Training and Leadership

At the University of Pretoria, we believe that Leadership and Student life should complement our students' academic achievements. A significant focus is placed on ensuring that our student leaders perform well academically and enjoy enhanced support to assist every student leader to Fly@UP. All our leadership endeavours are offered at no additional cost to students.

Our Leadership Development & Training Life Cycle, as depicted below, outlines student leaders' comprehensive journey, from elections and the various transitions through planning to the implementation stage, then culminates with evaluation. This cycle emphasizes continuous growth through team building, mentoring, and soft skills development, ensuring that student leaders are well-equipped to make a meaningful impact on campus and beyond.

Training Tiers:

Our training programs are designed to cater to the diverse needs of our student leaders during and after their studies. The journey begins on the 5^th tier with entry-level programs like the Class Representative System, where students learn the fundamentals of leadership and effective time management. This training focuses on effective communication, conflict resolution, and basic organisational skills, enabling class representatives to effectively represent their peers and address their concerns within the academic environment.

The training becomes more comprehensive and specialised as students advance to senior leadership roles, such as those within the Day Houses, Faculty Houses, Key Committees, and Legislative committees on the 3^rd tier.  On this tier, our operational leaders are trained in project management, financial planning, effective communication, experiential learning, and further skills development to enhance their employability.

At the highest level, the SRC training program, on the 1^st tier, includes in-depth sessions on policy development, strategic planning, and advanced leadership techniques. Additionally, SRC members engage in experiential learning opportunities, such as development camps and team-building events, to enhance their collaborative and decision-making skills. This tiered approach systematically prepares student leaders to serve the student community, in various capacities of responsibility while ensuring that they are never overwhelmed. Our approach ensuring all student leaders are well-prepared to contribute to the vibrant and inclusive community at the University of Pretoria.

As depicted in our training roadmap below, our training programs are designed to make sure every student leader is equipped and ready to lead. We offer different tiers and types of training to meet the unique needs of our student leaders.

Types of Training:

Our training programs are all outcome-based and designed to be dynamic and engaging, catering to the diverse needs of our student leaders. We offer a mix of online resources and in-person sessions that focus on both operational and strategic skills. Training camps and team-building events provide immersive experiences that foster collaboration and leadership. Additionally, ad-hoc sessions are tailored to address immediate and specific needs and situations, ensuring our leaders are always prepared to tackle any challenge. These varied training opportunities enhance leadership skills and prepare our leaders to make a meaningful impact on campus and beyond.

Experiential Learning:

Learn by doing. Our approach ensures you gain invaluable experience by applying the theoretical training in practice, executing your responsibilities, and implementing your plans of action. This hands-on method develops practical skills, builds confidence, and provides career-ready abilities that can be directly applied in the professional world, giving you a competitive edge in your future career.