Open Courses
Building competence in collective leadership and stakeholder collaboration

Our courses are built on the belief that collaboration is the heartbeat of sustainable change. Grounded in systems thinking and the practice of collective leadership, they offer frameworks and experiences that bring co-creation to life — across teams, organizations, and networks.
Each course is interactive, practical, and rooted in real-world contexts, helping participants translate insight into action and shape the future together.

You dont know what course to choose? Click here to scroll to the end.

By completing TWO FOUNDATION COURSES and ONE ADVANCED COURSE, you can become a certified Collective Leadership Specialist — equipped to lead transformative collaboration across systems.

Collective Leadership Specialist Certification
Overview of all modules and credits

Download our one pager for a full overview of all modules and credits needed to become a Collective Leadership Specialist

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The Art of Leading Collectively

Great collaboration doesn’t happen by accident — it’s intentionally led, strengthened, and practiced collectively.

Today’s complex challenges call for co-creation. Yet the realities of collaboration can be challenging: limited resources, conflicting agendas, social tensions, power imbalances, and multi-level decision-making. All of this can make it difficult to initiate, sustain, and scale genuine co-creation within teams and across partnerships.

The Collective Leadership Compass is a practical, human-centered framework that helps you assess, align, and continuously strengthen your collaborative efforts. By bringing diverse actors together and shaping adaptive partnerships that evolve into living networks, teams can navigate challenges with clarity and care, unlock collective potential, and turn diversity into strength.
It’s where authenticity meets effectiveness — and where co-creation becomes both a strategic and a deeply human success.

By the end of this course, you will be able to lead collaboration processes with more resilience, focus, and constructive energy — in your team, your organization, and your process.

The Art of Leading Collectively

DURATION: 4 days
METHODOLOGY: CLI Collective Leadership Compass
TUITION FEE:€ 2,000 in-person, € 1,500 online
Registration status: OPEN

23 June — 26 June 2026
Collective Leadership Institute gGmbH, Kurfürstenstraße, Potsdam, Germany
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The Art of Feminist Leadership

DURATION: 4 days
METHODOLOGY: CLI Collective Leadership Compass
TUITION FEE: € 2,000 in-person, € 1,500 online
Registration status: OPEN

6 October — 9 October 2026
Collective Leadership Institute gGmbH, Kurfürstenstraße, Potsdam, Germany
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93%
of the participants assess the relevance of the course for their daily work as high or very high. *
93%
of the participants assess the level of professional expertise of CLI facilitators excellent or good. *
96%
would recommend this training to colleagues or professional partners. *
The Art of Leading Collectively - What particpants learned in the course
The Art of Stakeholder Collaboration

The way we structure and lead collaboration throughout a project determines not only the quality of outcomes — but also their long-term impact and sustainability.

When diverse stakeholders come together, they bring different expectations, interests, cultures, and power dynamics to the table. This diversity is a strength — yet it can also create friction: competing agendas, low trust, lack of ownership, cultural barriers, or decision-making gridlocks. When this happens, the energy that should drive progress slows down, turning motivation into frustration or burnout.

The Dialogic Change Model offers a collaboration-centered pathway. It helps you plan when, how, and with whom to partner, while guiding you through the non-linear, multi-level realities of stakeholder collaboration.

By deepening the quality of relationships through intentional dialogue, we gradually shape a project culture that embraces diversity, builds commitment, and delivers shared results.

By the end of this course, you will be able to design, implement, and shepherd stakeholder engagement over time — tapping into the full potential of collaboration to achieve outcomes beyond immediate goals and build synergies that extend beyond one-time partnerships.

The Art of Stakeholder Collaboration

DURATION: 4 days of training
METHODOLOGY: CLI Dialogic Change Model
TUITION FEE: € 2,000 in-person, € 1,500 online
Registration status: OPEN

15 September — 18 September 2026
Collective Leadership Institute gGmbH, Kurfürstenstraße, Potsdam, Germany
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Project Teams Stakeholder Collaboration Course

DURATION: 4 days of training
METHODOLOGY: CLI Dialogic Change Model
TUITION FEE: € 2,000 in-person, € 1,500 online
Registration status: OPEN

20 October — 23 October 2026
Siem Reap, Cambodia
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Project Teams Stakeholder Collaboration Course

DURATION: 4 days of training
METHODOLOGY: Dialogic Change Model
TUITION FEE: € 2,000 in-person, € 1,500 online
Registration status: OPEN

20 October — 23 October 2026
The Cape Milner, Milner Road, Tamboerskloof, Cape Town, South Africa
Learn more
93%
of the participants assess the relevance of the course for their daily work as high or very high. *
95%
of the participants assess the level of professional expertise of CLI facilitators excellent or good. *
97%
would recommend this training to colleagues or professional partners. *
The Art of Stakeholder Collaboration - Three perspectives on the Course
The Art of Stakeholder Collaboration - Participants' feedback
Free information session Collective Leadership Specialist Programme

Online
29 January 2026
12:00pm - 2:00pm Central European Time (CET)

Register now
The Art of Process Facilitation

The quality of collaboration and shared leadership depends on how we design the spaces where dialogue, reflection, and decision-making take place

When individuals and teams gather — across organisations, sectors, or levels of hierarchy — each brings unique experiences, assumptions, and expectations to the table. This diversity can spark innovation and ownership, but without thoughtful facilitation it may also lead to  misunderstandings, disconnection, or loss of shared direction.

This advanced course builds on the foundations learned in Art of Leading Collectively and Art of Stakeholder Collaboration. It is designed for participants who want to move from designing collaboration to facilitating it in real time. Ideal for project leaders, coordinators, facilitators, and cross-sector teams, the course focuses on creating meaningful spaces where co-creation and shared ownership can truly emerge.

While Art of Leading Collectively focuses on the mindset and application of collective leadership, and Art of Stakeholder Collaboration provides tools to design and structure collaborative processes with diverse actors, Art of Process Facilitation goes one step further — into the live dynamics of group interaction. Using the Dialogic Change Model and the Collective Leadership Compass, you will learn how to turn meetings into moments of leadership — where responsibility is shared, every voice is heard, and complexity becomes a space for possibility rather than paralysis.

By the end of this course, you will be able to lead and facilitate processes where individuals co-create shared leadership, navigate complexity with confience, and generate outcomes that are innovative, human-centered, and sustainable.

95%
of the participants assess the relevance of the course for their daily work as high or very high. *
95%
of the participants assess the level of professional expertise of CLI facilitators excellent or good. *
97%
would recommend this training to colleagues or professional partners. *
The Art of Process Facilitation

DURATION: 4 days of training
METHODOLOGY: Dialogic Change Model and Collective Leadership Compass
TUITION FEE: € 2,000 in-person, € 1,500 online
Registration status: OPEN

10 November — 13 November 2026
Collective Leadership Institute gGmbH, Kurfürstenstraße, Potsdam, Germany
Learn more

The 2025 Art of Process Facilitation course date will be announced in October 2024.

The Art of Process Facilitation
The Art of Transformative Change

How can we tackle the world’s most complex challenges — creating change that goes beyond projects and shifts entire systems?

Driving transformative change means working across systems and networks that span institutions, sectors, and countries — where diverse actors, agendas, and dynamics are constantly evolving. Without an intentional approach to systems leadership, even the most ambitious initiatives can lose direction or momentum.

This course gives change leaders, project managers, and facilitators the tools to understand multi-stakeholder systems on a big scale, identify leverage points for transformation, and build networks that turn shared vision into coordinated transformation. It builds on the knowledge of the Foundation Modules “Art of Leading Collectively” (mindset and Compass foundations) and the “Art of Stakeholder Collaboration” (structuring multi-actor processes). Advanced methodologies as the ©Transformation Enablers and ©Collaboration Catalysts help us navigate complex design strategies that connect people, purpose, and impact beyond projects.

The Art of Transformative Change takes the leap from collaborating within a system to influencing and shifting the system itself. It equips you to work on transformation — not just participation.

By the end of this course, you will be able to lead cross-institutional and international networks that enable transformation — and turn shared vision into systemic, sustainable change.

94%
of the participants assess the relevance of the course for their daily work as high or very high. *
94%
of the participants assess the level of professional expertise of CLI facilitators excellent or good. *
100%
would recommend this training to colleagues or professional partners. *
The Art of Transformative Change

Duration: 4 days of training
Methodology: CLI Dialogic Change Model and Dialogic Change Model
Tution fee: € 2,000 in-person, € 1,500 online
Registration status: OPEN

8 December — 11 December 2026
Collective Leadership Institute gGmbH, Kurfürstenstraße, Potsdam, Germany
Learn more
The Art of Transformative Change - Theory of Change Example from Egypt

*  All figures are based on the anonymous participants’ course assessment for our courses in the last 5 years.

Choose a course

CLI’s open course format is ideal for individuals and (small) groups who would like to apply collective leadership and stakeholder collaboration in their daily work. We offer four CLI courses “The Art of …”, each with a different focus.

To choose the right course, feel free to see what other clients usually have chosen before*:

Working area Recommended training if applicable: continue with…
International development cooperation: advisor, technical staff The Art of Stakeholder Collaboration The Art of Leading Collectively, The Art of Process Facilitation or The Art of Transformative Change
International development cooperation: country director, project leader, team leader The Art of Leading Collectively The Art of Transformative Change
International development cooperation: stakeholder dialogues facilitator The Art of Process Facilitation (formerly: The Art of Dialogue) The Art of Leading Collectively
Civil society organisation The Art of Stakeholder Collaboration The Art of Leading Collectively, The Art of Process Facilitation
University / research The Art of Leading Collectively The Art of Transformative Change
Corporates / private sector advisors The Art of Stakeholder Collaboration The Art of Leading Collectively, The Art of Process Facilitation or The Art of Transformative Change
Public sector / Ministries The Art of Stakeholder Collaboration The Art of Leading Collectively, The Art of Transformative Change

*This information is based on the regular evaluation of our open courses. Of course, your individual training needs might differ (see graph below).

If you wish to participate three courses to become a certfied Collective Leadership Specialist, find more information under certification programme. If you wish shorter introduction workshops instead, find them in the short courses section.

You can find more information on each “The Art of …” training below. The following graph gives you additional help to choose the right foundation course to start with:

Locations

CLI’s open courses always take place at special locations – be it in places like Potsdam, Cape Town, or Siem Reap for in-person formats, or CLI’s Online Academy for online formats. Collective Leadership skills need open spaces to unfold, trust is easier built when all people in the room feel comfortable and safe. That is why CLI is paying attention to providing venues and online spaces that meet these quality criteria. On the world map below you can see where CLI has already implemented open courses. Afterwards, you get some impression on our three standard locations for open courses in Germany, South Africa, and Cambodia. And finally a glimpse in our CLI Online Academy that is especially made for online courses, but also accompanies in-person course participants with extra material.

Filter by Category
Potsdam
Potsdam, Germany

Potsdam is the capital city of the German province of Brandenburg. It is located 24 kilometers (15 miles) southwest of Berlin. Potsdam was the former residence of many kings and queens and thus offers impressive historic buildings, parks, and other famous tourist locations. Potsdam is a city that offers a great variety of activities, while also retaining the ambiance of a typical small German town.

CLI’s trainings take place in the city of Potsdam. Due to its convenient location, most of the sights in Potsdam are in walking distance, and Berlin is easily accessible by public transport. The venues offer many facilities for seminars in a special atmosphere and a historical surrounding. There are plenty hotel options in walking distance.

  • 2 km from Potsdam’s Central Station (5 min by tram)
  • 35 km from Berlin Central Station (40 min by local train)
  • 45 km from Berlin-Brandenburg Airport Willy Brandt (60 min by local train)
Cape Town
Cape Town, South Africa

Cape Town is one of South Africa’s three capital cities, serving as the seat of the Parliament of South Africa. It is the oldest city in the country, and the second largest (after the city Johannesburg). The city is known for its harbour, for its natural setting in the Cape Floristic Region, and for landmarks such as Table Mountain and Cape Point.

CLI’s trainings take place in calm and attractive parts of the city with plenty hotel options nearby. You are adviced to use the taxi for transport from the airport to the venue and hotels, as well as to the city’s tourist attractions. Our venues in Cape Town always offer a special seminar atmosphere that will stick with you even after the course.

Siem Reap
Siem Reap, Cambodia

Siem Reap is the second-largest city of Cambodia. It is home to the famous Angkor Wat temples and has French colonial and Chinese-style architecture in the Old French Quarter and around the Old Market. In the city, there are museums, a Cambodian cultural village, souvenir and handicraft shops, and much more. It is a popular tourist destination—has many hotels, resorts, and restaurants.

CLI’s trainings take place in such hotel resorts that are ideally situated between Siem Reap Airport, Angkor Wat, and major attractions in the city. You are adviced to use the taxi (or tuk tuk) for transport from the airport to the venue and hotels, as well as to the city’s tourist attractions. The venue of our partner Borei Angkor provides a high quality standard for seminars – both large and small groups.

CLI Online Academy
CLI Online Academy

CLI offers for all of its Potsdam trainings the opportunity to participate online  (intensive trainings) in a hybrid format (in combination with an in-person format). Other trainings are either in in-person formats (project teams courses), or purely online. The CLI Online Academy is a good companion in all cases: it is not only the platform where you register for a course and get your certificates. It also offers additional features like:

  • Pre-reading and course preparation material
  • Opportunities to interact and stay in touch with fellow course participants
  • Course documentation and repository for those who want to become certified Collective Leadership Specialists
Information on pandemic situations and cases of short-term cancellations

CLI is regularly evaluating the Covid-19 pandemic (and – if applicable – other pandemic situations), including in terms of holding in-person vs. digital workshops.  Therefore, CLI’s open course policy is as follows (latest updated on 10 January 2024):

  1. The course description specifies if an open course will take place in an in-person, online, or hybrid (in-person and online combined) format.
  2. In all cases where a planned in-person training needs to be replaced by an online workshop because of the pandemic situation, all participants who have already registered for an in-person training will be contacted by CLI. Changing in-person formats into online formats will always be based on the national and local rules in the country and the time where the course would have taken place. We do not want to put CLI staff, partners, and workshop participants at risk. Registrations generally remain valid unless CLI cancels the alternative online course or starts it at a different date than originally booked by the participant.
    1. Participants’ feedback from CLI’s online open courses conducted since May 2020 have proven a similar satisfaction rate with the course contents and facilitation like our in-person workshops (see satisfaction rates in the online intensive training section). While the content and individual reflection parts of the training are at the same level in CLI’s online trainings, the knowledge transfer even works better for most participants than in classroom trainings. Only group dynamic processes are less developed in the online formats, due to less socializing possibilities. However, all participants so far felt strongly connected to the training group and appreciated peer learning activities. So feel free to make best use of tried and tested high-quality stakeholder collaboration and collective leadership methodologies in new formats while the world keeps changing.
    2. If you cannot participate because the technology does not work out for you, of course you get your money back or a voucher for the next course. The best way to ensure a smooth online experience is to request a test session with us in advance or to participate the free information sessions for each online course. This also gives you the chance to talk in advance on your projects, challenges, skills, etc. that you would like to address with the CLI training.
  3. In all cases where a registered participant for a hybrid training who booked in-person participation cannot make it (such as e.g. strikes, being sick, not getting your visa on time, or reasons beyond CLI’s control), CLI reserves the right to change an in-person participation into an online participation. Registrations remain valid in any of those cases. We will come back to you individually in such situations and find the best possible solutions together.
  4. Registrations for CLI’s open courses are binding and the cancellation terms given in the course flyer that can be downloaded for each course apply.

You might have to organize more online lor hybrid stakeholder dialogues and meetings than before the pandemic. CLI is your trusted partner in offering you methodologies and know-how, as well as conceptualizing and supporting such sessions. Feel free to contact us at germany@collectiveleadership.com should you have any questions. Stay tuned, stay curious, stay well!

The CLI team.

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