UNSW Leadership Foundations

You don't need an official title (e.g. president/manager) to be a leader. Anyone can be a leader, and anyone can practice leadership skills. We believe that this program should be part of every student’s development journey as it reflects the UNSW Graduate Capabilities of becoming a globally focused graduate capable of leadership and professional practice in an international community.

We welcome any UNSW student who is interested in discovering their leadership identity and developing their interpersonal and professional skills.

A key strength of the UNSW Leadership program is the diversity of perspectives, experience and knowledge within the learning community. We encourage students from all faculties and levels of study to apply to the program. If you are a student with a disability and you have access needs, we will work with you so you are able to fully participate in the program.

You will join a learning community of like-minded students to progress through six blended learning modules. This will take approx. 20 hours in total to complete.  

Each module comprises one online learning experience on Moodle, involving personal reflection tasks, readings and/or videos. Followed by a workshop encompassing group-based practice activities and discussions.

Accompanying the learning modules are development tasks which need to be satisfactorily completed in order to successfully finish the program.

In Leadership Foundations, you will:

• Create your own leadership development plan and explore what leadership means to your identity.
• Formulate a purpose statement by reflecting on your personal values, strengths, and life experiences.
• Co-create team agreements to encourage constructive relationships in team environments by considering factors such as psychological safety, effective communication, and conflict management.
• Develop a team culture action plan by applying the principles of social awareness, diversity, and inclusion.
• Construct a wellbeing and resilience action plan to expand personal capacity when encountering challenges.
• Demonstrate the leadership development attributes of courage, growth mindset, curiosity, empathy, active listening and self-reflection.

Here’s what previous participants have shared about their experience of the program:

“I honestly did not expect to learn so much about myself and others and I feel so privileged that I was part of this learning community and experience.”

“It was just AMAZING!!!! The program has helped me develop my confidence, identify myself as a leader in a group, plan my journey of development, realise the importance of self-care and be a leader of my own life”

“A very well organised, immersive and highly informative program that truly enabled me to learn and develop in a safe environment “

“Content was amazing. Tedtalks, articles, videos all of them were so good insightful” 

“The program really changed my opinions on what it takes to be a leader. I found it enlightening and insightful”

Applications are currently open for the T1 Term Program. If you are interested in joining the program please complete this application form!

Applications close 11:59pm AEDT Tuesday 7th February.

We will be running the Term Leadership Foundations program in Term 1.

The Term Leadership Foundations program offers students the opportunity to invest in their personal and professional development during the first 6 weeks of Term 1 with minimal interruption to normal coursework. Our learning modules will be made available at intervals across a 6-week period.

Key dates – Term program:

• Welcome Workshop – Wednesday 15th February 2023; 2pm to 4:30pm AEDT (Hybrid format | Kensington Campus and Zoom)

• Workshop #2 – Wednesday 22nd February 2023; 2pm to 4:30pm AEDT (run online via Zoom)

• Workshop #3 – Wednesday 1st March 2023; 2pm to 4:30pm AEDT (run online via Zoom)

• Workshop #4 – Wednesday 8th March 2023; 2pm to 4:30pm AEDT (run online via Zoom)

• Workshop #5 – Wednesday 15th March 2023; 2pm to 4:30pm AEDT (run online via Zoom)

• Closing Workshop – Wednesday 22nd March 2023; 2pm to 4:30pm AEDT (Hybrid format | Kensington Campus and Zoom)

Please note:  

* Online learning modules will be made available prior to each workshop.  

** Hybrid workshops are subject to change to online-only depending on student numbers and safety. 

*** Additional dates and times for workshops may become available depending on application numbers.

Upon satisfactorily meeting the program participation and development task requires, you will be awarded AHEGS recognition, a program completion certificate, advertisement to post on your LinkedIn profile, and access to the Leadership Foundations LinkedIn Group to continue your professional and personal development.

Contact UNSW Student Development and Co-Curricular Team

Email: leadership@unsw.edu.au