“GLEs are for students who want to make a difference in the world and want their voice and ideas to influence what is happening today,” said Andy Coxall, director of Common Purpose Student Experiences.
GLEs have taken place in major cities around the world including Johannesburg, Dubai and Oxford, but for the first time the internationally recognized leadership program is coming to Canada — and Concordia is hosting.
"I think it's exciting for Concordia to be chosen as a host for the first Common Purpose Global Leadership Experience in Montreal,” said Andrew Woodall, dean of students. “It's great for Montreal to join the network of magnet cities. Amongst other things, the GLE will provide our students and those from other institutions with tools and skills such as cultural intelligence which will be essential to leading in the 21st century."
The program puts emphasis on developing tangible skills that will help students in both their academics and their careers. Under the challenge “What makes a city smart?” GLE participants will gain insight into how Montreal functions by engaging in discussions and debates, looking at case studies and presenting group work. They will also have the opportunity to network with a variety of local organizations and gain practical experience by heading off-campus with 10 senior executives from the Power Corporation of Canada.
“With over 6,000 international students from 150 countries studying at Concordia, and a campus in the heart of the global city of Montreal, Concordia is an ideal fit for a GLE,” said Coxall. “We look forward to seeing what ideas such a diverse range of students can come up with.”
He explained that after the program ends, students continue to learn and develop through access to an online community of GLE alumni from around the world. Students can test ideas and build broader networks by collaborating on global challenges set by leading decision and policy makers.
The four-day event is free for students to attend. The catch? Only 100 students can participate in the GLE. The good news? 50 of those spaces are reserved for Concordia undergraduate and graduate students. Don’t miss out on this rare opportunity — be sure to apply by October 18, 2014.
Still not convinced? Here are the top four reasons you should apply to the Global Leadership Experience today:
- To have the opportunity to explore major, real world challenges and work on creative solutions.
- To have your voice and ideas shape what is happening in society.
- To meet visionary thinkers and influential senior executives from global business.
- To build your CV by adding valuable experience that employers are seeking.
The list of participating organizations include Power Corporation of Canada, Cities for People, Glencore, Hacking Health, the John Molson School of Business, the McConnell Foundation and Recode.
Interested students can apply by October 18, 2014.
Read more about Common Purpose GLE.