5

Teaching methods

Online studying, group work, and learning assignments.

Learning materials

All course materials are available on the Itslearning learning platform.

Student workload

- Orientation, instructional and expert lecture videos (2 h). - Portfolio (40 h) and peer assessments (5 h). - Preparation for the written examination (87 h) and the online exam (1 h). Total: 135 hours (5 ECTS).

Content scheduling

Timetable The course is completed independently online between 13 February and 22 May 2026. Successful completion requires adherence to the schedule outlined below. - Course information: will be held on Friday, 13 February 2026, from 10:00 to 11:00. Participation is recommended but not mandatory. No separate registration is required. You may join the session via the following link: https://turkuamk.zoom.us/j/64373129078 - Assignment 1: Completed independently during the course; submission is voluntary. - Assignment 2: Submission deadline is Sunday, 29 March 2026, by 23:59. The peer review of another student’s work must be completed by Sunday, 5 April 2026, by 23:59. - Assignment 3: Submission deadline is Sunday, 12 April 2026, by 23:59. The peer review of another student’s work must be completed by Sunday, 19 April 2026, by 23:59. - Assignment 4: A 30-minute written examination will open in the ItsLearning platform on Monday, 4 May 2026, from 17:00 to 17:45. A failed attempt may be retaken once: the first retake is on Monday, 11 May 2026, from 17:00 to 17:45, and the second retake is on Friday, 15 May 2026, from 17:00 to 17:45. The grade of the written examination determines the final grade for the entire course. The final grade will be recorded in your personal study plan (HOPS) in the Peppi system once all required components have been successfully completed. Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to • Understand the key concepts of personal branding in the context of leadership. • Identify their own strengths and areas for development in personal branding, and apply these insights to personal, professional, and organizational goals. • Design and implement a personal branding development plan and communicate it effectively. • Evaluate and enhance their personal brand based on evidence and theoretical knowledge. Course Content • Theoretical foundations, applied methodologies, and strategic communication approaches in personal branding. • Identification and articulation of leadership strengths. • Development of a personal branding strategy and creation of a professional portfolio. • Continuous improvement and evaluation of the personal brand.

Completion alternatives

No alternative completion methods are offered. Accreditation of Prior Learning (AHOT) is possible, provided that it is notified one week before the start of the course.

International connections

Students work (alongside their jobs,) engaging in problem-based learning and applying theory to practice. This course includes online learning, group work, and independent study. Pedagogical methods are based on the student's active learning and application of knowledge both independently and in groups: problem-based learning, integrating new content with previously acquired knowledge, work-based learning, peer and self-assessment, and reflection. Learning focuses on the central theories of the course, as well as discussion and experience-sharing on the topics covered. Small group work emphasizes self-management, peer learning, and dialogical interaction. The individual assignments and the written online examination provide an opportunity to engage with the course literature and teaching materials, and to apply and further develop research-based knowledge. Students are expected to demonstrate a structured approach to presenting information and/or responding to examination questions. Sustainable development is addressed during the course, and students are encouraged to incorporate both theoretical and practice-oriented reflections as part of the creation and development of a sustainable leadership brand.

Further information

The course instructor can primarily be contacted via email. General course-related announcements are available on the Itslearning platform. The use of artificial intelligence varies between the learning tasks. Instructions regarding its use will be provided for each assignment within the course. The quota reserved for the Turku UAS Open University is 20 people. The quota reserved for the CampusOnline is 10 people.