You can complete one short course as a standalone credential or stack multiple to build towards a full postgraduate degree at Deakin. Want to know more?
Course overview
This short course covers contemporary governance principles, how to effectively and efficiently support information flow and decision-making, differentiators of great non-executive directors and high-performing boards, and how boards can add real value.
After completion of the masterclass, you'll be able to apply these job skills immediately in your workplace.
- Influence high-level decision making by applying governance frameworks that support clarity, accountability and strategic alignment.
- Evaluate organisational effectiveness through the lens of board performance, structure and information flow.
- Navigate complex stakeholder dynamics with greater confidence using tools to strengthen communication, oversight and leadership presence.
Entry requirements
To be successful we recommend you are proficient in English and have a minimum of an undergraduate degree in a related field or significant work experience.
Industry organisation and expert
This industry-led stackable short course is co-designed with Out of the Box Executive. Together, we’ve designed a course where you’ll gain skills that you can apply immediately in your workplace. Out of the Box Executive is a consultancy business that helps boards, businesses and executives to perform at their optimum, and deliver outcomes beyond their purpose and value proposition.
Jo Plummer is Director at Out of the Box Executive, a Deakin MBA Alumni and Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) Fellow. Jo's portfolio includes numerous board chair and committee roles, professional director mentoring, ambassador for Business in Heels International, plus educating, presenting and MC'ing.
Earn a digital credential
We’ve teamed up with Credly to award you a digital credential when you complete this industry-recognised stackable short course, plus you can bank the credit towards a Deakin postgraduate degree. You can also share your digital credential on social and professional platforms.
Course structure
How you'll learn
Learn directly with industry experts in small groups during online live sessions delivered over six weeks. Build your expertise and elevate your industry knowledge with support from your educator, fellow learners and our team. We’re there for you before and after the online live sessions and assessment tasks. You are required to attend all masterclasses.
What you'll learn
During the short course you’ll:
- critically evaluate and apply contemporary governance principles by assessing their impact on board performance and organisational effectiveness
- analyse current governance practices and develop evidence-based recommendations to enhance future board outcomes
- utilise governance tools and frameworks to improve board operations and enable informed, strategic decision-making
- apply a working understanding of boardroom dynamics and director responsibilities to strengthen collaboration and address governance challenges.
How you're assessed
Pre-class assessment
You are required to submit a 1000-word pre-class investigation of a recent high-profile governance or board issue. This document is due seven days prior to the first class. You'll present this during the online masterclass and take part in a group-based simulation activity.
Post-class assessment
Following the last online masterclass, you'll be required to submit a 1000-word self-reflection, outlining how you would apply the learnings, tools and practises to your own workplace or career journey. This is due seven days following the last class.
Reshaping university education
An innovative learning structure delivered by a leading university. With more than 40 years’ experience in distance and online education, we’re proud to be adding this unique study format to our courses, providing you with more choice to further your career and fulfil your lifelong learning needs.
An insightful and practical short course that gives you a good understanding of the board director role and of board governance. It was delivered in a fun, collaborative and informative way by Jo Plummer.
Being Board Savvy short course
Register your interest
Our stackable short courses are constantly evolving to keep up with the fast-changing world of work. Don’t see a date yet? Register your interest and be the first to know when dates become available and new courses open.
Did you know you can apply credit to a postgraduate degree?
Unsure what degree you want to study? Study two short courses that interest you and apply both as credit towards a wide range of postgraduate degrees at Deakin – from business administration to nursing, sustainability to communication and more.*
*Subject to successful completion of the short course and meeting Deakin’s award course admission and selection requirements, including English language proficiency requirements.
Limits on elective space in a destination degree are outlined in specific degrees’ course rules within the Deakin University Handbook. Typically, a maximum of four stackable short courses can be used as credit (2 credit points) towards a masters; and two stackable short courses can be used as credit (1 credit point) towards graduate certificates and diplomas.
Contact us
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