Leadership Programmes: Leadership Development Programme (LDP)

About LDP

The Leadership Development Programme (LDP) is a Special Programme started in 2003 to cater to the leadership development of gifted pupils in secondary schools. LDP seeks to complement the leadership development opportunities already provided by the schools. From Jan 2011, the new LDP focuses on developing the capacity of participants for servant-leadership through a mentorship attachment with an adult leader and undertaking a project that benefits the community.

Aim

The LDP seeks to develop the capacity of participants for servant-leadership in a diverse society.

Objectives

By the end of the programme, participants will have:

• a heightened awareness of the importance of being reflective about personal values, attitudes, skills and abilities;
• the knowledge on how to use information to make decisions that are sensitive to stakeholders’ needs;
• created experiences for others to discover knowledge and grow together;
• a deeper understanding of the importance of having a genuine desire to listen to others;
• sharpened their skills of persuasion to build consensus; and
• shown high standards of performance and personal integrity.

Programme Description

To achieve the above aims, the programme consists of 3 important features, which are planned and implemented in collaboration with external agencies.

• Component 1 — Seminar

  The seminar aims to help participants gain a deeper understanding of their personal leadership values and develop a deeper understanding of responsible leadership.

  It consists of a half-day experiential session, dialogue sessions with leaders, group discussions and reflection time.

• Component 2 — Mentorship

  The mentorship starts with a 2-day learning journey experience. Participants will visit the organisations where their mentors are serving as leaders, dialogue with leaders, and gather data to identify a possible project for implementation.

  The mentorship is for a period of 8 months. During the mentorship, participants and mentors must meet as a group for a minimum of 3 sessions. Further discussions may be conducted through email correspondences. The participants will work on projects in groups of 5 during the mentorship. Project implementation provides participants with opportunities to practise and sharpen their leadership values, attitudes, and skills.

  Mentors will help mentees to reflect on the team’s decision-making process and the impact the project will have on the community. They will facilitate the mentees’ reflection of their personal leadership values, attitudes, skills and abilities.

• Component 3 — Symposium

  This programme culminates in a symposium. During the symposium, participants share their projects and their leadership development journey with students who are interested in joining LDP. The symposium is organised by the participants under the guidance of GE Branch officers.

Target Group

Year 4 pupils in School-based Gifted Education who meet the following criteria can apply:

• completed basic leadership skills training, in terms of leadership models, communication skills and problem solving;
• shown leadership potential;
• exhibited a strong interest to effect positive change in the community in the areas of policy issues and good governance; and
• committed to attend all the sessions planned.