Initiative for Leadership and Sustainability

IFLAS is a global hub of inquiry, teaching, and dialogue on enabling the transition to more fair and sustainable societies.

The challenge of social, environmental and economic sustainability requires "sustainable leadership" - ways of relating that promote change that is mutually beneficial for the person, organisation, stakeholders and world at large. The scale of the sustainability challenge means it is best characterised as a "transition" from unsustainable ways of living and working.

Our Provision

With its postgraduate degrees, short courses, research programmes,inspiring events, world-class staff and associates, and global networks, IFLAS is supporting a new generation of sustainable leaders: well-balanced professionals for a better-balanced world.

We believe that learning serves multiple purposes and should be flexible and accessible – we offer a range of options from our free MOOC on Money and Society to our Postgraduate Certificate in Sustainable Leadership and our MA in Sustainable Leadership Development. There's something for everyone, from single modules without coursework for interest, to a full academic qualification that could lead to a new career.

Lynne Franks speaking and Jo Cofino

Our Vision

Our vision is to be a powerful enabler of professionals from around the world who lead transitions to fair and a sustainable societies.

This transition involves shifts towards ecological integrity, collective wellbeing, real democracy, human rights, support for diversity, economic fairness, community resilience, a culture of peace, compassion and inquiry, and the appreciation of beauty.

Image of lake district

Our Mission

Our mission is to deliver research, education, events and advice to social, cultural, political and business professionals from around the world to better lead transitions to fair and sustainable societies.

Teaching in Ullswater

Our aims

To provide accredited and non-accredited courses for national and international students, that draw upon our special attributes, to enable them to lead transitions to fair and sustainable societies.

To provide venues and support for dialogue, experimentation and research for national and international professionals, that draw upon our special attributes, to enable them to lead transition.

To influence professional and public discourse through research-based communications on the need, nature and mechanisms for transition.

man in CBIC

Our History

Part of the University of Cumbria Business School, our campus in the British Lake District was founded in 1892 as a place of experiential learning. IFLAS continues this tradition of approaching inquiry and education as adventure. The local landscape provides a venue, and the heritage a compass, for personal and collective transitions.

Entrance to CBIC

We have previously had the pleasure of welcoming Howard Johns to our Ambleside campus to provide an open lecture to our students. Howard has recently given a Tedx talk on the community energy revolution - you can watch this below.

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