Why take part?

As part of the programme you will:

• Receive training from a group of experts in their field covering ethical leadership, resilience and personal brand. 
• Have the opportunity to network with other talented and like-minded students
• Gain certified recognition for successful completion of the programme
• Take part in a unique group project and have the opportunity to present to an expert panel including leading employers
• Develop valuable skills that will help you in your next steps and future career
• Have an opportunity to use and reflect on your strengths
• Receive developmental feedback from your peers and a trained professional facilitator
• Leave with a great addition to your CV that you can talk about in applications and interviews
• Be in with a chance of receiving a prize of £1000 (Chancellor's Leadership Prize).

York Leader 2019 (Management)
"A unique opportunity to learn from a talented and driven cohort of peers, development experts and industry professionals. The programme's reflective emphasis allows you to develop personally and professionally through detailed personalised feedback - an opportunity I could not recommend more!"

York Leader 2018 (Economics) 
"York Leaders was a deeply insightful, reflective and enjoyable process. Definitely an experience to look back on in a few years as the foundations for many of our successes in the workplace."

York Leader 2018 (English)
"I'm incredibly grateful to have met so many students with the common goal of self improvement. Through the programme we have unlocked new elements of our leadership potential!"

Programme structure

The programme will be delivered by expert staff from the University’s People and Organisational Development team.

The Programme

This will involve a series of 3 webinar events and a group task which will finish in a virtual presentation to a panel. This will be followed with a facilitated feedback and reflection session.

The Webinars

Each one will be focusing on a specific aspect of leadership. Each webinar will include a theory or model of leadership relevant to that aspect. There will be group discussions and an opportunity to reflect on what the aspect means to you and your leadership and its pragmatic application.

Webinar 1 will be 2 hours to allow for introductions as well as the input and discussion. Webinars 2 & 3 will be 1 hour.

After each webinar there will be short tasks set which will build towards the larger group task. The amount of time you apply to this will be up to you to decide.

The Group Task

You will be split into groups and given a project which will allow you to further explore and demonstrate your strengths and leadership skills. This will culminate in the group delivering a presentation to an employer panel. The presentations will take place 2 weeks after the webinar series.

Feedback session

This will be a 1.5 hour session in which you will reflect on the learning and awareness from the experience, give and receive feedback and define what your next steps are.

Accessibility

If you have any accessibility requirements or queries around the activities outlined, please let us know by emailing award@york.ac.uk and we will be happy to talk through this with you.

Eligibility and Your Commitment

Eligibility

The programme is open to second (or middle) year undergraduate students from any discipline.

Prior To Application

To get the most out of the programme, you will need to have a good understanding of York Strengths and your personal strengths. You must have either attended a York Strengths Development Day in your first year, or completed York Strengths Online (and submitted your results) prior to applying for York Leaders.

Your Commitment

Pre-work

Successful applicants may be sent brief pre-work activities at least a week before the start of the programme.

Webinars

Participants are normally expected to attend the webinars live. In the event that you have a clash with academic content or other commitments, you must let the team know in advance, and we will assess this on a case by case basis taking your individual circumstances into account.

Webinar 1 Social Change Model, Ethical Leadership 3 March 2021 10:30am-12:30pm
Webinar 2 Resilience 4 March 2021 10:30am-11:30am
Webinar 3 Personal Brand 5 March 2021 10:30am-11:30am

Group Presentations

You will be expected to work with your group to contribute to the project between Wednesday 3 March 2021 and Wednesday 17 March. How long you spend on the project and how you organise this will be up to you as a group of leaders.

You will be expected to attend a presentation session on either the morning or afternoon of Wednesday 17 March 2021 (you will be allocated to the morning or afternoon session as a group). 

Feedback and Review Sessions

You will be expected to attend a feedback and review session (live interactive 1.5 hour webinar) on either Thursday 18 or Friday 19 March 2021 between 10:30am-12:30pm (you will be allocated a 1.5 hour slot as a group on one of the dates above). 

Attendance at the group presentation and the feedback and review session is compulsory (other than in exceptional circumstances).

Accessibility

If you have any accessibility requirements or queries around the activities outlined, please let us know by emailing award@york.ac.uk and we will be happy to talk through this with you.

How to apply

York Leaders is a selective programme with only 80 available places in 2020/21.

Applications for York Leaders 2021 are now closed. 

Application process

You will be asked to confirm your eligibility for the programme, and answer questions on:

• What ‘leadership’ means to you
• Why you’d like to take part in the York Leaders programme

If you have any queries about the application process, please email award@york.ac.uk.

Guidance for preparing your application

Prior To Application

To get the most out of the programme, you will need to have a good understanding of York Strengths and your personal strengths. You must have either attended a York Strengths Development Day in your first year, or completed York Strengths Online (and submitted your results) prior to applying for York Leaders.

Completing the application form

• You can work on your application form at any time in the completion window, going back to the original link to access and edit your own form as much as you like.
• Each time you make changes/updates to your form, you must remember to always click SUBMIT at the end of the form or your updates will not be saved.
• We recommend you use a separate document to prepare your answers then copy and paste them into the form.
• Be aware of word limits, these are enforced automatically in the online form.
• Responses won't be assessed until after the final deadline of 11pm on Sunday 7 February (Week 4 Spring Term).
• We will then be in touch to let you know whether your application has been successful by the end of Week 6.
• Always use the BACK / NEXT buttons at the bottom of the form pages, do not use your browsers back button or you may lose your work.

Accessibility

If you have any accessibility requirements or queries around the activities outlined, please let us know by emailing award@york.ac.uk and we will be happy to talk through this with you.

Chancellor's Leadership Prize

Every year a gift of £1,000 is awarded to the top three York Award candidates in their undergraduate final year of study.

Participation in the Leaders programme is not a requirement; however students on the programme will have the opportunity to demonstrate and gain certified recognition for their leadership qualities. The prizes will recognise the most talented, ambitious and driven students who excel in York Award.

The gift has been donated by Sir Malcolm (University of York Chancellor) and Lady Grant.