For anyone who wants to improve their leadership abilities or become more effective team members, the Leadership and Followership Course 2026 by The Open University is an excellent place to begin.
This free online course explores what makes an effective leader and why strong followers are equally important for successful teams. Participants will reflect on personal experiences, learn about different leadership styles, and understand how leaders and followers collaborate to overcome challenges and build productive teams.
The course is beginner-friendly and runs for eight weeks, requiring around three hours of study per week. Learners will analyze both effective and ineffective leadership examples, understand common leadership challenges, and discover practical ways to address them.
By the end of the course, participants will also develop a personal leadership growth plan to help strengthen their leadership skills. The flexible and self-paced format allows learners to study anytime while building confidence and valuable knowledge for future leadership roles.
Program Summary
- Course By: The Open University
- Category: Free Online Courses | Leadership Courses
- Course Level: Introductory (Level 1)
- Mode: Online | Self-paced
- Course Duration: 8 Weeks
- Study Time: Approximately 3 Hours per Week
- Eligible Countries: All Countries
- Reward: Free Certificate | Digital Badge | 24 CPD Points
- Application Fee: None
- Deadline: No Deadline (Self-paced)
Program Details
The Leadership and Followership Course offered by The Open University provides an accessible introduction to leadership concepts and the important role followers play in successful teams.
Throughout the course, learners will examine different leadership approaches and explore how leadership and followership work together to achieve common goals. Participants will study real-world leadership scenarios, identify typical leadership challenges, and learn strategies to handle them effectively.
The program emphasizes self-reflection and personal development, encouraging participants to analyze their own leadership strengths and areas for improvement. By the end of the course, learners will create a personal action plan to continue developing their leadership skills in academic, professional, or community settings.
What You Will Learn
By completing this course, participants will be able to:
- Understand different leadership styles and how they relate to personality and situations
- Identify key leadership skills and assess their own strengths and weaknesses
- Define followership from both the leader’s and follower’s perspectives
- Recognize how effective leadership helps overcome challenges in teams
- Reflect on personal experiences and develop a plan to strengthen leadership abilities
Eligibility Criteria
To enroll in this course, applicants must:
- Be open to learners from all countries
- Pay no application or enrollment fee
- Be at least 13 years old to create an account and track course progress
- Learners aged 13–15 may experience issues creating an account on Safari
- It is recommended to use Chrome or Firefox browsers instead
Program Benefits
Participants will receive:
- Free digital badge from The Open University
- Statement of participation (certificate) after completing the course
- 24 CPD (Continuing Professional Development) points
- Flexible online learning schedule
- Practical leadership knowledge and personal development skills
How to Enroll
To enroll in the Leadership and Followership Course, interested applicants should follow these steps:
- Visit the official Open University course webpage
- Click on “Sign in” at the top right corner
- If you are new to OpenLearn, create a free account (must be 13 years or older)
- After logging in, click the “Start this free course” button
- Complete the weekly learning materials and quizzes at your own pace
- Receive your free digital badge and statement of participation after finishing the course
To begin the course enrollment, Click HERE
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