Global Leadership Program (GLP)

Refugee Camp in my Neighbourhood… a moving experience! GLP Blog post by Nafissa Abdallah, Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education (Secondary) 'Overall, despite taking part in many GLP activities this one touched me the most.' #mqglp #refugees #community #humanrights #globalcitizens

Following GLP's latest Cultural Insights Series in Auburn, we are pleased to share this reflection from one of our students. Rediscovering Auburn: A Journey Through Culture, Heritage, and Humanity By Marcus Wong, Bachelor of Commerce & Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) #mqglp #culturalinsights #multiculturalism #community #diversityisourstrength #culturalintelligence #globalcitizenshipeducation

The GLP Alumni Insights Series gives current GLP students the opportunity to hear from a panel of GLP alumni working in a particular sector. This event featured alumni who have studied/are working in marketing, media & communications. Students were interested to hear from this incredible lineup of GLP alumni who generously shared their experiences and some hints, having recently completed their degrees, found a job and are now working in their chosen careers. #mqglp #careers #glpalumni #alumniinsights #marketing #media #communications

In early August, GLP staff Vivian Chordi, Anneke Rowe Courtemanche, Tyree Barnette and Courtenay James led a group of students through the incredible Refugee Camp In My Neighbourhood tour, hosted by the Whitlam Institute. Prior to attending the tour, students undertook an online module created by GLP staff designed to raise awareness of refugees, displacement and in particular, the history of refugees in Australia. The tour was followed by lunch from House Of Welcome, and then an insightful briefing from the Humanitarian Settlement Program at SSI to round out the day. Some student feedback from the tour and the accompanying module which resonates deeply with the GLP Team: 'I believe a module and interactive experience like the "Refugee Camp In My Neighbourhood Tour" is highly relevant for GLP (Global Leadership Program) students. It provides a firsthand perspective on global issues, fostering empathy and a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by refugees. Such experiences are invaluable for developing the cultural awareness, critical thinking, and leadership skills that are essential for global leaders.' 'The module complemented the RCIMN tour so well. It was fantastic to enter the experience already having a basis of knowledge that was enhanced through the simulation experience & hearing the stories of refugees. I also loved how we were supporting organisations helping refugees & how much I learnt about their experiences which created a deep feeling of empathy that I can take with me into the community and my teaching for the rest of my life.' 'What I liked most about the module and the tour was the immersive and interactive approach to learning. The "Refugee Camp In My Neighbourhood Tour" provided a powerful, firsthand experience that allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges refugees face. It was eye-opening to see the realities of their situation up close, and the module effectively complemented this by offering valuable insights into the broader context of refugee resettlement. The combination of theoretical knowledge and practical experience made the learning process both engaging and impactful.' #mqglp #refugees #community #internationallaw #humanitarianprograms #UNHCR #experientiallearning #globalleaders #globalcitizenshipeducation #humanrights #refugeerightsarehumanrights

The GLP recently delivered an online module created by GLP staff called 'Responsible Volunteering & Ethical Travel'. The module focused on how to be a responsible volunteer, highlighting child protection issues, responsible social media, and re-imaging international aid as some of the key themes. It included readings, videos and interactive components to learn about the legitimate critiques of the business of voluntourism, how to approach volunteering opportunities with more insight into the issues and concerns, ethical and best practice participation methods, and how to best add value if/when you do volunteer time and expertise. Over 80 students participated in this module, and here is a snapshot of some of their feedback: "Thank you for providing students with a really fantastic opportunity to learn, develop greater self awareness, and reflect on the power and consequences of our actions." "I appreciated the GLP Responsible Volunteering and Ethical Travel Module for its comprehensive overview of the ethical considerations in voluntourism. It emphasized the importance of sustainable, community-led initiatives and helped me understand the potential pitfalls of short-term projects. The practical advice on choosing programs with long-term impacts and the inclusion of real-life testimonials made the content relatable and impactful. Additionally, the module's focus on the ethical implications of sharing travel experiences on social media was enlightening. It encouraged me to be more respectful and responsible in documenting and sharing my volunteer activities. Overall, it was informative, thought-provoking, and highly relevant for anyone considering volunteer work abroad." "I liked that it addressed a range of ethical dimensions in volunteering and travel; children, animals and sustainability. This helped to understand the bigger picture of the development sector. I was also drawn in by the narratives of people on the other side of the narrative, the people from the host communities of volunteering programs. There were emotional elements, but these blended in well with the regulations, to instill the values of conscious participation and intercultural understanding in a compelling way." "I really liked how much of a broad scope this module took- it discussed the disparity of different regions of the world, unethical types of volunteering programmes, the problem of social media and volunteering, White Saviour Complex and poverty porn, volunteering in places with children and animals, responsible tourism and travel, and how to recognise a good volunteering programme from a bad one. Being introduced to so many topics and ideas really helped build my understanding and encouraged me to think more critically." #mqglp #development #responsiblevolunteering #ethics #childprotection #humanitarian #ethicaltravel #criticalthinking

Still buzzing from our inaugural Sustainability Insights In Action Day last week! GLP students had briefings with City of Sydney, Pocket City Farms, the incredible Pip Kiernan GAICD Chair of Clean Up Australia and Lottie Dalziel, Founder of Banish, learning about circular economies, recycling, waste management, composting, food regeneration and so much more! Students literally got their hands dirty working in the farm, turning bottle caps into pens, sorting through recyclable products, and hearing from experts in the field of circular economy, sustainability and waste reduction. This was a day of insight, action and inspiration. Thanks to all that shared their time and expertise with us, and a VERY special thanks to Emma McCullough for this wonderful experience was her brainchild, not only did she curate the Sustainability Insights in Action, she also created two online modules on sustainability (waste and carbon) for the GLP, which were finalists for the Australasian Green Gown Awards! Emma's passion and expertise in this area has created these opportunities for GLP students to deeply engage in sustainability, environmental care and how individuals can all make a difference in responding to climate change. ♻️🚮💡💦🌱🪱💬🙌🌏 #mqglp #sustainability #zerowaste #circulareconomy #cityfarming #community #climateaction #regenerativeagriculture #education #environment #cleanupaustralia #bethechange #globalcitizen

We are so thrilled to welcome back Daniella Aburto Valle to our Colloquium and Think Tank Series, delivering an exceptionally pertinent topic: 'Unlocking the Power of AI'. #mqglp #AI #leadership #globalcitizenshipeducation

We are so thrilled that our Cultural Insights Series to Cabramatta was so well received by student participants. Incredible feedback from Simran! #mqglp

Another exceptional piece of student feedback for one of our long-time Convenors, Bruce Thomson! 🙌 Big thanks to Bruce for helping to unlock the power of our voice, and harness leadership through confidently voicing our thoughts and ideas 🗣 💡 #mqglp #publicspeaking #useyourvoice #effectiveleadership

Big thanks to Shane Nichols from Good Return on delivering one of our most popular workshops. 'Finance for Good'. Shane delves into what is meant by ‘microfinance’ and ‘impact investment’? How does the use of microfinance differ from other poverty reduction approaches? And what are the trends in impact investment?  Feedback like this is shows the impact of the Program on our incredible cohort of students, who are all eager to make a positive impact in their communities and around the world. #mqglp #povertyreduction #development #aid #impactinvesting #microfinance