Custom Executive Education

We leverage world-leading teaching faculty, researchers, guest practitioners and facilities, available at the world’s number one university of art and design.

The RCA has four schools: Architecture, Arts & Humanities, Design and Communication, InnovationRCA our award-winning centre for entrepreneurship and commercialisation, research centres and innovation labs.

Areas of expertise:

• Design thinking and innovation
• Human-centred design
• Creative leadership
• Service design and customer experience
• Entrepreneurship
• Visual communication
• Intelligent mobility
• Artificial Intelligence
• Open innovation
• Inclusive design
• Architecture and interior design
• Curating contemporary art and design
• Cultural leadership
• Fashion
• Communication, storytelling, pitching
• Systems thinking and regenerative design
• Futures thinking

Guest speakers and visits to leading cultural institutions from previous programmes include:

Es Devlin, Refik Anadol, Hans Ulrich Obrist, Foster + Partners, Heatherwick Studio, Zaha Hadid Architects, Universal Design Studio, Antony Gormley Studio, Tate, V&A, Design Museum, Science Museum, London Business School.

Influential alumni network:

Our graduates lead and influence many of the world’s global businesses, including Apple, Bentley, Burberry, IDEO, Jaguar Land Rover, Kia Motors, Porsche and Samsung. We invite them to contribute to our programmes.

Open executive education can provide a valuable entry point for individuals and organisations, allowing participants to experience the RCA’s approach before developing longer-term, tailored programmes.

We have extensive experience developing courses for universities globally, many returning each year.

They choose RCA Executive Education because of our collaborative, highly dynamic and enriching learning experiences.

• International study programmes for MBA/EMBA
• Training for academics, researchers and teachers
• Modules for undergraduate and post-graduate level
• Creative and innovation workshops
• Summer schools

Courses can be delivered at the RCA campus in London or off site in the UK or internationally.

Clients and case studies include:

Beijing Normal University, Donghua University, Fudan University EMBA, Imperial College London, Kyung Hee University, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, London Business School, National University of Singapore EMBA, Pearl Academy India, Roehampton University, Sanda University, Shanghai Academy of Fine Arts, University of Europe and Edology, University of Exeter.

"This course has been one of the most rewarding aspects of my educational career so far. Made possible due to a very open collaboration between the Imperial College Department of Computing and the Royal College of Art…The end result is a high-quality and deeply practical (and applicable) educational experience. It's cross-curricular in all the right ways!" Mark Wheelhouse, Principal Teaching Fellow, Imperial College London - Designing for Real People, a six-week short course for Imperial’s second year Computer Science (BEng/MEng).

• Leadership and professional development programmes
• Mid/senior level talent development programmes and academies
• Creative and innovation workshops

Clients and case studies include:

Bertelsmann, British Council, CHANEL, Dentsu Japan, Design for Good, European Broadcasting Union, Google, Gunma Prefecture Japan, ITV, Korean Institute of Design Promotion, Lego Design Academy, Majid al Futtaim Leadership Institute, Northumbrian Water Group and PwC.

“The Royal College of Art is a transformational partnership for the CHANEL Next Prize. The RCA is the oldest art and design university in the world - and the most progressive. Under the guidance of the RCA’s educators at the college’s new Herzog & de Meuron campus in London, the awardees engaged in a specialist programme designed to foster creative collaboration, dialogue and cultural exchange.” Yana Peel, Global Head of Arts & Culture, Chanel - RCA x CHANEL Next Prize Winners: London Session

We can collaborate with business, government, universities and the public sector to jointly develop courses and programmes. This includes working with partners to:

• Write new proposals or funding bids
• Deliver part of an existing programme eg. creative design and innovation workshops.

Clients and case studies include:

Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnerships and Estu Global, Imperial College London, Korean Institute of Design Promotion, Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS), London Business School, London & Partners and UK Government.

“We've come to know the Royal College of Art for the incredible collaborations that they instigate. They have incredible convening power across public sector, private sector and third sector organisations.” Simon Littlewood, CEO Estu Global training company - Hertfordshire Futures: TV and Film Production Supply Chain Innovation

Modes of delivery:

• Face to face
• Live online
• Hybrid blended

Duration:

Courses can range from a half-day workshop, to a 5 day course, to a 6 month modular programme, depending on the requirements.

For example:

The RCA x Design for Good Academy runs for six months live online, with six modules and three masterclasses, hosted using our virtual learning environment for 500 global participants.

Fudan EMBA, Design Thinking for Business Futures is an intense three day face to face campus programme for 40 senior level executives from China, with simultaneous translation.

Location:

• Royal College of Art campus in London
• Client organisation in the UK or international

We have dedicated Executive Education learning and event spaces on the top floor of the Rausing Research & Innovation Building.

Opened in 2022, we have dedicated Executive Education learning and event spaces with 360 panoramic views of London. The Herzog & de Meuron-designed RCA campus makes it a great space to think and learn.

One of the hallmarks of RCA executive education is learning by doing, drawing upon the ethos of the RCA studio context, an immersive space where interdisciplinary and creativity push the boundaries of innovation.

Participants engage with real challenges, work in multidisciplinary teams, prototype solutions, and receive expert feedback — all in a setting that mirrors the collaborative, project-based realities of contemporary work.

RCA Executive Education custom programmes prioritise:

• Action-oriented learning — projects and workshops over passive lectures
• Collaborative problem-solving — working with peers from different backgrounds
• Expert facilitation — guided by practitioners with real-world experience
• Immediate application — tools and insights that can be used straight away
• RCA certificate of attendance on completion

Programmes are co-designed in close collaboration with clients, ensuring learning is grounded in real strategic challenges rather than abstract case studies. Each custom programme is led by an RCA faculty member whose subject-matter expertise aligns with your specific learning objectives and goals.

Are you interested in working with us to co-design a customised executive education programme?

Enquire about a custom programme. We’d love to learn more and discuss your requirements. 

Hattie Allen, Senior Executive Education Manager