Program to Boost Student Leadership Skills

By: Nada Tarek Rashed
@NadaTarek

The American University in Cairo will begin offering a Leadership Institute Program for student leaders to learn leadership skills and develop solutions to real-life problems this semester.

The initiative is under the office of the Dean of Students and supported by the Vice President for Student Life Deena Boraie, who also provided funding for the program.

“We wanted to show students who are in leadership positions at AUC Clubs and associations the skills and the behaviors that make other students want to follow them,” said Dean of Students George Marquis, who founded the program.

The program is free of charge and will be open to student leaders in their sophomore or junior years.

“We wanted students who want to be in leadership positions at AUC clubs and associations. We know that these students can benefit from leadership skills,” said Marquis.

Beginning February 5 and running every week for 12 weeks, students will receive two-and-a-half hours of instruction from Business and Education Professor Kevin B. O’Connell.

“It’s a course that is similar to the Business Leadership Course offered by the business department but for free without any costs,” said Student Union (SU) President Saeed Zakaria.

Students in leadership positions were informed about this opportunity by emails from the Office of Student Life, the Office of Athletics, the Dorms and the SU.

“When Dr. Marquis informed me, I instantly sent [the information] to leaders of organizations in addition to the SU Chairs on the WhatsApp groups to encourage them to join this program,” said Zakaria.

In a bid to incentivize the non-credit program, students who complete the 12 weeks will receive a certificate which can be added to their co-curricular transcript.

Marquis stressed that this course will help students in their real-life experiences and internships outside AUC.

“We will also recognize them as representatives of the community…we will rely on them if we need to invite student representatives for example on the Centennial event or meetings with the Board of Trustees,” he said.

Any roles and responsibilities which come with earning the certificate will not conflict with the SU’s current campus roles.

“This won’t conflict the roles, however, this is a very good thing to make other students try the experience of representing students and leading them,” shared Zakaria.

But Finance senior and Model Council of Minister (MCM) Human Associate Resources Director Mayar Hamza believes that leadership roles are not restricted to student activities alone, but also experienced in group projects, internships and sports.

“I think this program must be offered to all AUC students not only Students in leadership positions,” Hamza told The Caravan.

Marquis promised that this program can be opened up to all AUC students. He explained that the only reason it is starting with student leaders is because of the capacity of the course, currently at a maximum of 30 students.