Would you like to develop your leadership skills? Do you see yourself as a potential future leader?
York Leaders is an exciting opportunity for second (or middle) year undergraduate students from all academic disciplines to gain exclusive access to an intensive training course which aims to advance your understanding of what it means to be a leader and develop your own leadership skills. York Leaders will be running online in 2020/21.
York Leaders is a selective programme with only 80 available places in 2020/21!
Applications for York Leaders 2021 have now closed.
As part of the programme you will:
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!"
The programme will be delivered by expert staff from the University’s People and Organisational Development team.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The programme is open to second (or middle) year undergraduate students from any discipline.
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.
Successful applicants may be sent brief pre-work activities at least a week before the start of the programme.
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
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).
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).
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.
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:
If you have any queries about the application process, please email award@york.ac.uk.
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.
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.
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.