Leeds KAIST International Leadership Programme
The Leeds KAIST International Leadership Programme is a fully-funded opportunity to develop your ability to lead from a truly global perspective.
Working collaboratively with 15 students from KAIST University in South Korea, you will play a part in tackling the biggest issues facing businesses, governments and societies worldwide.
Applications for the 2025 programme are now closed for 2025.
If you have any questions about the programme, email the Undergraduate Research team at ugresearch@leeds.ac.uk.
About the programme
The Leeds KAIST International Leadership Programme combines theory, innovative practice and hands-on experience. It provides you with an international experience, challenging you to adapt and thrive in a new context while establishing a global network.
As part of the programme, you will:
- develop your cultural intelligence and leadership skills
- develop critical employability skills
- get unrivalled access to employers
- advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals
- learn with and from business leaders, world leading academic researchers and fellow students
- gain international experience that can be a real differentiator in the competitive graduate jobs market
- make long lasting friendships with students from the University of Leeds and KAIST University, South Korea.
The programme has been developed in partnership with Common Purpose, a not-for-profit leadership development organisation running programmes in more than 70 cities worldwide.
Everyone who successfully completes the programme gets a digital Common Purpose certificate and joins the Common Purpose alumni network – a 100,000-strong, growing, global community of alumni with exceptional diversity and a huge range of skills, interests and leadership experiences. You can also demonstrate your learning by earning the embedded Inclusive Leadership micro-credential, which can be displayed on your LinkedIn profile.
The 2025 programme
The 2025 programme will be delivered at KAIST University in South Korea, with additional industry visits providing you with the opportunity to engage with senior leaders from organisations in South Korea.
It will focus on addressing the UN Sustainability Goal 11, by answering the question “How can we ensure our cities are resilient and inclusive?”
2025 programme schedule
The 2025 Leeds KAIST International Leadership Programme will take place from 6 – 17 July 2025.
Participants are required to commit to attending the full duration of the programme and a pre-departure session in June (exact date to be confirmed).
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview. Attending the interview is compulsory to be considered for the programme.
Costs
The programme is generously funded by Leeds alumni. Your registration and programme fees will be covered by this donation, as well as travel, accommodation fees, and most meals.
How to apply
Applications for the 2025 programme are now open. Apply through MyCareer.
The programme is open to all University of Leeds undergraduate and taught postgraduate students, at all levels of study.
There are 15 places available to Leeds students. We are looking for students who want to gain an understanding of how to lead in multi-disciplinary and cross-cultural environments. We are not looking to recruit participants with proven leadership or international experience.
Application process
You will need to create a short video (up to two minutes in length) telling us why you want to apply for the programme.
You can be as innovative as you like, but remember, you need to ensure that you:
- demonstrate that you understand the programme objectives
- explain how it will benefit you personally
- explain how your learning on the programme could be applied in your future studies or career.
Drop-in information sessions
We are running some drop-in information sessions about the programme on Microsoft Teams:
- Wednesday 19 February, 12pm - 12.30pm – join the session on 19 February on Microsoft Teams
- Thursday 20 February, 1pm - 1.30pm – join the session on 20 February on Microsoft Teams
- Friday 21 February, 10am – 10.30am – join the session on 21 February on Microsoft Teams