OLC Leadership Certificate Programs are intended to expand a digital learning leader’s perspective to a global level, offering the chance to work with colleagues from around the world to explore and understand both the opportunities and barriers to advancing local and global online learning.
Launched in Fall 2025, the Global Leadership Certificate Program is intended to broaden a digital learning leader’s perspective to a global perspective. Expert feedback, a global cohort of peers, and optional live sessions enhance this leadership training.
The program has three phases:
The Institute for Emerging Leadership in Online Learning (IELOL) is OLC’s premier leadership development program. Since 2009, IELOL has served the development needs of leaders in online, blended and digital learning that are responsible for a variety of digital learning initiatives in higher education.
The Global Leadership Certificate Program is intended to broaden a digital learning leader’s perspective to a global perspective. There is no single profile that is the best fit for the program. Many of our applicants may already have some supervisory experience and are looking to advance their career and/or digital learning within their institution. In some cases, senior-level leaders participate in order to better understand the context of digital learning and their desire to establish a network in the field. In many other cases, participants are identified and supported by senior leadership who recognize the need for successful leadership planning within their institutions. Job titles have included, but are not limited to, instructional designer, technology evangelist, associate provost, provost, dean, program manager, administrator, faculty developer, and faculty.
Full Program: Members $1,580 / Professional Members $1,730 / Non-members $1,940
Individual 4-week courses: Members $530 / Professional Members $580 / Non-members $630
Individual 1-week courses: Members $190 / Professional Members $220 / Non-members $290
Workshop Overview: As shared by the United Nations on their framework for action, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are “the world’s shared plan to end extreme poverty, reduce inequality, and protect the planet by 2030.” In this 4-week workshop, you’ll make connections between your educational institution’s goals and the SDGs as you inventory your digital ecosystem with a focus on the people, platforms, and processes involved in digital learning. Then, you’ll begin to draft a digital transformation plan that will serve as a starting point for a greater impact locally and globally through quality education.
Workshop Overview: This 4-week workshop will help participants focus the design of digital learning experiences on those who matter most: the learners. Participants will explore time-tested design thinking techniques to find solutions to the issues faculty and course designers may encounter when designing for a global or geographically diverse student population.
Elective Options: After taking the core courses, participants can choose one of three pathways of workshops designed for digital education leaders. Participants can choose the pathway that best suits their role, interests, and goals. Each pathway contains several 7-day workshops scheduled throughout the year. Participants can select any three workshops within their pathway.
In addition to satisfying this phase of the certificate program, participants who successfully complete the three workshops will also qualify to receive a digital badge for that pathway.
Lead the way in harnessing the power of AI to elevate your programs and shape the future of digital education. In this pathway, you’ll explore practical frameworks, techniques, and generative AI tools that help improve student outcomes, save time, and spark new solutions.
Choose 3 of these workshops:
In a rapidly advancing digital age, ensuring the quality of digital learning experiences is paramount. In this pathway, explore scorecards for evaluation, along with models and strategies for ensuring quality and compliance in online. courses and programs.
Choose 3 of these workshops:
Explore key online program management topics, resources, and tools in this workshop series. Plan and sustain online programs and craft policies and procedures that encourage quality, stability and growth.
Choose 3 of these workshops:
Capstone Project Overview: After taking the core courses and electives, participants will use the knowledge gained to create a project proposal for digital transformation or other initiative at their institution as they take aim on both institutional and global goals. To complete the certification, they will submit their proposal and a presentation explaining their ideas and approach and get feedback from others.
After successfully completing all the program requirements, participants will receive a digital badge and certificate.
Cohort-based Collaboration: Opportunities for peer and facilitator collaboration and feedback provide additional value and learning in this program. From an optional live session to kick-off the certificate program, to a synchronous session to practice the skills learned in the core courses, participants will have plenty of opportunities to network, interact, and learn from other leaders in the field as part of a global cohort.
The IELOL program is designed for those in positioned-for-leadership roles within an individual’s institution with occupational titles such as manager, associate director, assistant director, vice provost, etc., with leadership responsibilities related to online learning initiatives.
IELOL is a four-part leadership development, blended-learning program that runs from mid-July to November annually. The program is a cohort-based leadership development opportunity requiring a variety of individual, group, and team project work including a team-based case study. It is expected that participants fully participate in all aspects of the program in order to build community and maximize the potential of this program for all participants.
Please visit our IELOL page for additional program details, residency information, and upcoming important dates.