Data and Digital Transformation

Intro
Leadership Essentials for Digital Transformation is a four-day leadership programme designed to build the skills, confidence, and strategic mindset needed to lead successful digital change. It focuses on leadership, organisational transformation, and culture change, helping participants turn digital ambition into practical action.

Who’s it for?
Mid-senior leaders, heads of service, change agents, and managers in decision-making roles across public, private, and third sector organisations.

What will you learn?
The course will develop your understanding of why digital transformation matters and how to lead it effectively. You will learn how to create a clear digital vision, engage stakeholders, build an innovative and inclusive culture, and deliver sustainable change through agile leadership, governance, and accountability.

Why choose this course?

• Designed for leaders who need practical skills to drive digital transformation, not technical expertise
• Combines leadership tools, workshops, peer learning, and real-world case studies
• Builds confidence to lead teams through technological and cultural change
• Supports organisations to strengthen digital capability and readiness

Price
Price - £300pp
This is being offered as a fully funded course for public and third sector organisations in Wales until March 2027

Upcoming course dates
4-day course
Starting 22 April (virtual), 29 April (virtual), 6 May (virtual) and 20 May (Hydra Suite, USW Newport Campus).

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Intro
Designing Change: Human-Centred Innovation for Wales is a four-day, practice-based programme that equips leaders and managers with design thinking and UX skills to improve services, policies, and processes. Participants work through the full innovation cycle, including understanding user needs, defining problems, generating ideas, prototyping, and testing solutions, all whilst using real organisational challenges. The course builds confidence to lead change, foster collaboration, and embed more user-focused, innovative ways of working across organisations.

Who’s it for?
Leaders, managers, and decision-makers in both public and private sector organisations who are seeking to innovate processes and improve access to products and services.

What will you learn?
On this course, you will learn how to apply human-centred design thinking and UX principles to real organisational challenges, from understanding user needs through to testing and refining solutions. You will develop practical skills in user research, problem definition, ideation, prototyping, and iterative improvement, using tools such as empathy mapping, journey mapping, and “How Might We” statements. You will also build confidence to lead collaborative, evidence-based innovation and embed more user-focused approaches to change within your organisation.

Why choose this course?

• Build practical capability in leading user-centred innovation to tackle complex organisational challenges
• Gain confidence using proven design thinking and UX methods to improve services, policies, and processes
• Apply structured, creative approaches that strengthen collaboration and drive a culture of continuous improvement
• Work on real-world challenges to ensure learning is directly relevant and immediately usable in your organisation

Price
Price - £300pp
This is being offered as a fully funded course for public and third sector organisations in Wales until March 2027

Upcoming course dates
4-day course (2 days virtual delivery, 2 days in Newport)
17th June (face-to-face), 24th June (virtual), 1st July (virtual) and 8th July 2026 (face-to-face).

Book your place

Intro
Digital Horizons: Threads, Twins, Technology, and Transformation is a four-day leadership programme that builds digital understanding, confidence, and capability in a rapidly evolving technological landscape. It equips leaders to navigate emerging technologies, lead transformation effectively, and turn digital opportunities into real organisational value.

Who’s it for?
Leaders, managers and decision makers in both public and private sector organisations who are seeking to innovate processes and improve access to products and services.

What will you learn?
The course will aim to develop your understanding of the digital ecosystem, including data, AI, and emerging technologies, and how to apply these tools to improve decision-making and organisational performance. You will build your confidence in leading digital transformation, using platforms like Microsoft Copilot and Power Platform, while addressing key issues such as data ethics, culture, and cybersecurity.

Why choose this course?

• Designed specifically for leaders who need to understand digital change at a strategic and organisational level rather than a technical one
• Combines real-world case studies, expert input, and a live cybersecurity simulation to bring learning to life
• Helps organisations reduce risk and improve decision-making in fast-changing digital environments
• Supports professional development by strengthening leadership confidence in navigating complex digital and AI-driven change

Price
Price - £300pp
This is being offered as a fully funded course for public and third sector organisations in Wales until March 2027

Upcoming course dates
4-day course (3 days virtual delivery, 1 day in Newport Hydra Suite)
2nd, 9th, 16th (virtual) and 23rd September 2026 (face-to-face).

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Intro
Digital Storytelling is a practical five-day course designed to build the confidence and skills needed to help people share their stories and experiences through digital media. It combines storytelling techniques with hands-on audio and video editing skills, enabling participants to create meaningful and engaging digital stories from start to finish.

Who’s it for?
Anyone with an interest in storytelling for change, communication, engagement, or research across public, private, and third sector organisations.

What will you learn?
The course will develop your understanding of how stories create impact and how to use digital storytelling effectively. You will learn how to structure compelling stories, capture stories through one-to-one conversations, record and edit audio, combine images with sound, and understand key areas such as consent, ethics, and governance.

Why choose this course?

• Practical, hands-on learning with the opportunity to create your own digital story
• Develops both technical skills and interpersonal storytelling techniques
• Covers ethical considerations, consent, and good practice when working with stories
• Ideal for professionals using storytelling for engagement, research, or organisational change

Price
£395pp

Upcoming course dates
5-day course
Starting 10 June, 11 June, 16 June, 17 June and 24 June 2026
Starting 6 October, 7 October, 13 October, 14 October and 20 October 2026

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Unlock the power of data to drive smarter decisions with our 1-day Data Leadership course, tailored specifically for leaders and managers. This hands-on workshop equips you with the strategic insight and practical tools needed to harness data effectively, improve service delivery, and foster a culture of data-informed decision-making.

Course Overview

This 1 day course aims to provide participants with a foundational understanding of data leadership, focusing on data-driven decision-making, data management, and fostering a data-centric culture within organisations.

Course Topics

Data-Driven Decision Making

• Definition and benefits

• Case studies and examples

• Interactive activity: Analyzing data to make a decision

Data Management

• Data quality, governance, and security

• Tools and best practices

• Challenges in data management

Creating a Data-Driven Culture

• Building a data-literate team

• Encouraging data usage in daily operations

• Promoting data-driven initiatives

Enabling Foresight with Data

• Using analytics for strategic planning

• Responding to industry trends

• Developing a data-driven strategy for a hypothetical company

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Understand the importance of data leadership in modern organisations.

• Implement data-driven decision-making processes.

• Manage data quality, governance, and security.

• Foster a data-driven culture within their teams.

• Utilise data to set strategic goals and respond to industry trends.

Who Should Attend?

This course is ideal for managers, team leaders, and professionals seeking to enhance their strategic decision-making through data, improve data governance, and foster a data-driven culture within their organisations.

Course Date and Times

No upcoming course dates. Please register your interest if you would like to book a place on this course.

Course Tutor

Dr Rebecca Peters is Head of Subject for Computer Science and Mathematics at USW, leading academic innovation across both disciplines. Her research focuses on data science and predictive analytics, with strong industry collaboration across South Wales.

At the heart of any transformation lies the need to change. This one-day programme puts a focus on your organisation’s culture and how it plays a vital part in whether change succeeds or fails. Through practical exercises and thoughtful discussion, you will be asked to challenge your critical thinking around change, resilience and culture.

Course Topics

The Nature of Organisational Evolution

• How organisations adapt (or fail to adapt) to survive

• Case studies of organisations that resisted change

Leadership & Cultural Shifts Over Time

• From command-and-control to inclusive leadership

  • The impact of global events (e.g., COVID-19) on workplace culture

Cultural Mapping Workshop

• Identifying key cultural milestones in your organisation

• Exploring the effects of leadership changes, tech adoption, and restructuring

Building a Culture of Resilience

• Core pillars: Communication, Emotional Intelligence, Positive Mindset, Psychological Safety

• Interactive exercises to explore each pillar

From Thinking to Becoming

• Personal and organisational commitments to cultural evolution

• Action planning for embedding resilience into daily practice

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Critically evaluate how organisational culture influences the success or failure of change initiatives.

• Identify and analyse historical and current cultural shifts within their own organisation.

• Map cultural milestones and understand their impact on organisational dynamics.

• Apply practical tools to foster resilience through communication, emotional intelligence, and psychological safety.

• Develop a personal and team action plan to support a resilient, change-ready culture.

Who Should Attend?

This course is ideal for leaders and managers, team leaders, HR professionals, and change agents looking to strengthen organisational culture, lead through change, and build resilient, high-performing teams.

Course Date and Times

No upcoming course dates. Please register your interest if you would like to book a place on this course.

Cost

£195

Course Tutor

Pam Heneberry is a facilitator and leadership development expert. Pam has extensive experience in coaching, mentoring, and facilitating change within organisations. She is also a co-author of the book Critical Leadership: How We Learn to Be Better Leaders, which presents practical frameworks and reflective tools for developing leadership skills.

This one-day course provides an introduction to digital transformation, equipping participants with the knowledge and tools to lead change, design user-centric solutions, and navigate emerging technologies. Through real-world case studies and hands-on activities, attendees will explore how digital transformation is reshaping organisations—and how they can play a pivotal role in driving innovation and impact within their own contexts.

Course Topics

Leadership & Change in the Digital Era

• Defining digital transformation

• Leadership’s role in change

• Change management models (Kotter’s 8-Step, ADKAR)

• What does digital leadership mean to you?

User Experience (UX) & Design Thinking

• Principles of UX and human-centred design

• Introduction to Design Thinking

• Empathy, persona creation, and ideation challenges

Digital Tools & Emerging Technologies

• Key digital tools: collaboration, analytics, automation

• Emerging tech

• Tech radar mapping and group discussions

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Understand the core principles of digital transformation and its impact on organisations.

• Apply leadership and change management strategies to drive digital initiatives.

• Use design thinking to solve user-centric challenges.

• Evaluate and adopt emerging technologies relevant to their context.

Who Should Attend?

This course is ideal for:

• Mid-to-senior level professionals leading or supporting digital change

• Managers and team leads seeking to enhance user experience and innovation

• Anyone interested in understanding and applying emerging technologies in their role

Course Date and Times

No upcoming course dates. Please register your interest if you would like to book a place on this course.

Cost

£195

Course Tutor

Simon Read, Dr Ben Gwalchmai, and David Watkins lecture on the MSc Leading Digital Transformation at the University of South Wales, bringing together expertise in immersive learning, emerging technologies, and inclusive digital strategy. As facilitators, they support professionals in navigating complex change through practical tools, creative thinking, and sector-focused insight.

Course Overview

This one day course introduces managers and leaders to the fundamentals of artificial intelligence, challenging common myths, demystifying its core concepts, and exploring how it’s already reshaping leadership, service delivery, and citizen engagement. With real-world case studies and a hands-on look at AI tools such as large language models (LLMs), participants will reflect on how to adapt their thinking, decision-making, and leadership styles to thrive in an increasingly AI-driven world. We’ll also touch on ethical AI use, ensuring leaders are equipped to promote transparency and accountability.

Learning Outcomes

• Understand core AI concepts and terminology relevant to leadership.

• Explore real-world applications of AI across industries.

• Assess the strategic opportunities and risks associated with AI adoption.

• Learn how to lead AI-driven change and build AI-ready teams.

• Navigate ethical considerations and responsible AI use.

• Develop a roadmap for integrating AI into business strategy.

Course Topics

  Demystifying AI 

• What is AI (and What Isn't)?

• Breaking Down Myths. 

• How AI Works (High Level). 

The Link Between AI and Data 

• Data is the Fuel. 

• Data Collection. 

• Data Preparation ("Cleaning Data"). 

AI in Action – Use Cases with Ethical Implications 

• Bias: Discriminatory models (e.g., facial recognition, hiring tools) 

• Explainability (XAI): The black box dilemma 

• Accountability: Who is liable when AI goes wrong? 

• Governance: Global frameworks (e.g., EU AI Act, UNESCO recommendations) 

• Case studies

• Potential ethical/policy concerns (bias, accountability, privacy) 

Who Should Attend?

Leaders, managers, and decision-makers across departments who want to build foundational AI literacy and lead with confidence in an AI-enabled future.

Course Date and Times

No upcoming course dates. Please register your interest if you would like to book a place on this course.

Course Tutor

Dr Mabrouka Abuhmida is a senior lecturer and research group leader at the University of South Wales, specialising in AI, machine learning, cybersecurity, and medical applications of deep learning. She leads the MSc and BSc AI courses, actively promotes STEM education as a mentor and ambassador, and has received multiple awards for her leadership in computer science.