Interplanetary Initiative’s SciTech Certificate Provides Self-Paced Training for Mid-Career Aerospace Professionals to excel in Leadership, Project Management and Financial Operations

Arizona State University's Interplanetary Initiative is excited to announce the launch of its new SciTech Space Leadership Certificate. Built for a rapidly evolving space sector, this expert-led program offers busy mid-level aerospace professionals the opportunity to establish and polish critical leadership, financial and project management skills just in time for the next step in their careers.

The SciTech Space Leadership Program elevates mid-career aerospace education and fills formal training gaps by offering three distinct yet complementary courses: Leadership and Team Structure, Financial Operations, and Project Management. Designed for science and engineering professionals, these courses weave practical online training with insights from renowned space industry experts to produce a functional yet engaging learning experience. While those interested in rounding out their skillset are encouraged to participate in the entire program, professionals may choose to learn à la carte. The courses themselves are asynchronous and self-paced, allowing learners to absorb and apply the material at a pace that works best for them. 

Learners completing the full SciTech Space Leadership Program can expect a total of 55 hours of coursework consisting of written, video and evaluation modules. In the Leadership and Team Structure course taught by multiple award-winning educator and author Professor Mansour Javidan, learners are given the tools to evaluate diverse organizational cultures, develop an effective leadership style and lead successful organizational change initiatives. The course is supplemented with  expert commentary from leaders such as flight systems engineer Tracy Drain, retired Blue Origin executive Brent Sherwood, and many more.

"If you boil it down, leadership is about people," said geochemist and space scientist Laurie Leshin. Leshin's glittering career as a researcher, space policy advisor, professor and leader have lended valuable insight to the SciTech program's Leadership and Team Structure course. "You're making sure that your organization and the people within it are able to flourish and thrive; you're shining a light on the future and enabling people to move with you towards that future."

SciTech's Financial Operations course, delivered by author and global business professional ASU Professor Hitendra Chaturvedi, provides learners with the fundamental skills necessary to analyze financial data in the aerospace industry. By the end of the course, learners understand comprehensive organizational financial analysis, how to use fiscal analyses to guide strategic decision making and ways to implement green finance and supply chain finance strategies within a business or research institution. Steve Shinn, a space sector financial expert, and Alan Stern, an aerospace engineer and planetary scientist, are just two of the experts contributing  real-world wisdom to the course.

Per Greg Autry, Associate Provost for Space Commercialization at the University of Central Florida, the Financial Operations course is "a good basis for scientists and engineers to advance into program management roles."

The Project Management course meanwhile enables learners to develop, manage and measure the effectiveness of scope-of-work and project plans across aerospace—essential skills for a range of science and engineering professionals preparing for the next stage of their careers. Those who complete this course led by ASU Professor Chad Kennedy, expert in technology entrepreneurship and management, walk away with skills in risk management, human resource allocation, stakeholder management and budgeting. Supported by insights from seasoned space observatory project manager Bill Ochs and retired Boeing rotorcraft engineering general manager Sam Hurt, these skills will be immediately actionable for learners to meet industry and organizational demands.

“The space industry is booming! However, many scientists, engineers and technologists lack the training needed for leadership roles in areas such as team building and project management," said Evgenya Shkolnik, Interplanetary Initiative Associate Director and professor of astrophysics at ASU's School of Earth and Space Exploration. "Our SciTech Certificate is a big step towards addressing this gap. Completing the SciTech Certificate will equip people seeking career advancement with the skills needed to effectively lead and manage their teams.”

Each course within the SciTech Space Leadership Program awards learners a digital badge upon completion. Industry professionals can display this badge on their resumes, LinkedIn profiles and other networking materials to showcase their knowledge of leadership, financial and project management best practices.

For the next few months, science and engineering professionals eager to advance their skillsets, boost their earning potential and gain a competitive advantage in the space industry can receive the full SciTech Space Leadership Program at a discount. The code "SCITECHSAVE20" will take 20% off the full certificate price now through Dec. 15, 2024. Once a course or the full SciTech Space Leadership Program has been purchased, learners can access the material at any time—there is no deadline for course completion, and learners can review the material for a knowledge refresh at any time. 

The Interplanetary Initiative advances space activities that produce public value and a shared stewardship for all living things on Earth and beyond, now and in the future. Learn more at interplanetary.asu.edu or subscribe to stay updated on our latest opportunities.