Stayed tuned to fiind out about our next training session scheduled for the end of Nov.

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A new drive to train a new generation of young civic leaders has been launched today in Northern Ireland by a world renowned leadership and negotiation expert, Professor Keith Allred of the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. 

Over the next year as many as 200 students from Belfast Metropolitan College could take part in a leadership development programme known as ‘Civic Leader’ aimed at enhancing employability skills and opportunities for public service for young people in Northern Ireland. The training has been endorsed by Professor Keith Allred of the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University who is considered a world expert on leadership and negotiation and is currently running on the Democratic Party ticket to become the next Governor of Idaho in the USA. The programme has been introduced following a successful three month pilot study involving 20 students from Belfast Metropolitan College and funded through the Washington-Ireland Program for Service and Leadership.

Unveiling the new leadership training programme Professor Allred said:

“Any opportunity to engage young people to make them more aware of the sort of positive impact they can have on wider society is to be applauded. Northern Ireland is in a unique position as a fledgling democracy to teach the world a lesson of how it has overcome which have seemed to be insurmountable challenges and as it moves forward it will require a new generation of civic leaders to be nurtured and developed. That’s why teaching young people the values of active participation in society is not only good for communities but also develops the sort of skills and proactive attitude that is needed for the local economy.”

 Students who take part in the leadership training will be able to gain a number of recognised qualifications including a Certificate of Personal Effectiveness, all of which are designed to enhance students’ ability to secure employment and also to provide the skills required to contribute to the communities in which they live.

Founder of Civic Leader and alumus of the Washington Ireland Program, Chris Johnston based in Belfast who was a student of Professor Allred at the Kennedy School at Harvard said: 

“The training will provide basic skills in leadership, communication and teamwork. These are skills that communities require and local employers value. It will also increase knowledge and awareness of ways in which individuals can use their talents to benefit individuals, communities and wider society. It is very important that young people in today’s society understand they have the ability to effect positive change.”

 As well as having the backing of foremost leadership expert Professor Allred, the training has received endorsement from the US State Department who funded the pilot programme in partnership with the Washington-Ireland Program for Service and Leadership and Corporation Ireland. The training has been introduced to mark the 15^th Anniversary of the Washington Ireland Programme which provides six month leadership development and professional internship opportunities for students in Washington DC.

 Anyone wishing to find out more about Civic Leader can visit: www.civicleader.com

At the recent presentation of awards for participants of civic leader, Peter McKittrick of the US Consul provided an inspirational talk on what makes a great civic leader. 

 Congratulations to all 14 students from Belfast Met who have now completed ‘civic leader’ training. You will be informed of the award ceremony where you will receive you award certificate shortly. Here’s a snap from the last training session. Thanks for making the training so enjoyable

Civic leader team

Well done to everyone who took part in last week’s training session. Please note that the final session will take place at Belfast Met at 5:45pm until 7:30pm.

Good evening! We’ve just wrapped up the first session of the Civic Leader training programme with a new group of BMC students. What a great group of students who really gave 100% into the training – we’re really looking forward to seeing the development of their ideas and skills over the three sessions.

Until next time….The Civic Leader Team

Bet you felt like us, that the weather would never get better. Today the sun is belting out of the sky over Belfast. And with that Civic Leader is announcing a new training schedule for Belfast Met students. We are finalising the programme but it will be towards the end of April during the evenings. More details to follow and in the meantime enjoy the rays whilst they last.

Congratulations on completing the presentation skills training this evening. Everyone performed very well. Next training takes place this coming Tuesday at 4:30pm at Belfast Met – be there are be square. The training will focus on leadership skills. Keep checking the website for updates and also that scary group photo we took at the end of the training.

Civic Leadership Team

Northern Ireland has one of the youngest populations in Europe so it makes sense that young people are providing with the right training and skills so that a new generation of leaders are developed. The training seeks to provide basic knowledge, skills and awareness of civic leadership. It also provides a range of opportunities so that students can take steps to use the new found confidence and skills to contribute to society.

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