Creating University Leaders through Global Citizenship
In March of 2006, McMaster University welcomed 292 students and community members to the Global Citizenship Conference. The event served as a showcase for campus and community initiatives, to provide ideas and opportunities for delegates to become life-long global citizens. Out of organizing the McMaster Global Citizenship Conference came the realization that a conference has the potential to serve young people across Canada as a tool for launching young Canadians as global leaders. The Creating University Leaders through Global Citizenship Project is designed with the purpose of identifying, supporting and empowering emerging student leaders from across disciplines with the resources and tools to host their university’s own Global Citizenship Conference. The basis of the project is an impact-centered approach that trains students on developing a tailored conference message with emphasis on self-awareness and evaluation. The purpose of the GC conferences is for students to learn about a wide range of policy-relevant global issues and how they can engage in projects of a global scope.
McMaster University, Global Citizenship Conference
photo by Greg Atkinson
The Creating University Leaders through Global Citizenship Project consists of three main components:
- Leadership training retreat:
- Extended conference planning sessions for organizing teams;
- Team building activities and learning effective leadership techniques;
- Defining conference objectives and developing the conference message.
- Ongoing web-based coaching and in person support:
- Guided meetings to discuss progress, difficulties and problem solving tips.
- Conference follow-up retreat:
- Gathering the teams together for a conference de-briefing session, evaluation and celebration of their efforts!
- Help teams critically evaluate the conferences by examining feedback and assessing lessons learned over the months spent organizing;
- Preparations of future conferences as new team leaders are introduced to the Global Citizenship Conference philosophy.
To date (April 2007) the Creating University Leaders through Global Citizenship Project and the Global Citizenship Conferences have reached two major milestones. In October of 2006 the first Leadership Training Retreat was held for the organizing teams of the 2007 series of Global Citizenship Conferences. The outcome of the weekend was collaboration between two brand new Global Citizenship Conference teams from McMaster and Laurier Universities. The organizing teams themselves through successfully hosting two new Global Citizenship Conferences at their respective universities achieved the second major milestone. Many months of hard work and dedication on the part of the organizing committees resulted in two distinct, enriching and motivating conferences.
McMaster University, Global Citizenship Conference
photo by Greg Atkinson
Future work for the Creating University Leaders through Global Citizenship Project will include:
- Conference follow-up retreat (May, 2007)
- Development of tools for conference organizers (ongoing), including:
- Global Citizenship Conference handbook outlining guiding principles and key learnings to date
- Web-based networking tools for contacts and organizations
- Creation of document templates for major documents (fundraising letters, delegate handbooks, etc)
- Development of Global Citizenship Conference website
- Expansion and increased exposure for future Global Citizenship Conferences
(ongoing) through:
- Targeted recruitment of youth leaders who have expressed interest in organizing a Global Citizenship Conference at their university
- Continuation of the conference bursary program introduced this year) that aimed to expose university students to Global Citizenship Conferences from schools not hosting a conference
McMaster University, Global Citizenship Conference
photo by Greg Atkinson