Design thinking framework to develop students’ creative ethical leadership approach

This project aimed to examine how applying a Skills Development Framework to Design Thinking makes it possible to enable students to develop ethical leadership skills. As a human-centric and non-linear process, Design Thinking can support the education system in focusing not simply in finding an innovative sustainable solution but in building an ethical attitude within the decision-making process. The case study involved English Level 5 BA International Fashion Marketing and Management students at Coventry University London for three years over 2020, 2021, and 2022, which in total included 130 students from Europe, Asia and Africa. As part of the module plan and assessment, they organised an online event around a specific Sustainable Development Goal. The learning outcomes focused on helping the students’ balance the growth of people and actions through the Design Thinking steps when creating, planning and delivering the event. In this way, while considering how an ethical leader should act, they became familiar with an academic ethical project development process that is also replicable in the working environment. A collection of theories, qualitative and quantitative primary research data had been collected to support the cohorts. This helped the students to structure, plan and implement a successful event, alongside the development of their academic and employability skills. The results confirmed that ethical leadership can be a tool accessible to everyone if structured as a step-by-step process. The clear and positive feedback from the students also confirmed the successful outcomes.