Partner organisations in Leiden: ‘Leadership is responding to the needs of others’
An important part of the Leiden Leadership Programme (LLP) is the practical assignment that students are given by a partner organisation. How does this benefit the organisations? Two Leiden partners talk about working with the students.
The Leiden Leadership Programme is an extracurricular honours programme for master's students aimed at developing leadership skills. In this programme, participants learn about various aspects of leadership and how to apply them.
Crucial to the LLP is the practical assignment, where students work on a leadership issue within a partner organisation of the programme. This allows them to apply and further develop the knowledge and skills they have gained in a real working environment.
The partners
This year, the practical assignment included working with Leiden Ongehinderd (formerly Platform Gehandicapten Leiden), an organisation that draws attention to people with permanent, temporary and situational disabilities within the municipality of Leiden. In doing so, the organisation tries to make it clear that the interests of people with disabilities do not conflict with those of other residents, and that everyone benefits from a more physically, digitally and socially accessible city.
Another partner organisation is the Leiden International Film Festival (LIFF) - not unknown to Leiden residents - a leading 11-day film festival that attracts more than 42,000 visits annually. The festival offers a diverse programme with more than 100 film titles, from both emerging independent artists and established names such as Sean Baker.
Fresh look
But how did these partner organisations come to the LLP? For Lucia Langerak, board member of Leiden Ongehinderd, the path was clear: ‘We could really use that fresh perspective from the students. We were given insights and tools that will help move our vision forward.'
Ratna Lachmansingh of LIFF confirms this: ‘As an organisation, you are always busy getting the basics right; our first job is to make sure the film festival is there and the organisation works. That's why you sometimes lose sight of things that are very important, but have just a little less to do with the daily content. For such things, it is very useful to have external people looking in who can point out your blind spots.'
Over the past two years the LIFF engaged LLP students to vet the organisation on sustainability (first year), and diversity and inclusion (second year).' ‘We have been in a transition for several years; we are taking a critical look at how our organisation is put together.’ For that ‘critical review’, they came to the LLP.
'They really looked at everything!'
The new perspective was what attracted these partner organisations to the LLP, but did the students live up to these expectations?
As far as Lachmansingh is concerned, they did: ‘In both years, the students went over our entire organisation in detail, invariably with passion and enthusiasm. They really looked at everything! Moreover, they came up with good advice that we followed up on.'
'I found it very clever how students, who had academic education, were still able to give practical advice that matched our organisation. In that way, they also gave us new energy.'
Langerak recognises that image: ‘The students far exceeded our expectations. They had the space and focus to tackle structural issues that we as a board simply did not easily get around to. Moreover, they knew their way around the organisation in a very short period of time. It was really a great help.'
Watching students grow
The partner organisations also clearly indicate that the students are learning about leadership and collaboration. ‘This happens on several levels,’ Lachmansingh states. 'First, we open up our organisation completely. What they were able to see is how leadership moves in this organisation.'
'They were very smart and asked the right questions. I thought it was very sensitive of the students that they were so in-depth about our organisation: how it works, and where any sensitivities lie. They also tailored their research and message very well to this, which is necessary if you want your advice to be implemented.
Students also learn about leadership through intensive collaboration within their own group, which has to communicate with the partner organisation in a streamlined way. ‘This goes beyond group work at university,’ says Langerak. ‘After all, an important aspect of leadership is the ability to respond to the needs of your environment and the person you are working with, and this is what these students have really learned.’
Want to know more about a partnership with the Leiden Leadership Programme? Visit our page for partner organisations or take a look at our brochure (in Dutch). We are looking forward to hearing from you!
Text: Stan De Feyter
Photos: LIFF and Melissa Schriek