Developing a New Generation of Leadership at the University of Calgary Case Study on the Maier Student Leadership Program

摘要

There is an increasing understanding amongst engineering academic institutions of the importance in educating engineers not only to have technical skills, but also professional skills. The Canadian engineering graduate attributes specifically mention certain skills, including the ability to undertake leadership roles within team environments. However, formal leadership education is rarely included in engineering curriculum. Thus, leadership training becomes the responsibility of the employer, or the skills must be acquired through on-the-job experience. In 2006, the Schulich School of Engineering at the University of Calgary recognized and acted upon this opportunity to provide engineering students with a unique and powerful means of enhancing their leadership abilities while completing their degree programs. The Maier Student Leadership Program provides engineering students who have demonstrated an interest in leadership with the opportunity to accelerate their leadership development and realise their full leadership potential. This includes students involved in engineering students' societies, competitive teams and student clubs. This paper will describe the program structure, the content presented, and some of the feedback received from participants. Elements of the program include individual coaching, formal learning in classroom and workshop settings, and two annual conferences. The conferences include sessions on leadership, guest panels or keynotes from industry, interactive workshops, and networking with peers. The power of the program comes from combining the practical leadership experience the students receive as a result of their roles in various student societies and project teams with leadership training, mentoring and coaching. This allows the students not only to learn new skills and knowledge but to apply and adapt these elements in a real work situation all within the security of a safe learning environment. Reflections will be made by looking at historical feedback data and accounts from the founding members of the program, who have been involved in all of its eight years. It is anticipated that an understanding will be gained into the students' perceptions of the offered activities and the students' commitment to their own personal leadership development. This case study will provide a model for undergraduate institutions looking to provide similar engineering leadership development opportunities.