Asper School of Business

President’s Student Leadership Program

The President's Student Leadership Program is a unique-in-Canada immersive learning opportunity that brings students together from across disciplines, post-secondary institutions, interests, and regions of the province to build their leadership potential. It is the flagship program of the James W. Burns Leadership Institute.

 

Amy Jackson PSLP Student
Learn from peers across disciplines and institutions

The power of collaboration for leaders and leadership

Collaboration is fundamental to good leadership. You’ll work with a diverse group of individuals, each bringing a unique perspective, to solve complex problems and lead each other to creative solutions.

The role of leaders and leadership in social change

One of the main themes of the President’s Student Leadership Program is using leadership to tackle issues facing our society in Manitoba and beyond. You’re look at real-world issues and learn how they were solved through strong and effective leadership.

Purpose and ethics in leadership

Leaders must act ethically and with purpose to be effective. You’ll learn about why this is so important and how leading others ethically is always successful.

The challenges of leading in critical sectors of our economy and society

Leadership in certain sectors of our economy and society pose unique challenges that require special attention and strategy. The President’s Student Leadership Program will dive into these sectors and learn how some of Manitoba’s leaders have successfully dealt with the problems they faced.

Two students work together.
Five students walking together outdoors.
Students stand during a tour of a factory.
Students gather in a warehouse for a tour.

Program details

The President’s Student Leadership Program is a non-credit, selected co-curricular program. This means that successful applicants will not need to do any prep work prior to the start of the program.

Expected duration:

The President’s Student Leadership Program runs for one week in June and continues through the fall and winter terms on select Saturdays.

Tuition and fees:

Participants will receive a student fellowship to cover the full cost of the core-week program. These costs include transportation to Winnipeg if necessary, meals, lodging during the week at the UM, transportation to and from site visits and a per diem for daily necessities. Also included is accommodation and transportation for those from outside of Winnipeg for the dedicated Saturdays in the fall and winter.

Program info:

The President's Student Leadership program provides:

  • An immersive experience working with peers from diverse backgrounds
  • The opportunity to learn in an intensive format from top leaders about key leadership challenges
  • Access to mentorship opportunities
  • A letter of accomplishment and a certificate to complement your academic record
  • Funding for program participation in the form of the President's Student Leader Fellowship
  • Ongoing interaction and contribution with future cohorts of the President's Student Leadership Program, helping to form a network of future leaders in the province

Sample weekday itinerary 

Each day will follow a theme, e.g. increasing leadership impact through collaboration and partnership

  • 8 a.m. Breakfast in common dining room
  • 9 a.m. Student teams work together to plan approaches and questions for the day’s site visit
  • 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Depart for site visit*, lunch provided
  • 4 p.m. Team reports and reflections

After returning to campus, participants gather in their teams to prepare informal presentations for the group on their team’s findings during the visit

  • 5:30 p.m. Break
  • 6:30 p.m. Dinner in common dining room
  • 7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Post-dinner activity (guest speaker or leadership workshop)

*Site visit examples include:

  • Leading innovative company where the CEO, union leaders and top employees will dialogue with the participants
  • Leadership in the justice system: hearing from and engaging with key decision makers
  • Leadership in social services or healthcare: key challenges and approaches
  • Leadership in the arts

Saturday and Sunday will be preparatory work and workshops

Admission requirements

As a potential applicant to the President’s Student Leadership Program, you should have a history of impactful leadership in your community of student life. You should be committed to developing your collaborative leadership knowledge and skills to make positive change in your environment.

Your admission is based on a combination of your leadership experience and potential. Your leadership experience might be formal, through a student or community leadership role, or informal, through having an important impact on others’ wellbeing or on an important issue for the community.

To be admitted to the President’s Student Leadership Program you must meet the following requirements:

  • Be enrolled in a post-secondary program at a public university or college in the province of Manitoba
  • Be at least halfway through your program of study but not in your graduating year
  • Students in a two-year program should apply while in the second half of their first year of post-secondary study.
  • Students in the process of transferring to a different program or post-secondary institution will also be considered
  • Students must be enrolled in a program that is minimum two years duration with the exception of 12-month masters programs
  • Be available to attend all portions of the program

We are looking for students who demonstrate:

Active commitment

A demonstrated ability to develop, reflect on and question your own perspectives through learning from multiple viewpoints.

Social skills

An ability to collaborate with and motivate others, work effectively in a team to achieve common understanding, express yourself in different situations and to different people, and listen and value others’ opinions, experiences and knowledge bases.

Initiative and imagination

The potential to recognize where change is needed and work with others to pursue it.

Intellectual curiosity

An ability to collaborate with and motivate others, work effectively in a team to achieve common understanding, express yourself in different situations and to different people, and listen and value others’ opinions, experiences and knowledge bases.

Motivation

Passion, ability and serious incentive to actively engage in the program, including a plan for how you intend to use what you learn after program completion.

How to apply

The application deadline for the President's Student Leadership Program, including all supporting documents, is Friday, February 26, 2021.

Applications should include:

  • A 500 word (maximum) personal statement that explains:
    • Why you want to participate in the program
    • Your leadership experience to date:
      • Provide specific examples of recent formal or informal leadership you have exercised in your community, workplace or university/college. Comment on: 
        • what motivated you to take on the role(s) and actions; 
        • what challenges you encountered; and 
        • what you see as your key achievements and their impact
    • What you will do with the knowledge that you gain as a participant in the President's Student Leadership Program in your immediate and longer term future.
    • You may also identify in your statement if you are a member of an historically underrepresented group.
  • A current resume
  • An official transcript indicating proof of continuing successful status in your university/college program, and your year of study (this will not be used to evaluate GPA)
  • Two letters of testimonial from people you have worked with (instructors, supervisors, Elders, mentors, employers or others who can comment, with examples, on your leadership actions and potential). 

 
Term Application deadline Apply
Fall 2021 February 26, 2021 Apply for the President's Student Leadership Program
    Submit a testimonial for the President's Student Leadership Program

Applicants must submit their online application with supporting documentation by the deadline date indicated. 

Interview details

Applicant interviews will be held between March 9th and 18th. Those invited to an interview, to be held in small groups, will be given the choice between several time slots, including early evening. Interviews will take place at the University of Manitoba for Winnipeg applicants; those more distant will be offered in the applicant’s location. Candidates will be notified by Friday, March 6th if they have been invited to an interview. Full details about what to expect from the interview will be provided in advance.

Who we are

Connect with our team at the James W. Burns Leadership Institute.

The James W. Burns Leadership Institute offers undergraduate and graduate students from faculties across the university opportunities to develop leadership knowledge and skills necessary to pursue careers in any field. Visit our site to learn more about our innovative educational leadership programming.

Contact us

James W. Burns Leadership Institute
Room 414 Drake Centre
181 Freedman Cres.
University of Manitoba (Fort Garry Campus)
Winnipeg, MB R3T 5V4

204-474-7071