Yes. This course assumes that you already understand the basic principles and terminology of Policy Governance.

If you are new to the model, I recommend starting with the Policy Governance Foundations Course first.

The Advanced Course builds on that foundation and focuses more strongly on application, judgment, strategic thinking, policy development, and organizational accountability.

The course is designed for any board member who already has a good basic understanding of Policy Governance and wants to deepen their practice.

Board Chairs/ CGOs will find several topics particularly valuable, but the course is intended to strengthen the contribution of the entire governing team.

 The Foundations Course is designed to give you a solid understanding of the Policy Governance model and how its core principles work together.

The Advanced Course takes the next step. It explores areas where experienced boards often need greater skill and judgment, including ownership linkage, board dynamics, strategic thinking, policy leadership, and monitoring organizational performance.

In simple terms: Foundations helps you understand the model. The Advanced Course helps you become more skilled at applying it.

The course requires approximately 6 hours to complete, including the video lessons, Spotlight videos, reflection questions, and module review questions.

Some modules are shorter than others, with most taking between 45 and 60 minutes. Module 3 is slightly longer at just over an hour.

The course is released gradually, with a new module becoming available every two weeks. This gives you time to work through the material at a comfortable pace and reflect on how it applies to your own board rather than rushing through the course.

If you choose to spend additional time using the workbook, exploring the tools, or discussing the material with your board, you may want to allow a little more time.

If you believe this course would benefit your team and you would like to enrol your whole team in one go, I’d be happy to assist. 

To streamline this process, I have set up a form where you can enter the names and email addresses of those to be enrolled. You can find the form here:

🔗Enroll your team

If you have any questions or need further assistance, please feel free to reach out. I’m happy to help!

Welcome to the club! English isn’t my first language either. The core materials, especially the books by John Carver, can be a bit academic and dense at times, but don’t worry—this course has been designed with accessibility in mind. It’s broken down into clear, bite-sized modules, and the language is straightforward, making it easy for everyone to follow. If anything feels unclear, I’m here to help guide you through it!

Don’t worry! If you get stuck or have questions, I’m here to help. You can reach out to me at any time via email, and I’ll be happy to assist you. The course is designed to be clear and straightforward, but I’m always available to provide support when you need it.

VDS Consulting, led by Jurrian van der Straaten, specializes in empowering boards and leadership teams to thrive through tailored Policy Governance training, coaching, and consulting. To learn more about Jurrian’s background, approach, and how VDS Consulting can support your organization, please visit the About and Home pages.