“Many of us feel that we want to be part of a different story - we just don’t know how. u-lab is all about the ‘how.’


- Otto Scharmer

Why Join?

  • The program starts in September. It is designed as a 6-week program completely free to attend, with an optional possibility to apply for a (paid) MITx Online verified certificate.

  • The u-lab 1x program and all materials are available at no cost. The option exists to pursue a verified certificate from MITx Online for a fee of $99.

  • The program is an introduction to a method called Theory U, developed at MIT, for leading change in business, government, and civil society contexts worldwide. It is run by Senior Lecturers at MIT, Senior Faculty and expert Practitioners from the u-school for Transformation (by Presencing Institute) who are actively engaged in cross-sectorial societal transformation.

  • This program has attracted around 200,000 enrollments from around the world, with over 185 countries represented, since its launch in 2015. 

  • u-lab 1x is an interactive program with live sessions and activities in self-organized local or interest-based hubs where prototype seeding can take place to activate the transformation that needs to happen at a community level.

  • Although this is a program in English, the community has been kindly volunteering to translate the materials in more and more languages, helping to remove language barriers.

  • The program focuses fully on the specific challenges of our current moment and on how to apply Theory U to the absencing patterns in our cultures and societies for a transformation that benefits all.

  • The program is free, thanks to the contributions of our partners and supporters who also believe that it is possible to create and scale profound societal innovation.

  • The program is part of the Pathways of Certification offered by the u-school for Transformation.

About this Course

Change is happening really fast. Whether it’s climate and ecological concerns; shifts in our local and global economies; technologically and the impacts of AI; social and political polarization; or geopolitical turmoil - we live in times of accelerating uncertainty, disruption, and complexity. 

Something is ending, collapsing, and dying while something else is in the process of being born. What’s ending is a civilization that is based on extraction and disconnection. What’s being born is another civilization that is based on connection, collaboration - and regeneration. Getting from here to there requires us to go deep: to address root causes of society’s dysfunction and to shift the underlying systems.

  • How can we learn to lead in these times? 
  • What are the skills, capacities, and resources that will support us?
  • Where are the individuals, groups, and organizations that we can connect and collaborate with?

u-lab supports change-makers globally with the tools, methods, and spaces to bring about meaningful transformations in the communities, organizations, and systems they care deeply about.

This content is blocked as no cookie consent for 3rd party cookies has been given.

Through u-lab 1x, individuals and groups around the world are guided through a self-paced learn-by-doing experience where they apply the methods and tools of Theory U to issues that matter to them, building their capacity to lead transformative change in the process.

Timeline

  • September 12, 2024: The Orientation Module will be made available two weeks prior the first live session starts, so you can get acquainted with the course format and platform before we begin.   
  • September 26 - November 7, 2024: Facilitated u-lab course, including live broadcast sessions from MITx Online (6 weeks duration). All program materials will be made available.
    • Live Sessions: 
      • Thursday, September 26 | 10 am - 11.15 am ET: Live Session 1
      • Thursday, October 17 | 10 am - 11.15 am ET: Live Session 2
      • Thursday, November 7 | 10 am - 11.15 am ET: Live Session 3
    • Ask-Us-Anything Sessions (optional):
      • Tuesday, October 1 | 9 am - 10 am ET: Ask-Us-Anything 1
      • Tuesday, October 22 | 9 am - 10 am ET: Ask-Us-Anything 2
      • Tuesday, November 12 | 9 am - 10 am ET: Ask-Us-Anything 3
  • November 13, 2024 - May 30, 2025: the course will be available as a self-paced learning experience. The course will not be monitored on that period.

What You’ll Learn

  • Self-knowledge: The leadership capacity that matters most
  • Practices to cultivate deep listening, precise observation, and dialogue
  • Methods for creating innovations that generate wellbeing in society

Prerequisites

None.

Important Note

Your u-lab 1x journey is supported by two platforms. 

Here on the u-school for Transformation platform, you will connect with other participants, form a coaching circle if you don’t have one, engage in dialogue and access the tools and methods introduced in the course. Please register for u-lab 1x here.

On the MITx Online platform, you will find all of the course content and will be guided through each of the five modules that make up u-lab. If you are pursuing a verified certificate from MITx Online, this is also where you will track your work.

Once you have registered for u-school for Transformation, you will be redirected to register for u-lab 1x on MITx Online. Note: you will leave the u-school for Transformation website.

For any questions please write to: u-lab@presencing.org.