UBC Community Leadership Program

What is the UBC Community Leadership Program?

An exciting professional development opportunity for UBC staff and employees from our corporate partners, to explore the meaning of leadership through a series of interactive, participatory workshops. Participants will learn to mentor and lead a group of UBC students who are volunteering at a local elementary school or community organization during their Reading Week break. This experiential, hands-on approach to student learning is called community service learning.

The program, the first of its kind in Canada, is a unique leadership and learning opportunity that we believe is consistent with the vision and goals of Place and Promise: The UBC Plan, UBC’s strategic vision. It is a joint effort between the UBC Community Learning Initiative, Learning Exchange, UBC Human Resources Organizational Development & Learning, and Student Development.

• How do I apply? - Application Deadline: Oct. 6, 2011

Please note that the application deadline has been extended to Oct. 14th, 2011

What will I do?

• Develop and strengthen leadership abilities
• Engage in your community in a meaningful way
• Plan, implement and lead a community service learning project
• Act as a mentor to UBC students
• Build a successful team and facilitate their learning
• Learn how to turn apparent obstacles into learning opportunities
• Challenge yourself and others to think more deeply about important community issues
• Engage in hands-on learning with diverse people from the university, local corporate partners, elementary schools, and community organizations

How much time will it involve?

• Participate in five days of interactive workshops from October to March where you will explore ideas about leadership, learn to mentor a team of students, and plan a community service learning project
• Collaborate with an elementary school or community organization to plan your project for 15-35 hours, November to February
• Implement your project with UBC students and community partners during the week of Feb. 20-24, 2012.

For program timeline, click here.

The most valuable part of my experience with the Community Leadership Program was the diversity of the participants. Each brought such different perspectives on campus, leadership, and community service. I completed the Program feeling challenged, supported, and inspired – grateful that my learning was influenced by a new community of wonderful colleagues from all across campus.

Tlell Elviss
Student Development