Global Change Leaders is a 20-week professional education program that brings together a diverse group of emerging women leaders who are drivers and innovators across development sectors.  Through this certificate program, a new generation of women will strengthen their leadership capacities to ignite unparalleled change at the community, national and international levels. 

 

If you cannot find your answer below, please contact us at womenlead@stfx.ca

 

Selection

How will successful participants be determined?
How long after I apply will I know if I have been selected?
Do I require a visa to travel to Canada for educational purposes?

Travel

Does the Coady International Institute pay for my travel? 
Do I require a visa to travel to Canada for educational purposes?
If accepted, how do I obtain a visa? 
Do I have to look after getting a visa on my own?
Will I travel to another country and will I need a visa?

 

 

 

 

If you meet the qualification requirements, please complete the application and reference form which can be found at http://coady.stfx.ca/women/change-leaders/apply.  Email completed forms to womenlead@stfx.ca. The selection committee will then decide on your acceptance and financial support.   Back To Top

 

Scholarships are available to cover the cost of travel, tuition, room and board, and placement costs for successful candidates.  Back To Top

 

We strongly recommend applying as soon as possible, and no later than September 1, 2011. Early applications will be reviewed immediately by the selection committee and successful applicants will be notified as soon as the committee makes a decision.  It has been our experience that it can take some time to acquire a visa to come to study in Canada and in some cases, to get the visa for a placement.   Back To Top

 

There is no cost involved in applying for this program.  Back To Top

 

All of our educational programs are in English.  While it is not the first language of most of our participants, it is essential you are able to learn and communicate in an English environment to participate in the program.  A minimum TOEFL score of 550 or the equivalent is required for the program. A copy of the Certificate showing completion of the test and the final score should be included with your application.   However if you have studied at a post secondary institution in English you can send proof of that in place of the test.   Back To Top

 

The 2011-2012 program invites applications from women from the global south who have demonstrated leadership in a development sector for at least two years but would still be considered an emerging leader. Women who have held leadership roles for a number of years should not apply for this certificate, but may be eligible for other Coady Education programs. Please see this link for our other programs: http://coady.stfx.ca/education/

 

Participants should meet the following requirements:

 

If you are not working full-time with an organization it is important that you clearly outline your experience and how you intend to use the learnings/experience from our program to strengthen your leadership knowledge and skills in order to enhance your abilities to lead and act at the community, national and global levels.  This is necessary in order for the selection committee to determine if you qualify for the program.  Back To Top

 

I’m a student studying development –can I apply to the program?
If you have the necessary experience noted above, and have gone back to complete a relevant degree or course of study, you may be eligible. Please also refer to the qualification requirements for the program.  A recent graduate may be selected based on experience and other proven commitment and abilities.   Back To Top

 

Yes – for the 2011-2012 certificate program, only women from the global south are eligible. However, please continue to check our website periodically as we are developing new programs and new funding opportunities.   Back To Top

 

 

 

 A selection committee will review information provided on application forms, including work experience, reference letters and applicants’ brief essays on why they think they qualify for this program.  In addition to this, determination of qualification will be based on specified requirements (see above). Phone or Skype calls, or email exchange may take place with shortlisted candidates to finalize selection.  Back To Top

 

 Review of applications and acceptances will start by June, 2011 and continue until September 1, 2011. For that reason we strongly encourage you to apply early.   Back To Top

 

 

 

 Successful candidates will qualify for travel cost scholarships.   Back To Top

 

 

This will depend upon the country of your citizenship.  Many people do not require a visa to visit Canada, but we anticipate that most applicants will require a visa.  Those who do not require a visa to enter Canada are citizens of:

Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Botswana, Brunei, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel (National Passport holders only), Italy, Japan, Korea (Republic of), Latvia (Republic of), Lithuania (require an e-passport), Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Poland (require an e-passport), Portugal, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Swaziland, Sweden, Slovenia, Switzerland, United States, and Western Samoa.

 

There are additional persons who do not require visas to visit Canada. Please check this website for details and up to date information on visa requirements: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/visas.asp

 

 

 We will mail documents to you proving your successful acceptance to our program. You will take these documents to your local Canadian Embassy or Consulate, in addition to any other documents required by the Embassy or Consulate for application for a Canadian visa.   You will be responsible for all costs associated with obtaining a visa. Please note that the proof of successful acceptance to our program is not a guarantee for issue of a visa.   Accepted applicants who do not have proof of a visa within a deadline that will be provided may lose their spot to someone else.  Back To Top

 

 The course includes an international placement for up to 10 weeks in a country other than your own. Every effort will be made to identify placements prior to your travel to Canada. This means that once accepted into the program, you will have to be in regular contact with your Coady facilitator to determine when to start the visa application process.   Back To Top

 

What are the program dates?
The program is 20 weeks long. The onsite component of the program will begin on January 23rd, 2012 on the beautiful campus of St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. Participants will head out to their field placements at the end of February and return to the campus in Antigonish in early May. The program will conclude with a graduation ceremony on May 25th, 2012.  There will be an introductory two-week online component to the program conducted between the end of November and early December, 2011.  Participants will also be matched to a mentor who will advise, guide and support them through a 6-month period (including the program period), and be linked to a global network of other women leaders. Although the on-campus program in Canada will be very important, we consider the placement and mentoring activities to be critical and applicants must commit to the full 20-week program. 

 

Class sessions typically run Monday to Friday 9 AM (900) to 5 PM (1700). However, there will be some special evening sessions, homework, as well as weekend trips and activities. We recommend that you assume that your time will be completely booked while in Canada. If you would like to visit friends or family or sightsee on your own outside of Antigonish, we suggest that you plan for time after the end of the program.  The Coady International Institute will not be responsible for organizing any personal travel.  Back To Top

 

 

The program facilitators will identify at least two or three potential mentors and placement agencies for you.  A decision will be made in consultation with you, the mentors and placement agencies based on the best match for your capacity enhancement  Back To Top

 

 We will welcome suggestions from participants on potential mentors and placements. The suggestions will be considered alongside other potential mentors and placement agencies identified by the course facilitators for you. A decision will be made based on the best match for your capacity enhancement, with input from objective third parties.  Back To Top

 

 

 Participants will be placed in agencies that are a suitable match for the kind of work they are engaged in, and for the sorts of capacities that they seek to build. Your placement agency may therefore be in Canada, in your country or in a different country. In most cases, we expect your placement to be in an international setting.  Back To Top

 

 Participants will spend a total of up to ten weeks in their placement agencies, including their travel to and from the field placements.  Back To Top