Media Release: Queen’s launches first-in-Canada fellowship program in social impact
July 20, 2022
Share
Building a community of leaders through the Advanced Leadership for Social Impact Fellowship
KINGSTON – Today, Queen’s announced the launch of a new one-year Fellowship program that will enable leaders across all sectors to better understand and address complex social and global challenges. The Advanced Leadership for Social Impact (ALSI) Fellowship is a first-in-Canada program that provides the tools, knowledge, and networks participants need to take on the root causes and drivers of the world’s greatest challenges – from housing affordability to climate change.
"To confront the significant social issues of our day, we need people with a deep understanding and appreciation of the complexities of how to make real impact," says Jim Leech, Former President and CEO of the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan and Chancellor Emeritus Queen’s University. “Through the Advanced Leadership for Social Impact Fellowship we have the opportunity to foster a community of leaders, from all walks of life, able to drive meaningful solutions for people and the planet.”
This October, Queen’s will welcome the first ALSI cohort, who will learn how to tackle-real world problems head-on through a unique human-centric approach in a hybrid learning environment. The program draws from field-leading Queen’s faculty, researchers, and industry experts, including environmental biologists, chemical engineers, business faculty and researchers, and international business lawyers and builds on Queen’s reputation as a leader in advancing sustainability and social impact.
“The Advanced Leadership for Social Impact Fellowship doesn’t look at social problems in isolation or from one perspective,” says Jean-Baptiste Litrico, Director of the Centre for Social Impact at Queen’s Smith School of Business and the program’s Co-Director. “The program is grounded in the belief that real issues are systemic and require a multidimensional leadership approach to inspire tangible solutions.”
The fellowship builds on Queen’s reputation as a leader in advancing sustainability and social impact. For two years in a row, the university has ranked top-10 globally in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, which measure the institution’s contributions to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
“At Queen’s, we empower our community to advance social impact through research, teaching, and outreach activities,” says Ted Christou, Associate Dean in the Faculty of Education and Co-Director of the program. “We can broaden this reach to likeminded leaders through a transformative curriculum focused on a diversity of perspectives and team-based solutions."
The Advanced Leadership for Social Impact Fellowship is currently recruiting participants for 2022-2023.
Media Contact
Victoria Klassen
Media Relations Officer
Queen’s University
Victoria.klassen@queensu.ca
343-363-1794
About Queen’s University
Queen’s University has a long history of scholarship, discovery, and innovation that has shaped our collective knowledge and helped address some of the world’s most pressing concerns. Home to more than 25,000 students, the university offers a comprehensive research-intensive environment with prominent strengths in physics, cancer research, geoengineering, data analytics, surveillance studies, art conservation, and mental health research. Welcoming and supporting students from all countries and backgrounds to a vibrant, safe, and supportive community is an important part of the Queen’s experience. Diverse perspectives and a wealth of experience enrich our campus and our community. A core part of our mission is to engage our students, staff, and faculty in international learning and research, both at home and abroad.
Queen’s University has ranked in the top 10 globally in the 2021 and 2022 Times Higher Education Impact Rankings. The rankings measured over 1,500 post-secondary institutions on their work to advance the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).