A Review of UPenn’s Executive Program in Social Impact Strategy
This eight month long certificate program that I recently finished is offered by UPenn’s Center for Social Impact Strategy (CSIS) and is fully online other than a short in-person convening (that was moved online this year because of Covid-19). The application deadline for the next cohort is November 18th. You can find more information here: https://csis.upenn.edu/executive-program/sis/
The program is most relevant for social entrepreneurs or someone who is in a leadership role at a social impact organization. It could also be relevant for someone who wants to transition into the social sector. I learned a lot from the program and definitely recommend it. I hope my detailed review helps those who are trying to decide if this program is a good fit.
What’s great about the program
Excellent instruction: Most of the teaching happens through pre-recorded videos. There are videos and readings assigned for each week and there is a discussion post and assignment due at the end of the week. This format works very well and I thought the teaching videos were excellent. They were clear, concise and always included multiple examples and case studies.
Covers a wide variety of topics: Over eight months, the program covers a lot of topics ranging from strategy, business models, scaling and marketing to design thinking and storytelling.
Focus on practical application: Every assignment usually requires you to learn a new tool and apply it to the work you’re doing. You’re also given the option of applying it to a different organization that is pre-assigned. It’s been great to be able to use the tools I learned in my day to day work. For me, the tools I learned have been even more beneficial after finishing the program because I’ve had the chance to revisit them and work on them with my colleagues. And I’ve found that the more I use the tools, the more I learn about how to use them most effectively.
Excellent course readings: I’ve gone back to many of the course readings even after finishing the program and I’m still working on getting through the optional readings. I think I’m going to keep going back to these readings for years.
Reasonable course load: The program is designed for people who are balancing other work and personal commitments while studying. If you can spare two evenings a week or some time on the weekend, you can complete all the requirements.
Very responsive staff: The course staff is very dedicated and responsive. This year was special because of Covid, and the staff made many accommodations, were empathetic in all their communications and sent us regular emails with progress updates. When I fell behind, the encouragement from the staff kept me going.
Extra support to finish assignments: For those who need extra support or accountability, there were multiple weekly jamouts led by different teaching fellows, where students could discuss assignments and ask questions. Each student was also assigned to an online PAKS (Peer, Accountability, Knowledge and Support) group, based on area of interest.
Opportunities for Networking: Apart from the jamouts and PAKS groups, we got a chance to interact with each other during the virtual convening and a few other online events that took place throughout the year. There’s also a facebook group for current students and a different group for alumni.
Affordable: The CSIS program is the most affordable certificate program that I came across. There are other Ivy Leagues/prestigious universities that offer similar programs but they’re at least twice as expensive. Some of them even have a much shorter timeframe.
Pathway to a Masters: Those who finish the certificate program receive 40% credit for the Masters in Nonprofit Leadership at UPenn (if accepted through a separate application process). When I initially joined the program, I was hoping to get admitted to the masters program eventually. But halfway in, I realized that a masters degree focused on more quantitative and analytical skills would be a better fit for me. Finishing the certificate program helped me gain a lot of clarity about my goals and career path.
What could make the program even better
Better Feedback on assignments: Every assignment submitted by a student is evaluated by a teaching fellow who then posts feedback in the form of comments, suggestions or questions. A teaching fellow is someone who has previously completed the certificate program and is currently doing social impact work. For the most part, this system worked well and the feedback was helpful. But there were a couple of times when I felt like the person who evaluated my assignment had not gone through my work carefully or taken the time to understand my project. Maybe this could be remedied by introducing a component of peer evaluation.
Including a module on impact evaluation: Even though the importance of setting clear objectives and evaluating outcomes was touched upon multiple times, I think including a short module on monitoring and evaluation would have added a lot to the program. There are many social impact organizations that have existed for years without actually having much impact. And even for organizations that are making an impact, having a robust M&E system can improve efficiency and impact.
