Frequently Asked Questions

• Is the IPSL: Political Acumen Master Class online?
  • ​Yes, it is 100% online and always has been since the first program in 2017.
• Who are the mentors on faculty? 
  • ​The IPSL Master Mentor faculty come from a distinguished cadre of former Canadian provincial, national and municipal  politicians and bureaucrats,  top academics and media experts. For full profiles go to: Mentors
• What is the program schedule?
  • Starting in January 2021 for 12 weeks, a new module will open each week featuring a mentor panel conversation on the topic. All the live panels take place on Fridays from 10 - 11:15am pacific time.
• How do the mentor panel conversations work?​
  • Each module begins with a live master mentor panel that lasts for 75 mins. These panels are informal conversations between 3 mentors sharing stories about their experiences relating to the topic that week.
• Can I ask questions during the live mentor panel conversations?
  • Yes the mentor panels are interactive and the audience can ask questions  through a chat function. There is also an opportunity to send in advance questions.
• What happens if I can't make the live panels?
  • ​All mentor panel conversations are recorded and available within 24 hours in the Resource Room.
• What's in the Resource Room?
  • ​Each of the 12 modules has a dedicated Resource Room where you will find the MP4 recording after a session has completed, short podcast interviews, a program E-Handbook, articles to download and links to other resources that have been curated to provide perspectives and further information on each topic.
• When does the next program start?
  • ​Season #5 of IPSL: Political Acumen Master Class starts January 8th, 2021.
• How much does the course cost?
  • ​The IPSL: Political Acumen Master Class is regularly $1495 per person.  For Season #5, we have reduced the price to $995 per person to acknowledge economic challenges and budget constraints that have been caused by Covid-19.
• How do I reserve my spot?
  • ​Simply fill in the request form on this page and we will get in touch when registration opens in October 2020.
• What are the full program dates?
  • The program begins on January 8th and the last live mentor panel conversation takes place on March 26. All registered participants have access to all program materials for an additional 6 months until October 2021.
• How long is the program?
  • The program material is delivered weekly over 12 weeks with access to recorded materials and the Resource Room for an additional 6 months.
• How much time should it take to complete the course?
  • ​It depends on how much additional study of Resource Room materials you choose to do but participants should expect to spend about 2 hours per week on the program including time spent watching the mentor panels. 
• Who would benefit from taking this course?
  • ​Public Sector Leaders from all backgrounds, experiences, and educational levels will benefit from participating in the IPSL Political Acumen Master Class. Program content is relevant to Federal, Provincial and Municipal leaders across Canada.
• How do I access the course?
  • ​You will be given log in access to the program website with all course materials.  Access is available 24/7 throughout the program. Email information to access each live mentor panel conversation will be sent weekly.
• How long will I have access to the program materials?
  • ​Season #5 program participants will have access to all materials until October 2021.
• What technology do I need to access the course?
  • ​You will need an internet connection and a device with a camera and microphone - cell phone, Tablet, Mac or PC computer.  We recommend Chrome as your browser.
• Can I take the course with a group?
  • ​Yes, our alumni tell us that taking the program with other colleagues enhances the learning opportunities from the mentors. Everyone hears different things.​
• Do you offer coaching/mentoring support during/after the program
  • ​Coaching and mentoring support is an excellent way to further embed your learning and get the most out of the program. Several of our Master Mentors offer their coaching/mentoring services for a fee. You can find them here .
• What’s the best way for me as a senior leader to support my staff as they take the course?
  • ​A good way is to attend with them so that you can lead the group through a quick conversation after each session. If you can’t attend, you can still put time aside at a weekly meeting to share real world/current stories and examples about each topic.