Objectives: This course intends to develop skills and competences linked to the person of the manager. It focuses on two fundamental ideas: vocation and Ignatian spirituality.

a) Any manager needs to identify and update their vocation/purpose at the service of the organization where they work and, in a broader sense, at the service of a better society.

b) The Ignatian Spirituality provides different practices (examen, personal discernment, discernment in common, contemplation, “finding God in all things”, Ignatian pedagogy) that can help the students update their vocation under the perspective of a management-linked mission, while being trained to become managers/leaders.

 Contents: During the first semester the course addresses the students’ situation and their specific experiences (a new degree program at a different university, in a different country with a different culture and language) and the question of how to cope with this situation spiritually, emotionally, and mentally. This will be explored in an interactive way through specific topics such as spiritual life in times of changes, inculturation, obedience, stress and stress management, emotion regulation and as self-care. During the second semester the course addresses the students’ situation and their specific experiences following the first semester by building on the knowledge and skills acquired during that time, with a particular emphasis on resilience. In addition, these sessions enable students to integrate the content they have learned in the areas of leadership and management into their lives, their vocation, and their mission. Special attention is given to the development of their professional identity.

 Learning Outcomes: By the end of this course, students will be able to understand/explain their vocation under the perspective of a management-linked mission. They will be able to apply different Ignatian spirituality practices to their daily (spiritual) lives. In addition, students will be able to understand various psychological approaches related to stress management, emotion regulation, self-care, and resilience and to use the strategies and techniques taught and practiced in the course to their daily lives. Ultimately, they will be able to describe the steps needed to integrate their management-linked mission into their vocation as well as into their professional identity.

 Methodology: The general method of this course is based on:

a) The three stages of Ignatian Pedagogy: experience-reflection-action

b) Different Ignatian spirituality practices linked to psychological approaches compatible with the Christian faith.

This course is designed to include, for each one of the two semesters:

1) Initial sessions where theoretical frameworks (based on insights from psychology and spirituality) and tools are proposed; followed by invitations to spiritual practices.

2) Mentoring activities (both individual and group-based), where spiritual practices are presented and monitored.

3) Final workshop for a general assessment and for personal planning of future actions.

  Means of Evaluation

1) Presence and participation- 40%

2) Exercise after the Initial Session – 20%

3) Exercise after the Workshop – 20%

4) Final Report- main learnings of the Semester – 20%