Shaping a generation of global citizens
and leaders

You are helping the University to meet its strategic commitment to develop the future leaders, problem solvers and critical thinkers who will tackle the big issues faced by our planet.

Global opportunities – whether week-long exchanges, summer schools or study abroad programmes – can be life-changing for our students. They provide a chance to broaden horizons and to learn about different cultures and ways of working, which can transform students’ outlook on life.

The skills, personal resilience and confidence that students gain through these experiences are highly sought- after by recruiters, and help participants to secure the graduate jobs they’re looking for.

But for some in our student community, being able to travel and study overseas can be challenging. Some need to prioritise paid work to support themselves, so lack the time or financial ability to go abroad. Others may have caring responsibilities for loved ones, including children, which prevent them from taking up such placements.

Over the years, the financial support of alumni and other donors has helped students to overcome the financial barriers of taking up these opportunities. The Leeds-KAIST Leadership Programme, fully funded by an alumnus, is a collaborative leadership development project for students at the University and KAIST in the city of Daejeon in South Korea.

But with the Covid-19 pandemic further limiting students’ ability to study and work abroad, donors ensured that more than 200 students had the chance to enjoy a vibrant cultural exchange online. This opened doors to those who might otherwise have missed out on an opportunity to study abroad due to Covid-19, financial or other personal reasons.

Your support allowed us to establish the online Global Leadership Programme in autumn 2021. Run in partnership with the charity Common Purpose, the programme saw students engaging with 13 visionary and inspiring leaders from six countries, all of whom make change happen in their field or local communities. They included a Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and leaders from global organisations such as Greenpeace, Facebook, Amnesty International and Google.

To make it more accessible to all students, childcare grants were also provided to students with caring responsibilities to ensure they too could take part.

The programme allowed participants to see how complex issues cross boundaries of all kinds – generations and geographies, beliefs and backgrounds, sectors and specialisms. It helped them to gain a much broader understanding of the impact they can have in the world, and the self-belief and skills to go out and achieve it. All of which will be fundamental as they approach applications for internships or jobs.

Participants highlighted the impact of connecting with such a diverse group, with one saying; “The speaker came from a similar background to myself, and this allowed me to really feel motivated to take the next step to develop myself as a leader. Hearing from them was something I really needed at this point in my life as they helped me feel that I can cross boundaries and make a difference.

If you are inspired to support the next generation of students to make the most of their Leeds experience, and develop the skills to help them become excellent global leaders and citizens, please consider making a gift today.