Fisheries and Marine Institute of Memorial University of Newfoundland

New Program Aims to Challenge Understanding of Leadership and Explore Own Abilities

 Starting Fall 2021, the Marine Institute will welcome its first cohort into the new Undergraduate Certificate in Leadership. This new certificate will engage undergraduates, recent post-secondary graduates, and professionals across a range of industries who want to empower themselves and others to become leaders in their fields.

The program will challenge students to take an introspective look at their current leadership strengths, personal leadership assumptions and develop new skills and insights.

“We recognize the need to cultivate well-rounded leaders who think strategically but who also foster and support people in pursuit of organizational productivity and effectiveness,” explained Georgina White, program chair and instructor with the Institute’s School of Ocean Technology.

“We want students to explore their understanding of personal and organizational leadership and develop new competencies and abilities. When they can bring confidence along with strong communication and innovative thinking to what may be an uncertain, complex or changing work environment, everyone benefits.”

This new innovative program was inspired by the support of the Fry Family Foundation and their contribution to the Student Leadership Initiative at the Marine Institute. The foundation’s commitment to holistic leadership development across diverse sectors of industry and community is embraced in the program structure and curriculum.

The nine course program includes all core courses available online, as are several of the elective courses that revolve around three related streams of professional competencies - History and Politics, and Law and Human Resources and Labour.

Recognizing the varied backgrounds and leadership interests of individuals expected in the program, participants can direct their electives while learning essential leadership skills to build their professional abilities.

The program culminates with a Leadership Capstone course that allows the student to reflect on the program and examine how their leadership characteristics have matured through the process. That course will be delivered as an online 6-week intersession course that finishes with a leadership seminar in St. John’s that can also be attended virtually.

The program is offered full-time or part-time and offers admissions in the fall, winter, and spring semesters. Applications are now being accepted for the Fall 2021 semester.

The Undergraduate Certificate in Leadership is open to all students with at least three years of full-time work experience or a minimum of 30 credit hours of post-secondary education.

More information about the program and admission requirements are available at www.mi.mun.ca/programsandcourses/programs/certificateinleadership/