Solent brings first 'Strategic Doing' short course to the UK

Solent University is proud to have been selected to be the first higher education institution in the UK to host this exclusive short course for those responsible for delivering and leading complex collaborations.

Delivered by Strategic Doing and starting on 17 June, this two-and-a-half-day session has already inspired communities across America. From the creation of local innovation clusters, to rebuilding disenfranchised communities, organisations across the public, private and voluntary sector are taking action to make a difference, while working towards a common goal. Many organisations and senior leaders recognise the need to collaborate, but how do you formalise an approach that enables quick, agile activity whilst demonstrating measurable outcomes?

During this training, delegates will learn everything they need to know to begin thinking differently about collaboration, how to help groups have different – and more productive – kinds of conversations, and how to make sure that conversation turns into action. In keeping with this theory delegates will learn strategic-doing by doing it. A live simulation will run over the course of the training, and by the end delegates will leave being able to lead a group in tackling collaborative thinking.

Practitioners from a broad range of industries including universities, employer networks, innovation hubs, local government, healthcare, and economic development organisations attend these sessions. Commenting on the opportunity for organisations across the Solent, Pro-Vice Chancellor, Tere McGonagle-Daly said: "We are delighted to be hosting the first Strategic Doing short course here in the UK. The University works with a variety of stakeholders on different projects that are helping to drive the Solent region’s economic and social development. We are increasingly seeing examples and opportunities for collaboration, so it seems timely to bring this session to the region.”

Strategic Doing was established over 30 years ago and formed on the basis of people trying to strengthen their organisations, communities and local regions. Since then, it has gone on to deliver sessions across the States and Europe and has been delivered at institutions including Ohio State University and the University of North Alabama.

Scott Hutcheson will lead the course; he is a social scientist who has studied and practiced strategy and collaboration since 1992.