u-school Programs

The u-school for Transformation offers action-oriented learning experiences structured as both live and self-paced programs. Our curriculum blends systems thinking, action learning, social arts, awareness-based practices and multi-sector learning and collaboration.

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The theory and practice of Theory U and how to apply it to shifting your system.
Innovative techniques, combining multiple sources of intelligence (head, heart, hand) to identify the deeper dynamics and leverage points for systems change.
Awareness practices that allow individuals and groups to sense the emerging future and to gain clarity and confidence for action.
Social arts methods and tools that offer new insights and shift the social fields within groups and institutions.
Practices for turning ideas into action through prototyping, experimentation and learning by doing.
Leadership skills that support you in navigating complexity, activating the commitment and capacity for action in teams, and shifting entrenched institutions toward their highest potential future.
Build your own learning pathway for a certification of your choice.
our-offer

Choose the programs that most support you and your work


Theory U and Presencing


Social Arts | Social Presencing Theater


Social Arts | Visual Presencing


Deep dive on Tools and Practices

  • Levels of Listening: to understand which levels of listening there are and how we can practice the different listening skills.
  • How to apply 3D System Sculpting: for creating three-dimensional models that map a current situation or system and identify leverage points for change.
  • How to apply Sensing Journeys: taking people out of their daily routine or context in order to experience their organization, challenge, or system through the lenses of different stakeholders. 
  • How to apply 4D System Mapping: a tool that offers deep and transformational insights about the system by making more visible its current reality and emergent potential.

Transforming Finance as a Force for Good


Workshops with Key Partners

  • Executive Champions Workshop | ECW: ECW brings together diverse leaders from around the world who share a vision of helping people connect more deeply to place and one another as a basis for regenerating the institutions that shape our society.

Image credit for cards: SPT, Awareness Practices and Space Holding | Pablo Sanhueza @p.sanhueza.gutierrez

 

Certifications


A guided developmental program made up of a series of offerings to build a solid foundation in awareness-based systems change while earning a practitioner credential.

We currently offer Practitioner Certification in Awareness-Based Systems Change, Social Presencing Theater and Visual Presencing. An advanced Certification will also be available soon.
 
Find out more

u-lab

u-lab is an annual cycle offered for free and can be done with partners (such as MITx), with the purpose of scaling the methods and tools of awareness-based systems change.

Today’s global challenges require new structures, and new mindsets, new sources of awareness and creativity across social systems. The u-lab programs co-convene leaders in business, government, and civil society and support place-based hubs where change makers come together to prototype solutions to societal challenges.

u-lab

u-lab cycle

u-lab-1x

u-lab 1x | Learn to Lead from the Emerging Future


This MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) run in partnership with MITx is a 6-week program on the foundations of Theory U, a transformative process for transformative change that blends systems thinking, consciousness and wisdom traditions, and civic action. It is a
“learning by doing" program where you get familiar with Theory U tools, methods, and frameworks and start cultivating your ability to apply them to your life and work. 

This is an online self-paced course complemented with synchronous live sessions bringing together thousands of change makers from around the world. 

u-lab 1x runs every year starting September. In partnership with MITx.

Register 

 
u-lab-2x

u-lab 2x | From Prototype to Eco-System Impact

u-lab 2x is designed to help teams apply their learning from u-lab 1x, PFP or ELFP,  to change initiatives in their communities and organizations. Participating teams join a three-month, online and offline innovation journey that applies awareness-based tools and methods to and rapid cycle prototyping to help to evolve from prototype to eco-system impact.

This is an online self-paced course combined with live sessions for teams. Participation is by application only.

Usually, u-lab 2x runs every year from February to May. In 2025, due to lack of funding, the u-school won't be able to offer this program. If you have any questions or would like to support this work, please write to support@presencing.org

More Programs


Collaborate with a global community in our live online programs or interact with like-minded people physically in-person, on a location nearby you. Learn and apply systems transformation methods and tools for self, teams, organizational and societal transformation.

Explore below.

Introduction to Theory U and Presencing

introTU
Introduction to Theory U | Leading Change in Times of Disruption

This is a free 90-minute course to introduce you to Theory U, a framework and method for leading and supporting systems change based on the work of Otto Scharmer and colleagues at MIT. u-lab 0x is an entry point to a longer journey and emerging global network – both of which you will have the opportunity to join after completing this course.

This is a self-paced course.

Read More

pfp

Theory U Presencing Foundation Program | PFP


The "
Theory U: Leading Deep Transformation for Business, Society and Self" is a foundational hands-on, 4-day experiential intensive program, offered in retreat style, with a group of 60-80 other participants. In the Presencing Foundation Program, you will be facilitated through a U-process, learning and/or deepening your understanding of the foundational frameworks, participating in the core methods and tools, and gaining action confidence to actualize the emerging future you want to be a part of. The program is designed to enable you to build connections with others, contribute to the cultivation of a generative social field and experience the U-process in depth with their cohort. 

The PFP is offered in-person, in English once each year in Europe or the USA.

Read about last edition. A new one will open soon.

elp

Ecosystem Leadership Programs (ELP)

Ecosystem Leadership Program | Module 1: Personal Foundations 


Ecosystem Leadership Program Module 1 | Personal Foundations
is a 4-day intensive in person and in Nature program, with multi sector leaders and change agents from the same region, to cultivate the kind of leadership needed to face the challenges of our time, activating the deepest sources of knowledge and inspiration for systems change.

The ELP module 1 is offered only in-person. Each region has admission criteria specific to the regional program.


Read about last edition. New ones will open soon in Latin America and Asia Pacific.

Ecosystem Leadership Program | Module 2: Collective Impact 


A 4-day intensive in person and in Nature program, with multi sector leaders and change agents from he same region, to deepen and to put into practice the methodologies and the knowledge acquired in the First Module of ELP Latam or equivalent programs (PFP, US Masterclass), to bring ideas into action and keep weaving a community of changemakers to deeply impact systems locally.

The ELP module 2 is offered only in-person. Each region has admission criteria specific to the regional program.


Read about last edition. A new one will open soon in Latin America. 

ELP Module 3 coming soon.

tools-dive

Deep Dive on Tools and Practices

Levels of Listening

This Learning Module covers key areas that will help you develop individual, team, and organizational capacity to deepen your quality of listening. 

This Learning Module contains:

  • The Workbook
  • Introduction of Levels of Listening by Otto Scharmer
  • Reflections by Otto Scharmer on his own listening journey 
  • Conditions for listening
  • Applications of listening
  • Origins of this work
How to apply 3D Modelling or 3D System Sculpting

3D System Sculpting involves creating a three-dimensional model that maps a current situation or system (using small items such as figurines, feathers, pieces of wool, etc. to symbolize elements and dynamics). The 3D System Sculpture is a key tool for individuals and groups to uncover hidden dynamics in systems and identify leverage points for change.

This Learning Module contains

  • Introduction audio file (70 minutes)
  • 3D System Sculpting audio file (35 minutes) with Beth Jandernoa and Julie Arts
  • PDF with step by step instructions for download
How to apply Learning Journeys or Sensing Journeys

Sensing Journeys take people out of their daily routine or context in order to experience their organization, challenge, or system through the lenses of different stakeholders. Sensing Journeys are a key tool and practice for cultivating a capacity to perceive oneself and the system from a new perspective, and to sense new possibilities in a system.  

This Learning Module contains

  • Introduction audio file (70 minutes)
  • Sensing Journey audio file (40 minutes) with Marian Goodman and Julie Arts
  • PDF with step-by-step instructions for download
How to apply 4D System Mapping

4D system Mapping is a structured method developed by Arawana Hayashi and faculty of Social Presencing Theater that guides groups through an embodied practice of system sensing. 4D System Mapping is a tool that offers deep and transformational insights about the system by making more visible its current reality and emergent potential.

This Learning Module contains

  • Introduction audio file (70 minutes)
  • 4D Mapping audio file (45 minutes) with Arawana Hayashi and Julie Arts
  • PDF with step by step instructions for download

Space Holding

digital-leadership

Digital Leadership (Self-Paced)

Is a specialized intensive program that integrates over 10 years’ experience in creating effective and transformative online spaces. Be on the leading edge of online space-holding: equip yourself for the ever-shifting future of virtual team collaboration. Learn the 10 principles for digital leadership to help you run effective virtual meetings that connect people through engaging the intelligences of the head, heart, and hand.

Read More

 

Social Presencing Theater

Open Programs

Visual Practice

Open Programs

just-money-programs

Transforming Finance as a Force for Good


Just Money

Banking as if Society Mattered

What is the role of a bank in producing societal well-being? This program looks into banks that operate differently, namely, “just banks" that use capital and finance as a tool to produce positive social, environmental, and economic change.

No previous knowledge of finance or banking is needed to take this course.


This is a self-paced course with live sessions. Just Money runs every year from July to November. In partnership with MITx.

Read More   Check the Book

workshops-events

Workshops With Key Partners

ecw

Executive Champions Workshop

Reconnecting to Place and Re-shaping our Future

ECW brings together diverse leaders from around the world who share a vision of helping people connect more deeply to place and one another as a basis for regenerating the institutions that shape our society. It is designed as a full three-day retreat, from August 19-22, 2025

Register

custom-programs

Custom Programs

The Presencing Institute, the holding organization of u-school, develops customized programs for institutions and businesses to help leaders, teams and stakeholders lead profound innovation in the context of rapidly changing environments.
Presencing Institute is the holding entity that maintains the governance, management and administration of u-school and other initiatives supporting awareness-based systems change.
 
Presencing Institute Inc
1770 Massachusetts Ave. #221
Cambridge, MA 02140 - USA
 
 

Support Us
The Presencing Institute is dedicated to offering free courses, resources, and knowledge to our global community. To ensure the sustainability of this work and support the team behind it, we also need to offer some paid activities and fundraise to help fund our efforts.
We are deeply grateful to our global community for all the ways you give. Your financial contributions are vital to sustaining and expanding the Presencing Institute's mission. With your support, we can continue to provide free resources and develop new initiatives.

Donate

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