Knowledge is GREAT: engaging Alberta’s future leaders

Students these days have it easy. I remember when I graduated from Calgary’s Mount Royal University not so long ago, things were different.

Sure, I knew that a British Consul-General was coming to Calgary, but he wasn’t interested in hearing my opinion… was he? As far as I was concerned, foreign governments focused more on following Alberta’s political and economic developments, rather than its future leaders. If only some senior level UK diplomat had wanted to talk to me when I was a student… how cool would that have been!

My experience as a student growing up in Alberta has taught me that networking and engaging with experienced professionals are essential to successfully develop one’s career. While I was, at the time, very aware that I needed to proactively develop these skills, I often struggled to find the opportunities to do so.

As a student keenly interested in International Relations and Foreign Affairs, I was constantly on the lookout for opportunities to interact directly with key players in the international community. Imagine what I could have done if some kind of program existed where I could engage directly with senior level officials from a foreign government?

That’s why I am especially excited that the British Consulate-General Calgary, in partnership with the University of Calgary and Mount Royal University, is providing some of these networking and learning opportunities to Alberta’s students through the Knowledge is GREAT: UK-Alberta Future Leaders Forum.

Ever since the British Consulate-General officially opened its doors in September of 2012, we have been struck and impressed by the depth and quality of Alberta’s student population. The fact that quite a few of our staff are graduates of Alberta’s post secondary institutions speaks further to this point. Covering a wide variety of topics, there is a tremendous array of fresh and informed thinking in Alberta’s centres for advanced learning and we want to hear more!

We have worked closely with our colleagues at the University of Calgary and Mount Royal University to identify students that have shown tremendous leadership capabilities and a keen interest in international relations. This group of rising thinkers will contribute to growing the UK and Canada’s relationship by:

• Having the opportunity to engage periodically in strategic discussion with a range of prominent UK visitors to Alberta, including senior officials from the UK government, and senior staff based in Canada, such as the high commissioner.
• Participating in British Consulate-General social and other events, where they will meet with other prominent opinion formers in Alberta.
• Using social media to highlight activities of the group and its discussion alongside the British Consulate-General.

As a recent graduate of the policy studies program at Mount Royal University, I have the advantage of observing this program from a student perspective. From my experience, opportunities like this are extremely unique and incredibly fruitful for interested students. The demand is undeniable; we are hoping to provide the supply. 

The Knowledge is GREAT: Future Leaders Forum is a clear example of how the UK is not only investing in Alberta’s industry, but also Alberta’s future leaders.

Help us continue this conversation on twitter by following Consul General @anthonypkay and @UKinCanada. Also, included the hashtag #KnowledgeisGREAT.