Research overview
Leading with Character (LWC) is a free 30-day online course designed to cultivate character-based leadership globally. Developed by the Oxford Character Project in partnership with the Human Flourishing Program at Harvard University and the Legatum Foundation, the course centres on four core virtues: purpose, courage, love and hope, equipping learners with practical tools to apply them in life and leadership.
Evaluation Approach
The
course’s effectiveness was assessed through a randomised controlled trial
(RCT), with 830 participants from 122 universities in 50 countries across
Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Using both survey data and open-ended
reflections, the evaluation assessed growth in leadership virtues and changes
in participants’ approach to leadership.
Key Findings
Mixed-effects models were used to compare changes in leadership virtues between the intervention and control groups. Results showed significantly greater improvements among course participants in purpose, love, and hope. To ensure the reliability of these results, we conducted several additional analyses, which confirmed that the course’s impact was robust, reliable, and broadly applicable across diverse participants.
Pre-course vs. Post-course Scores
In the scatterplots, each marker represents a participant. Markers above the diagonal line indicate post-course improvement. The strong clustering above this line signals consistent growth in leadership character following the course.
To learn more about the programme and its impact, download the full report below.