May
Inspiring Leaders programme boosts employability skills
14 May 14
29 students who graduated from Queen’s Students’ Union’s exciting new ‘Inspiring Leaders’ programme were celebrated at a special prize giving that took place at Riddel Hall on Monday 12 May.
The programme, which is aimed at students who are volunteers in positions of leadership, was developed by Queen’s Students’ Union and supported by Careers, Employability and Skills and the William J. Clinton Leadership Institute at the University.
Olivia May, Programme Director of the William J. Clinton Leadership Institute said, “Students exercise leadership in all sorts of areas: as volunteers, in Clubs & Societies, with their fellow class members, in their families, and in the wider community. The ‘Inspiring Leaders’ graduates taught us all over again that leadership is a way of life and a personal commitment to getting the best out of yourself and others, and I am certain that they will be the business, political, academic, and voluntary sector leaders of tomorrow.”
Designed to support and advance the leadership skills of student volunteers who contribute valuable time to the Queen’s community and further afield, it consists of modules such as: Leadership: What it is and Why it Matters?; How do I become a Leader?; Leading Individuals and Teams; and Translating Volunteering into Employment.
Through this programme, the ‘Inspiring Leaders’ graduates learned many key skills, such as, different communication styles, how to motivate, encourage, and support others, and how to bring their own unique personality to their leadership.
Queen’s Students’ Union is proud of its programme as it aligns with the key priorities of its student body and supports students in reaching their full potential. The ‘Inspiring Leaders’ graduates are also eligible for a Queen’s Degree Plus Award, making them even more attractive to future employers and giving them a competitive edge in the job market.
Queen’s Students’ Union is also delighted that ‘Inspiring Leaders’ has secured funding for the next three and a half years, ensuring that even more Queen's students will be able to avail of and benefit from this high quality leadership training in the years to come.
President of Queen's Students' Union, Niall McShane said, "Every student has the ability to make a difference. The aim of the ‘Inspiring Leaders’ programme is to harness and develop that potential and allow Queen's students to make a valuable contribution to society. We hope that the programme will develop some of our most promising individuals and that they will play an active part in the future of Northern Ireland.”
Niall added, “I want to congratulate the graduates of this year’s programme and I wish them every success in the future."
Image Caption:
Back Row (L-R) Tara McEvoy, Davy McAlinden Programme Director at William J Clinton Leadership Institute, Sarah-Louise Baird Student Officer Community at Queen’s Students’ Union, Olivia May Programme Director of the William J. Clinton Leadership Institute, Ryan Clarke, Adeline Chia, Lucy Adam, Sarah Ackroyd, Laura Montague, Rachael Moore, Chloe Patterson, Jessica Kirk, Aisling O’Brien, Katie Matthews, Cliona McCarney, Bryony Gault, Gemma Conway, and Lucia Kearney Volunteer & Development Support Officer at Queen’s Students’ Union.
Front Row (L-R) Niall McShane President of Queen’s Students’ Union, Gavin Fong, David Costley, Stephen McCrystall, Odhran Devlin, John Liu, and Christopher O’Hara.