A 21st Century Leadership Initiative
SCHOOL OF
LEADERSHIP
MUNCafè School of Leadership © 2016 Worldview Institute of Learning & Leadership . All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form, or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright holder and the publisher. MUNCafè Suite 409/411, Block 2, White House, Begumpet, Hyderabad, India. Call us: +91 40 6686 2210 | Email: info@muncafe.com | Web: www.muncafe.com
SCHOOL OF
LEADERSHIP
The World,
Today
We are at the brink of a new age. This is an age that prioritizes experience over theory and collaboration over isolation.
That the world is fast changing is an accepted fact.
Ten years ago Facebook was in its infancy, Twitter was being launched and nobody owned an iPhone. Today, the world is a very different place. Facebook has over 1.7 billion users while 6000 tweets are published each second and iPhone sales have surpassed 1 billion! With the advent of the internet, information has become abundant, accessible and free. This information symmetry is levelling the playing field, neutralizing competitive advantages and creating a flatter world. We are at the brink of a new age. This is an age that prioritizes experience over theory and collaboration over isolation. Fuelled by technology, the youth has transcended physical boundaries and has ascribed to the notion of a global citizenry. Having recognized the
need for meaningful cross-cultural engagement, the current youth is seeking opportunities for diverse experiences, international exposure and experiential learning. Meanwhile, the workplace, too, has evolved from a unidirectional, specialized and static ecosystem to a multicultural, multidisciplinary and dynamic one. Unlike the previous generations, the average employee of today will hold almost twenty different jobs in a single career! As such, mere technical and domain specific knowledge has become inadequate for success and the focus has shifted to experiential learning and 21st century skills. The need of the hour for prospective future leaders and global citizens is that of adaptive capacity, which emphasizes the capacity to collaborate, communicate and solve dynamic problems.
Contents 01
Model UN & Leadership
UN School of 04 Model Leadership MUN Connect 05 The Program
07 07
The 21st Century
Leader
The challenges of the world have evolved in the
21st century and so too have the notions of leadership to face those challenges. The basic skills required for success, which the traditional education system attempts to inculcate in its students, have progressed. The focus has shifted from specialization and domain specific knowledge to adaptive capacity, collaboration and holistic leadership. The 21st century leader is one who has developed this adaptive capacity. One who is not only self-aware but also aware of the world. One who leads by example, but also learns from it. One who is empathetic of peers. One who engages in relationships and not transactions. One who not only encourages their team to excel but also sets the benchmark by example. One who can stand alone in their opinion against the crowd and still prevail. One who is outspoken but also sensitive. One who can think on their feet and face challenges that have never before presented. One who is aggressive in thought but diplomatic in approach. The 21st century leader is one who can discern facts from biased opinion. One who can recognize that local initiatives can sometimes have global implications while global initiatives can sometimes get lost at the grassroots. One who understands the need to collaborate with the community and to raise dialogue for development. One whose ideas are underscored by sustainability and actions are geared for positive impact. One who has the courage to dream. One who has the courage to change the world.
“
The 21 st century leader is one who has the courage to dream - one who has the courage to change the world
“
MUNCafe School of
Leadership
OUR IDENTITY
MUNCafe is a Global Academic Simulations Platform that has engaged over 10,000 students from over 250 schools from across the world, in the last seven years through academic simulations and learning programs. The School ofLeadership is a learning ecosystem developed by MUNCafe to address the need for 21 st century leadership.
OUR VISION
OUR WORK
OUR VALUES
We envision co-creating a knowledge society – one which constructs, shares, and uses knowledge for the prosperity and well-being of its people.
The School of Leadership helps students transform their latent talent into a powerful adaptive capacity and prepares them for 21 st century leadership through Model UN and parallel experiential learning. We employ several experiential learning tools such as the feel to form method, project management, case studies, internships and travel, to develop skills and leadership faculties including communication and collaboration, negotiation and diplomacy and sociocultural awareness besides research and writing, problem solving and solution building and project management.
Nothing can be taught At the very best, we are gardeners. We sow, water and nurture, but it is the seed that has to tap into its innate knowledge in order to grow. All it needs is the right environment and a little help, and we are delighted to help! Education is continuous The acquisition of knowledge and skills is a continuous and gradual process, triggered by curiosity and inspiration. Our effort it to help one learn enough today, to learn better and more tomorrow. Learning needs to be person centric Every individual is unique, with variedinterests, strengths and learning needs. We understand that, and keep the indivudal at the center of our conversations and decisions. We swim in blue oceans and play in green fields We deliver with Delight and Sincerity. We believe in the power of combination, and access our network of independent professionals and partners from across the world to increase our value-proposition.
Pedagogy
R ecently, the world has witnessed the emergence of many advancements which have changed the way one learns, works
and operates. Farther, the introduction of low-cost travelling options has opened up the unique opportunity of travelling to wider audiences. The modern methods of education need to take these advancements and developments in cognizance to improve the efficiency of delivery. We employ a unique set of learning tools to deliver our programs, including media tools, film and theatre, music and art, and sports, along with a dynamic mix of experiential learning methods. • The feel to form method engages participants in a series of theory and application based learning modules. They are expected to apply the knowledge acquired in each module in a practical way to meet the objectives of the program. Including group or individual activities, the delivery and flow are flexible enough to allow participants to progress at their own pace. • The project method sees participants work on understanding a specific topic within broad guidelines. A complete project involves reading, writing, oral presentation, craft, research and personal opinion. This method frees one from the narrow view point of the pre-structured curriculum and allows each individual to take up something that is intrinsically interesting to them. A common platform for presenting and sharing of the completed projects
further enriches the experience. • The case method engages students in discussions and conversations around cases developed from real events. A case immerses individuals in the challenges they are expected to face in the future. This requires thoughtful analysis with limited of even insufficient information and an effective response within ambiguous circumstances or complex contexts. The most demanding aspect of the case method is the decisive action that must be articulated and even defended among other talented, ambitious individuals. • An internship allows students an opportunity to apply themselves in a real-time work environment with enough leeway to experiment, take risks and discover more about themselves. Across the world, internships are recognized as one of the most effective methods of experiential learning. • Travelling is transformational. It opens one’s mind to different possibilities and choices. In a world full of interdependencies, having the capacity to manage diversit is crucial in understanding and building relationships. Travel helps individuals develop the knowledge and skills requires for increasing this capacity. There is no parallel to travel in this context. It has the potential to transform individuals into more aware and conscious global citizens.
Model UN and
Leadership Model United Nations is an academic simulation of the United Nations and its various organs wherein participants emulate the roles of international diplomats and ambassadors. The intense discussions, informed deliberations and unyielding negotiations culminate in a structured resolution being voted upon, while employing the procedures and protocols of the UN itself.
Infografic of MUN Advantage and skills
The aim of a Model UN session is to develop universally
acceptable proposals to solve pressing global issues across various fields including human rights, disarmament and security, terrorism and climate change through informed debate, negotiation and consensus. Model UN has served as an exceptional experiential learning platform for students to develop leadership faculties and a sense of global citizenship. Students must engage various skills like public speaking and negotiation, problem solving and research and writing in order to excel at such simulations, enabling the expansion of their skillsets. Today, Model UN offers much more to students than only participating in the capacity of a delegate. Model UN Conferences are a holistic experience and as such they offer many learning avenues. Students have the
opportunity not only to participate in conferences, but also to create, manage, deliver and lead conferences. In so doing, they are exposed to numerous facets of the Model UN space, and more importantly, to various skills and leadership faculties. It is not surprising then that former MUNners have been extremely successful in their endeavours to create meaningful change and have held esteemed leadership positions in organizations across the globe. International universities also look favourably towards Model UN experience in deciding their admission offers. This is evidence that Model UN is a tested platform for students to develop their skills and faculties, while having meaningful cross-cultural engagement and learning experiences.
MUN Connect Program
The MUN Connect Program is an innovative residential
experiential learning program, to equip students with essential leadership skills and values required for success in the 21 st century. It introduces students to Model UN, and provides them with the right perspective required to derive the maximum learning from Model UN experiences. It is aimed at developing holistic 21 st century leaders. Spread over five days, the programme employs a unique pedagogy, inspired from David Kolb’s model of experiential learning. It ensures that students imbibe traits of leadership and teamwork, and learn communication, research, and critical and creative thinking skills.
Students have the opportunity of directly engaging with our Global Model UN Ambassadors, scholars and industry leaders, through interactive modules. Students participate in various adventure and team building activities to inculcate holistic leadership and allow for social and emotional learning. Upon completion of the program, students find themselves socially and culturally aware global citizens, and self-aware holistic leaders, armed with adaptive capacity. Students are also ready to participate in and excel at international Model UN conferences, to continue their learning.
Participation Learning Service
Program
Structure The MUN Connect Program is structured into five learning clusters: Communication, Research and Writing, Critical Thinking and Ideation, Social and Cultural Awareness, and Teamwork and Leadership. Each cluster is delivered across several modules, and includes adventure and team building activities to allow for holistic learning.
Communication
01 02
Research & Writing
Critical Thinking & Ideation
03 04
Social & Cultural Awareness
Teamwork & Leadership
05
01
Communication The communication learning cluster includes communication skills, negotiation skills and persuasion skills. The primary learning objective is how to communicate ideas effectively, how to negotiate positions, and how to persuade others of an idea. Students participate in various communication based activities, such as a Morse code challenge as well as an impromptu debate. The need for communication skills is ubiquitous today. Every process requires the communication of an idea or thought, and learning how to communicate effectively ensures that students are well equipped to present themselves in the best manner, garnering success not only in Model UN conferences, debates and discussions, but also in applying to college and in job interviews.
02
Research & Writing The information technology revolution has led to an abundance of free information, accessible to all. However, it is filtered through media biases and populist agenda. As such, the process of becoming an informed citizen is much more than the mere reading of a news bulletin or acquiring facts. One must learn to negotiate biases and opinions, and read between the lines to gain an effective understanding of the diverse world around them. The research and writing cluster exposes students to the meaning of informed citizenship and to research methodologies, besides taking them through different writing styles, frameworks and structures. This also helps students identify problem areas and work towards building effective and comprehensive solutions for them, while accounting for different perspectives and stakeholders.
Students employ Edward De Bono’s Six Thinking Hats to ideate, curate and present their campaign idea. They then use the same process to organize a talent night at the camp! Critical and creative thinking are the foundation of any idea or solution. It is of no doubt that great thinkers are extremely successful in their personal, academic and professional lives, including Model UN. As such, critical and creative thinking is one of the most important 21 st century skills for any student.
04
Social & Cultural Awareness Today’s interconnected world has left physical boundaries to little use, as all avenues have grown to become more multicultural than ever before. As such, it is important for one to be socially and culturally aware, to be able engage in meaningful interactions with individuals from different cultures, spaces and places. Social and cultural awareness can only come from experiential learning, and is a product of a cumulative process of interacting with diverse individuals through multicultural engagements and travelling. Model UN is a great avenue for intercultural interactions, and the MUN Connect program ensures that students may leverage their social and cultural awareness to increase the value of their Model UN experience, by forming lifelong relationships with students from across the world. Not only does this make students into informed global citizens, but also gives them access to a global network which they may leverage in the future, for college applications, job opportunities or even just a conversation!
Research is one of the foundational tools of success in Model UN. It is also the basis of all academic work. Being a successful researcher reflects very highly on a student when applying to higher education institutes, besides affording them an opportunity to excel at a career based on research or media analysis, like journalism, data science, academia, and others.
05
03
The MUN Connect program drives teamwork and leadership skills throughout the program, through various adventure and team building activities, which require the students to work in groups. It places students in leadership roles to give them the necessary experience required, for them to develop their leadership skills. It teaches students how to work with teams, which is essential to any Model UN conference, and prepares them for professional life. Students become capable of taking independent decisions, making informed choices, and leading by example.
Critical Thinking & Ideation All great things come from great ideas. But where do great ideas come from? The critical thinking and ideation learning cluster engages students in different models of creative and critical thinking. Students work in groups to create a social campaign, and have the opportunity of presenting their work to an industry leader!
Teamwork & Leadership Teamwork is another essential trait in the modern world, as most processes require groups to work together, while leadership skills allow one to reach the zenith of their potential.
The
Approach Experiential learning is foundational on the notion that learning is a result of self-reflection, and abstraction from experience. This is best reflected in our pedagogy which has been inspired by David Kolb’s model of experiential learning. Instead of mere content delivery, our program focuses on creating meaningful experiences for students from which they may extrapolate and abstract concrete knowledge with the help of our mentors’ guidance. Each of our modules is centred around an experience that engages and challenges the student to drive the learning objectives. The MUN Connect program employs the feel to form method, the case method, and the project method, besides its emphasis on travel, to drive the learning objectives. The best learning emerges in the context of supportive relationships that make learning challenging, engaging and meaningful and we strive to provide such an environment to our students.
Faculty Excellent leaders have excellent mentors. The School of Leadership ensures that each fellow is mentored by a successful leader, who not only serves as a role model and an inspiration, but also as a guide and teacher. Each of the fellows is assigned a mentor from the academic board of the school, who is available to the fellows throughout the program. The mentors are all well-established individuals with a proven record in leadership underscored by positive social impact.
ADITYA SOMA CEO, MUNCafe Aditya Soma is a Gandhian scholar with a PhD in Gandhian Political Thought. He currently curates a museum dedicated Gandhi, and serves on the board of various forums including the International Forum for Gandhian Leadership.
HIMANSHU CHARAN is the Vice President of Communications for West Asia at Coke. He has served on numerous international panels and forums including the Young Leaders Forum in 2011.
KATHERINE BONNER earned her bachelors in political science and ethics from Emory University and is a veteran MUNner. She has participated in or staffed over thirty conferences internationally.
SAMPREETH REDDY is the Head of Research at Gateway House India, an international foreign policy think tank. He holds a doctorate in international security and has been published in leading journals.
PRAKRITI SHARMA
is a theatre actor and a producer associated with the Bombay Natak Company. She has performed in numerous international theatre productions and has been awarded the Best Theatre Production award for 2014.
Mentorship Excellent leaders have excellent mentors. The School of Leadership ensures that each fellow is mentored by a successful leader, who not only serves as a role model and an inspiration, but also as a guide and teacher. Each of the fellows is assigned a mentor from the academic board of the school, who is available to the fellows throughout the program. The mentors are all well-established individuals with a proven record in leadership underscored by positive social impact.
ADITYA SOMA CEO, MUNCafe
HIMANSHU CHARAN COO, MUNCafe
Aditya Soma is a Gandhian scholar with a PhD in Gandhian Political Thought. He currently curates a museum dedicated Gandhi, and serves on the board of various forums including the International Forum for Gandhian Leadership.
is the Vice President of Communications for West Asia at Coke. He has served on numerous international panels and forums including the Young Leaders Forum in 2011.
KATHERINE BONNER earned her bachelors in political science and ethics from Emory University and is a veteran MUNner. She has participated in or staffed over thirty conferences internationally.
SAMPREETH REDDY is the Head of Research at Gateway House India, an international foreign policy think tank. He holds a doctorate in international security and has been published in leading journals.
PRAKRITI SHARMA
is a theatre actor and a producer associated with the Bombay Natak Company. She has performed in numerous international theatre productions and has been awarded the Best Theatre Production award for 2014.
Future
Prospects The MUN Connect program prepares students to take on the challenges of the future, be it in their personal, academic or professional life. The program drives important personal skills and inculcates values which enable the fellows to have fulfilling personal lives. They find themselves empathetic towards the state of the world, and find meaning in their work. They experience a natural drive to create a positive and meaningful change through their leadership. They find personal encouragement as a result of participating in the community of learners and engaging with the alumni networks. Further, they are socially and emotionally capable of making informed life choices, and have credible experiences to rely on, instead of making blind decisions. They develop lifelong friendships and an invaluable network of proven leaders and change makers. Upon completion of the program, students who strive for excellence and wish to admit themselves into world class institutes of higher learning, find themselves adequately skilled to transition into academia, and to submit compelling applications for admission. They find that they are capable of drawing from their leadership experiences in designing their personal statements, and are in a position to receive recommendations from proven leaders. Notably,
ISHTEYAQUE AMJAD Vice President, Coke
“
The need of the hour is of adaptive capacity and soft skills. We need individuals to can work with others to solve dynamic challenges. The MUN Connect program is surely building leaders for tomorrow, today.
they are able to make informed decisions about their education choices, as they have engaged with subject areas of their interest. Finally, the MUN Connect certification serves as proof of the student’s dedication to learn, participate and lead, beyond the classroom. In the professional phase of their life too, students benefit extensively from the program. They are able to translate their ideas into actionable projects, and are able to take on leadership roles in premier organizations. They find that they are already skilled in handling professional communication and working in multicultural and diverse teams. They have credible experiences to rely on while making decisions which enable them to have enhanced vision. They succeed in most roles, as they have developed their adaptive capacity and can adapt to new and unique tasks and situations. They find that they are in a position of advantage in handling their interview and application processes, and have the confidence to express themselves clearly and openly. In all, the MUN Connect program prepares students to have fulfilling personal lives, make informed life choices, and succeed in academia and in the professional sphere.
“
Learning
Outcomes The MUN Connect program is no ordinary undertaking, and is one that requires exceptional dedication, motivation and passion. The program drives multiple learning outcomes which culminate in the development of a 21st century leader. Upon successful completion of the program, fellows are equipped with all that theyneed to succeed, not only in Model UN, but also beyond it. In particular, fellows are equipped to: • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Adapt to new and unique tasks and situations Think critically and creatively to ideate solutions Communicate ideas effectively and in succinct Negotiate conflicts and persuade audiences Work in multicultural teams and settings Create positive meaningful impact Demonstrate leadership in action and thought Make informed personal choices Empathize with different perspectives Engage a global network of learners and leaders Connect with their community and society Access world class universities and institutions Succeed in the job market and have a fulfilling career
Application
Process Applications to the program are competitive and are reviewed on a rolling basis. Admissions are offered based on a combination of multiple factors which are indicative of the applicant’s potential to become a 21 st century leader and their interest in and dedication to the program. To be eligible for the program, applicants must be: • At least 13 years of age • A full time student at a school, studying in the 8 th grade or higher • Interested in Model UN, with an aspiration for leadership • Motivated and of good character, as demonstrated in a letter of recommendation from the school The following indicators are considered favourably in the admissions process: • Prior Model UN participation • Prior leadership experience • Passion for creating positive impact • Ability to learn from peers Prospective applicants need to submit the completed application form along with a letter of recommendation to the MUNCafe School of Leadership to be considered for the program.
Costs &
Fees
The MUN Connect program is priced at Rs. 27,000/- plus taxes (Ex-Hyderabad) INCLUSIONS: • Tuition and materials • Meals and lodging for the duration of the program • Access to MUNCafe resources and learning material • Travel between Hyderabad city and campsite Please note that participants have to make their own travel arrangements to and from Hyderabaad.
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