Overview

The Leadership Learning Collective is an innovative opportunity for senior leaders in international schools across Asia to extend their self-awareness, connections, agency, confidence and competence. Our first cohort is underway with 36 senior leaders from 10 countries around Asia.  Expressions of interest are open now for our next cohort starting in August 2026. 

Leadership themes

The Leadership Learning Collective will focus on the following three themes;

1. Leadership identities – who we are is how we lead – reflections on personal and professional identities 
2. Building collaborative cultures – collective efficacy, collaboration for collective impact
3. Designing for impact – navigating complexity – getting stuff done – systems transformation in educational contexts

Audience

• Leadership Learning Collective is designed for senior leaders from across international schools in Asia (ie Heads of School, Principals, DPs, APs, VPs and other Directors of Learning etc.)
• Applications are invited from two leaders per school. The rationale for this is so that the pairs can collaborate on projects together and this also makes the transfer of learning back to schools easier.
• Each programme cohort will include approximately 40 leaders with two facilitators.

Partnership

The Leadership Learning Collective is a partnership between Leadership Lab Global and EARCOS (East Asian Regional Council of Overseas Schools).

Roadmap

The format is a two day face-to-face retreat followed by online sessions and then a final two day face-to-face retreat. 

• Components: 
  • Retreats (2 x 2 days) – The residential retreat experiences will involve two full days and staying together in Best Western Plus Wanda Grand Hotel near ISB Bangkok. The residential aspect will create an opportunity for authentic and deeper connection than one might experience on a more ‘typical’ leadership course
  • Crafted Speaker Series (6 x 1 hour) – interactive online sessions based on a range of relevant topics relevant to the leaders and the three leadership themes. Each will feature an guest speaker and include a presentation from the guest followed by break out discussions. Each will be recorded and offered on an open access ‘leadership buffet’. Leaders commit to attending at least 4 of these.
  • Peer coaching Trios (6 x 1 hour) – Leaders will be grouped with two other colleagues to connect, support and challenge each other throughout the leadership journey.  (self-facilitated online).

Facilitators

Ellie Alchin and Chris Jansen have designed and facilitated the United World College Singapore Leadership Programme over the last decade.  They both have extensive experience in holding leadership roles themselves, as well as training leaders over many years. In her current role as Director of Teaching and Learning at UWC Singapore Ellie has lead numerous campus-wide transformation projects.  Chris is the co-director of Leadership Lab Global and Leadership Lab New Zealand and has implemented the Singapore International Schools Leadership Programmes with over 500 leaders over 10 years, and the EARCOS Leadership Mentoring and Counsellors Mentoring programmes over the last five years. 

Venue

The two retreats will be hosted by the EARCOS Head Office at ISB International School Bangkok.  ISB have a beautiful site and surrounding area that is less than an hour by taxi from Suvarnabhumi International Airport – Bangkok, Thailand. This Bangkok location is also easily accessible from most regions of East Asia. 

All programme participants will stay at Best Western Plus Wanda Grand Hotel Hotel near ISB Bangkok for each retreat.

Dates

The journey starts in September and finishes in May the following year.

• Welcome experience (September 8th 2025) 
• Retreat#1 (Friday October 31st – Saturday November 1st 2025)
• Crafted Speaker series #1-6 – interactive online sessions x 1 hour each (November 2025 to April 2026)
• Peer coaching trios #1-6 (November 2025 to April 2026)
• Retreat#2 (Friday May 15th – Saturday 16th 2026)

Note: Retreat#1 starts at 9.00am on Friday October 31st and concludes at 4pm on Saturday November 1st. Likewise Retreat#2 starts at 9.00am on Friday May 15th and concludes on Saturday May 16th.

We ask participants to ensure that their transport arrangements enable them to attend for the full duration of the retreats. You may wish to plan to arrive in Bangkok on Thursday and leave on Sunday at each retreat to avoid having to leave the retreat early due a flight etc. There will be an opportunity to gather socially on Saturday evening – Ellie and Chris will be staying on in Bangkok till Sunday morning

Cost

The registration fee for the Leadership Learning Collective is US$1900/person (ie: US$3800/pair from each school). This cost includes facilitation, catering and venue.

We ask each participant to arrange their own flights, taxi transfers and hotel accommodation (we are all staying together at Best Western Plus Wanda Grand Hotel near ISB Bangkok https://www.bwpluswandagrand.com/). We will provide you access to the group booking rate that we have negotiated.

Application and registration process

The 36 places in Cohort#1 are now full. 

Please express your interest now for the 2026 cohort of the EARCOS Leadership Learning Collective by filling  out this Application form

Any queries please email Ellie on eal@gapps.uwcsea.edu.sg or Chris on chris@leadershiplab.co.nz