Integrity Policy | Global Leaders Institute

Integrity Policy

I. OVERVIEW

This policy outlines institutional standards governing conduct, learning, and operations across The Global Arts MBA.

The Global Arts MBA prepares creative professionals to design, lead, and sustain the next generation of cultural enterprises. Rooted in the conviction that the arts are engines of social and economic value, the program integrates management, innovation, and creative leadership across three dimensions of practice:

Coursework: Structured academic modules taught by leading scholars and practitioners.
Teamwork: Collaborative projects and peer engagement fostering cross-cultural leadership and applied problem-solving.
Fieldwork: Immersive experiences connecting theory to action within diverse cultural and community contexts.

The program cultivates arts leaders who view culture not as a byproduct of progress but as a strategic driver of innovation and societal advancement.

II. CURRICULUM OBJECTIVES

GLI Cohorts are selected to promote diversity of background and perspective. The curriculum integrates managerial, entrepreneurial, and social innovation tools through modules, labs, summits, and applied projects.

Learning Objectives

Graduating Fellows are able to:

Solve complex problems creatively.
Lead sustainable creative enterprises.
Apply business frameworks to generate value.
Collaborate effectively across cultures.
Communicate persuasively and lead teams.
Build high-performing, creative work cultures.
Lead with authenticity and self-awareness.
Apply impact-based methods in community settings.

Graduates strengthen arts organizations, design cross-disciplinary solutions, and act as cultural innovators and social entrepreneurs.

III. ACADEMIC GOVERNANCE

Academic Board: Oversees curriculum design, quality standards, and technology integration.
Advisory Council: Provides oversight and supports program delivery through mentoring and field engagement.
Executive Board: Guides institutional strategy and ensures relevance to the creative industries.
Learning Standards & Behavior Committee: Reviews alleged policy violations and upholds academic integrity.

Curriculum Design
Each module is co-stewarded by a Curating Institution and a Lead Faculty Member to ensure disciplinary rigor. Guest speakers complement instruction with applied insights.

Curating Institutions
Semester I: Harvard (Cultural Agents Initiative), McGill (Schulich School of Music), Georgetown (Business for Impact), Duke (SSRI), EY Business Academy. Semester II: LSE (Growth Lab), Stanford (CSI), NYU (Entrepreneurial Institute), Georgetown (Business for Impact).

Lead Faculty & Guest Speakers
Lead Faculty are researchers and practitioners from top universities who oversee instruction and assessment. An international network of guest speakers contributes insights from institutions such as Harvard, Columbia, Johns Hopkins, Lincoln Center, and WolfBrown.

Assessments

Formative: Brief reflections at the end of synchronous classes.
Graded: Essays, presentations, and fieldwork-based projects.

IV. ACADEMIC POLICIES & PROCEDURES

Working Environment
Cohort Members attend sessions from professional workspaces with functional audio-visual equipment. Active participation is required; multitasking or eating during class is discouraged.

Assignment Submission
Assignments are submitted via Canvas. For team work, each member must upload deliverables individually.

Extensions
Up to five extensions per semester may be granted for extenuating circumstances if requested at least 48 hours in advance. Late or extended submissions that meet minimum standards receive a 75% passing grade without feedback.

Participation
Absences may be compensated by watching the class recording and posting a discussion response within the same week. Missing more than three posts per semester may lead to dismissal.

Evaluation & Appeals
Assignments are graded using published rubrics within 20 business days. Appeals must be submitted within one week of receiving feedback.

Academic Integrity
All work must be original and properly cited. Plagiarism, unpermitted collaboration, or unauthorized resubmission may result in dismissal.

V. LEARNING PLATFORMS

Canvas: Centralized platform for readings, assignments, and academic documents.
Zoom: Primary tool for synchronous learning; Cohort Members must use video and audio appropriately.
Recordings: Sessions are uploaded within 24 hours as unlisted videos for internal use only. Sharing externally is prohibited.

VI. TRANSCRIPTS & ACCREDITATION

Degree & Verification
Graduates receive a digital MBA diploma and transcript with secure verification links. Hard copies may be requested for a fee.

Accreditation
GLI is authorized under European Standards Guidance to confer the MBA in Arts Innovation (90 ECTS), validated by the Malta Further and Higher Education Authority and aligned with the European Qualifications Framework (EQF). Accreditation is managed through GLI’s partner institution Woolf, registered in Malta, Switzerland, and the U.S.

Partner Institutions
Core modules are co-delivered with Harvard, Duke, Georgetown, NYU, Stanford, and LSE. Co-signed certificates may be issued by these partners.

VII. RESPONSIBILITIES & CONDUCT

Confidentiality
Program materials are proprietary and may not be publicly shared. Public references must reflect GLI and partners favorably.

Learning Standards & Behavior
GLI fosters a respectful, inclusive learning environment. Speech or behavior involving harassment, coercion, defamation, or intolerance will not be tolerated. All communication must remain constructive and curriculum-focused.

Team Support & Reflective Review Process

The Institute offers a structured support process for teams experiencing sustained challenges that affect collaboration or learning outcomes. Teams seeking support may submit a written request to the Director of Cohort Affairs outlining the nature of the challenge.

Upon receipt, the Director of Cohort Affairs conducts a series of individual meetings with team members. These conversations are framed as reflective learning sessions and draw explicitly on concepts introduced in Tier 2: Reflective Collaboration Labs, with the aim of reframing tensions into shared learning about team dynamics, communication, and accountability.

Red Flag Policy
Concerns about integrity or misconduct may be reported to redflag@globalleadersinstitute.org. Cases are reviewed by the Learning Standards & Behavior Committee, with final authority resting with the Board of Directors.

On-Site Activities
Cohort Members are responsible for personal equipment and conduct during fieldwork. GLI provides international health insurance (USD 50,000 coverage, no deductible). Illegal drug use, substance abuse, or inappropriate relationships with beneficiaries result in dismissal.

Media & Records
Participation constitutes consent to institutional recording. Permission is required for social media use of identifiable content.

Background Checks
Cohort Members must provide proof of no criminal record involving minors during their onboarding, prior to Orientation.

VIII. FINANCIAL POLICIES

Refund Policy
Tuition is nonrefundable, as funds are committed in advance to academic and operational partners.

Exceptions
Extenuating circumstances may be considered within two weeks of payment upon submission of supporting documentation to the Finance Director.

IX. CONFIDENTIALITY, INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY & MEDIA

Program Materials
All academic resources provided by GLI including readings, files, syllabi, case studies, and class recordings are proprietary and confidential. Materials are made available exclusively for the educational use of enrolled Cohort Members. Any reproduction, distribution, or external sharing without written authorization from GLI is prohibited. Public references to the program or its content must represent GLI and its academic partners favorably.

Student Work
Cohort Members retain ownership of all original work created and submitted as part of the program, including essays, presentations, and fieldwork-based projects. By submitting such work, Cohort Members grant GLI a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to reproduce, reference, or adapt this content for academic, educational, or institutional purposes related to the program’s operation, evaluation, or communication. GLI will ensure that such use respects the integrity of the work and properly credits its authors.

Institutional Media
Participation in the program constitutes consent for GLI to record, photograph, or otherwise capture images and video during academic or public sessions for institutional use. These materials may be used in reports, communications, or other academic documentation consistent with GLI’s mission.