Become a Change Maker
The programme offers 25 undergraduate students from across the University the chance to work on projects and develop skills that enable them to become change makers both at Queen's and in the wider community. The project work, which takes place at Queen's, is enhanced by a short visit to an international location, this academic year we are off to New York to meet with alumni, other professionals and a range of companies.
Now in its 6th year, over 100+ QUB students have previously visited international locations such as Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, New York/Washington DC, Toronto and Boston.
Applications for Future-Ready Skills for Leaders: Go Global are now closed for the trip to New York in 2024.
Future-Ready Skills for Leaders: Go Global
The aim of this programme is to enable students to develop leadership skills through working on a real-world problem. This will be enhanced through an international experience in New York.
Queen’s University 2030 Strategy sets out how it will embed the UN Sustainable Development Goals across the University. Therefore our theme this year will be "How might students contribute to Queen's becoming a Net Zero University by 2040?" Students will work in teams, using Design Thinking training to understand the challenges presented by the theme and create a proposal which they will then pitch to a panel of experts.
The programme will include:
- Recruitment of 25 students – any Undergraduate degree programme and any year. (Including integrated Masters degrees e.g. MSci or MEng)
- Online preparation – December 2023
- On campus workshops (4 and 5 January)- students will work in teams, understand the theme and learn the principles of Design Thinking to address the challenge.
- Between January and March participants will be expected to work in teams to undertake research related to the project theme.
- 19 and 20 March on campus workshops– to draw out the learning from the research, ideate and prototype a solution and to discuss plans for the international trip.
- Approx. 01-08 June 2024 - trip to New York to meet with Queen's alumni and other professionals. The trip will include visits to 8-10 companies and a networking event in the city.
On return to Belfast (19 and 20 June) students will:
- Work in their teams to hone their ideas into a pitch.
- Pitch their ideas to a panel of experts.
Full attendance in person at all workshops and participation in all activities is compulsory.
Why Take Part?
By taking part in this programme you can expect to:
- Work with a real client on a real world problem
- Gain a greater understanding of leadership and develop leadership skills including problem solving, communication, networking and interpersonal skills.
- Gain an understanding of how Design Thinking can be used to solve challenges.
- Develop team working and project management skills through undertaking a project with other students.
- Gain cultural awareness in an international environment.
- Visit a number of international organisations and gain an insight into international work cultures and environments.
- Network with students from Queen’s, alumni and other professionals in both Northern Ireland and New York.
- Be an ambassador for Queen’s.
- Gain the Queen's Future-Ready Award (Formally Degree Plus accreditation)
Future-ready Skills for Leaders: Go Global 2023 Highlights
Back in semester 2 in 2023, Future-Ready Skills for Leaders: Go Global kicked off in The Cube, One Elmwood for the 2022/2023 programme.
25 undergraduate students from across the University were selected for the 2023 programme. They came together to address the challenge:
“How might Queen's ensure our graduates are equipped to tackle 21st Century problems”?
The sessions included an introduction to “Design Thinking”, a very interesting panel event relating to the challenge and a range of activities to support the programme.
Workplace visits to Boston in 2023
Postcard from Boston! Last year our #QUBoston23 students embraced the Queen's University Belfast global alumni community with workplace visits in Boston to: Stratadice™ Rapid7 and Rian Immigrant Center before networking with alumni at the #futureleaders conference at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Harvard Business School and HealthBeacon organised by Laura Hamilton, President of Boston Irish Business Association. They also heard from Benjamin Stephens from the Department of Foreign Affairs, Ireland about the new J1 5-year Visa for Research and STEM.
“This programme completely changed my understanding of business strategy and leadership, making me feel more confident about the corporate environment and the different ways you can show leadership.” Maisie Linford
MA Media and Broadcast Production
Future-Ready Skills International: Go Global Highlights
Check out these images from our 2022-2023 Future-Ready Skills International: Go Global highlights, where our students visited Boston.
Find out about
More Global Opportunities
Other related Careers programmes
Future-Ready Skills for Leaders