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Harvard, Aga Khan varsities partner in leadership programme

Monday, September 23rd, 2019 12:00 | By
Hugh O’Doherty from Harvard University speaks at the renewal of the partnership with Aga Khan Universty at Radisson Blu hotel, Nairobi. Photo/PD/JOHN OCHIENG

The Aga Khan University Graduate School of Media and Communications (GSMC) will, for the second consecutive year, collaborate with John F Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University in a leadership programme. 

The project is meant to help executives from Africa exercise leadership, boost their skills and effectiveness while communicating for impact.

It marks Harvard’s first collaboration with a university in the region to offer a similar course.

The initiative dubbed Transforming Leadership for 21st Century Africa combines the teaching experience of established faculty from both Kenya and US and incorporates seasoned leaders to share their experiences in dealing with leadership issues.

Dr Eric Aligula, Secretary, Infrastructure Sector, Executive Office of the President said the commitment of the Government to work in partnership with The Aga Khan University to help develop leadership capability within Kenya’s public sector.

“Skills garnered from the programme will guide participants to understand organisational dynamics, but also perform leadership in regional and global levels,” he said.

The programme comprises two modules: Adaptive Leadership for Africa and Voice of Leadership.

It welcomes emerging and proven leaders from various sectors from Kenya, Tanzania, Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Botswana, Egypt and Malawi. 

A representative from Harvard, Dr Hugh O’Doherty, said the programme is an excellent opportunity to bring leadership ideas from the American university to Africa.

The interim Dean of GSMC and Vice Provost of Aga Khan University East Africa, Dr Alex Awiti, said the partnership is crucial in nurturing the skills needed to advance leadership. 

Participants will graduate in November 2019, and  receive certificates from both Harvard and the Aga Khan University.

“They will gain new skills, fresh perspectives and strategies for dealing with specific workplace challenges and their organisations,” Awiti said. 

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