More than 40 young Australian university students from across the country have been selected to participate in the United States Embassy Student Leadership Program from August to December 2020.
This program has been funded by the United States Embassy in Canberra and facilitated by the USC Centre for International Development, Social Entrepreneurship and Leadership (CIDSEL), which is based at Noosa Heads.
Because of COVID-19 travel restrictions, CIDSEL redesigned the planned six-day program into a 12-week online program plus a three-day capstone visit to Canberra.
The program features presentations by motivational speakers and mentors, and includes targeted sessions to help students develop their leadership and diplomacy skills.
It provides an opportunity for the undergraduate and postgraduate students from 20 Australian universities studying political sciences and international relations to become agents of change by promoting and advancing the alliance and the shared visions and values of the two countries.
The Head of Public Affairs at the US Consulate General in Sydney, Donald Maynard, is one of the program’s guest presenters.
He said the program was important for both the US and Australia as it provided a better understanding of the views and perspectives of young Australians, the issues that are important to them, and the future relationship between the two countries.
USC Lecturer in Politics and International Relations Dr Stefanie Fishel said: “By bringing together experts in their fields, diplomats and military leaders, we hope that this program provides students with an understanding of the Australian and American alliance, and the role that it plays in regional and global governance.”
“We hope to educate and inspire Australia’s future diplomatic leaders for the challenges we face in the 21st century,” she said.
