Human Learning Systems
People working in public service increasingly crave a new approach to navigating the complex issues of the 21st century.
Climate change, poverty, inequality, poor health, and outdated infrastructure all require government employees and organisations that partner with governments to adopt new ways of working together and resolving problems.
A new approach to public service
Human Learning Systems is a radically different and research-backed way of resourcing and organising public service. It has been developed based on real-life case studies from across the world and focuses on three key principles:
1. Being human
The purpose of public service is to support human freedom and flourishing. To respond to each person’s unique context, public service should be bespoke by design, and built on strong relationships and trust.
2. Enabling continuous learning
Public service should be a process of ongoing exploration and learning: workers and residents exploring and learning together. The primary task of public managers and leaders is to create effective learning environments.
3. Supporting healthy systems
Outcomes cannot be “delivered” by public service - they are created by whole systems: all the relationships and factors in someone’s life. Outcomes are made by healthy systems - systems in which all the people involved can collaborate and learn together.
Want to learn more?
Introducing Human Learning Systems
Join one of our free webinars featuring Professor Toby Lowe, the leading researcher behind HLS, for an introduction to the core concepts. Feel free to invite a colleague or two.
Getting started with Human Learning Systems
Our half-day workshop will help you explore how to start using a human learning systems approach in your work. We aim for you to leave the session with a clear idea of the next steps you can take.
Becoming a skilled convener
Navigating complex issues involves bringing people together across systems, perspectives, and points of difference. Whatever your role in the system, convening and facilitating groups is a necessary skill. Our course will take your convening skills to the next level.
Mastering Systems Stewardship
What sets systems stewardship apart from traditional public service leadership? How can you apply these principles in your role?
Join our two-day course to explore what becoming a systems steward means for you and leave with a clear, actionable plan tailored to your context.
Contact us about being a learning partner
Supporting you in applying the Human Learning Systems approach so you can foster continuous learning and experimentation in your work.
Testimonials
We all want to create a better world, but how to get there? Continuing to implement the traditional models and expecting different outcomes doesn’t make sense. I have been part of using Human Learning Systems in practice, employing the approach to work with three different layers of influence. Therefore, I can testify it enables better outcomes. And, not only with existing problems but also in building adaptive learning capacity in the system to tackle future challenges.
Human Learning Systems is the most insightful and helpful work that I have come across. It challenges stale approaches of top down and provider centred services and encourages us to work with people – listening to them and understanding what matters to them - acting with authenticity and integrity and working together.
It is unquestionably a better and kinder way to do public service.
Learn more about applying the Human Learning Systems approach to your work
Do you want to learn more about this approach to public service?
A group of people and organisations, including the Centre for Public Impact, have come together to help make the Human Learning Systems approach the “new normal” for public management.
Explore what we've learned in our e-book, Human Learning Systems: Public Service for the Real World.
A practical guide for the curious
Dive into our guide, developed with Healthcare Improvement Scotland and Iriss, designed to help any organisation that contributes to public service apply Human Learning Systems. It enables them to explore, learn, and respond to the unique strengths and needs of each person, family, and community member they serve.
Case studies
Explore case studies of Human Learning Systems in action from around the world.
Watch the video
Watch this video to explore the potential of Human Learning Systems.
Get in touch
Would you like support or advice on learning more about the Human Learning Systems approach and applying it to your work?
Get in touch, and let’s discuss how we can work together.