Bronze – Build your foundations

Develop confidence, communication, Cultural Intelligence and your leadership identity. Complete five workshops: Empower your Confidence Master Your Clarity Create Connection through CQ Part 1 Talking Cultures Part 1 Your Leadership Identify AND Submit a final reflection Recognition: Certificate + Employability Points

Silver - Put your learning into practice

Deepen your intercultural and communication skills and apply your learning through an on-campus project or activity.Complete 8 workshops. Everything in Bronze plus: Create Connection through CQ Part 2Talking Cultures Part 2 Story Circles AND Engage in one on-campus project or event AND Submit a final reflection Recognition: Certificate + Employability Points + Open Reference Letter

Gold - Develop as a globally minded leader

Explore advanced Cultural Intelligence, ethical and sustainable leadership and continue developing the kind of leader you want to become. Complete 11 workshops. Everything in Silver plus: Create your Connection through CQ Part 3 Leading with Integrity Sustainability Advocacy OR Inner Development Goals AND Engage in one on-campus project or event AND Submit a final reflection Recognition: Certificate + Employability Points + Open Reference Letter + Official CQ Assessment and personalised de-brief

University of Kent GOLD Programme

The Global Officers Leadership Development (GOLD) Programme

Develop yourself. Connect with others. Lead with impact.

The GOLD (Global Officers Leadership Development) Programme is a flexible leadership development programme open to all Kent students at any stage of study. You don't need previous leadership experience, just curiosity, a willingness to participate and an interest in developing yourself and connecting with others.

Whether you're taking your first steps into leadership or preparing for your future career, GOLD will help you understand your strengths, communicate with confidence and develop the Cultural Intelligence (CQ) to work effectively with people from different backgrounds and perspectives.

Through interactive workshops, practical experiences and reflection, you'll develop skills you can use at university, in the workplace and wherever your future takes you.

Join at the beginning of any term and work towards a Bronze, Silver or Gold Award.

What will you develop?

Empower your confidence

Discover your strengths and leadership potential. Build greater self-awareness, recognise the strengths you already bring and develop the confidence to take your next step.

Master your clarity

Communicate with purpose and impact. Develop practical skills to communicate your ideas clearly, influence others and adapt your approach across academic, professional and leadership situations.

Create Connections through Cultural Intelligence

Learn to lead across cultures and difference. Develop your Cultural Intelligence (CQ), challenge assumptions and build the curiosity and adaptability to communicate, collaborate and lead effectively in diverse environments.

Get rewarded

There are different levels you can achieve. You can complete the Bronze award in a term or continue towards Silver and Gold. As you progress, you'll take part in additional workshops and experiences, deepen your Cultural Intelligence and have more opportunities to apply your learning.

Develop confidence, communication, Cultural Intelligence and your leadership identity.

Complete five workshops:

Empower your Confidence
Master Your Clarity
Create Connection through CQ Part 1
Talking Cultures Part 1
Your Leadership Identify

AND Submit a final reflection

Recognition:

Certificate + Employability Points

Deepen your intercultural and communication skills and apply your learning through an on-campus project or activity.

Complete 8 workshops. Everything in Bronze plus:

Create Connection through CQ Part 2
Talking Cultures Part 2
Story Circles

AND Engage in one on-campus project or event

AND Submit a final reflection

Recognition:

Certificate + Employability Points + Open Reference Letter

Explore advanced Cultural Intelligence, ethical and sustainable leadership and continue developing the kind of leader you want to become.

Complete 11 workshops. Everything in Silver plus:

Create your Connection through CQ Part 3
Leading with Integrity
Sustainability Advocacy OR Inner Development Goals

AND Engage in one on-campus project or event

AND Submit a final reflection

Recognition:

Certificate + Employability Points + Open Reference Letter + Official CQ Assessment and personalised de-brief

Make GOLD work for you

Start in Autumn, Spring or Summer. Complete Bronze in one term, or continue your development towards Silver and Gold across the year. How far you take your GOLD journey is up to you.

What our previous Global Officers had to say:

“I was able to improve my cultural awareness, communication skills, be more organised and learned how to plan my time more wisely.”

“It was enjoyable to see our work being put into practice, as a lot of university work is more theoretical and with GOLD, we had the opportunity to see the results of our work."

“In regard to career development, it helps me obtain project management and teamwork skills.”

GOLD events

Along the way, you'll explore topics including:

Confidence and self-awareness
Communication and influence
Cultural Intelligence
Intercultural communication
Leadership identity
Active listening
Ethical leadership
Sustainability
Inner Development Goals
Event and project management

"With my career development, it has helped me obtain project management and teamwork skills.”

Previous Global Officer

By taking part in GOLD, you can:

Understand and develop your strengths and leadership identity

Develop Cultural Intelligence for today's global workplace

Build relationships with students from different backgrounds

Gain practical experience through projects and activities

Develop experiences you can discuss in applications and interviews

Communicate with greater confidence and influence

Build your professional network and profile

Take GOLD as part of your degree

Stage 3 undergraduates in participating academic schools may also be able to take the GOLD Programme as a 20-credit optional module (INTL6020) in the Spring Term.

The module provides a credit-bearing route to completing the GOLD Award, combining interactive workshops with opportunities to put your learning into practice through activities across the University.

You'll develop your leadership, communication and intercultural skills, complete a Cultural Intelligence (CQ) Assessment, and reflect on your learning and development as part of the module assessment.

Global Leadership Development module