Leadership training moves beyond North American borders
A new online program at Trinity Western University in Langley, B.C. is making it possible for Chinese scholars to earn a master's degree in business leadership without ever leaving the country.
"Not only is our program the first offered in China," says Stan Remple, program director for TWU's master's program in leadership, "but also the first delivered with a unique emphasis on enriched online [learning], supplemented by local applied and experiential learning exercises."
In addition to practical benefits and foreign and local knowledge, the course set to start in September also focuses on developing transformational servant leaders—something TWU's Leadership Program has been committed to for the past decade.
"Research has shown that servant leadership practice within businesses greatly enhances the level of profitability and performance," says Remple. This is achieved "by integrating a commitment to treat employees as the most valued asset with current management technology."
With 60 per cent of the program's students arriving due to word-of-mouth advertisement, it would appear this emphasis is working.
"International leadership is a gift we can give to those with lesser opportunities," explains Remple, who says the core elements of the program include the ability to inspire change as well as perform ethical decision-making, vision-based strategizing and teamwork and partnership development.
"Authentic Christian leaders desire the best for other people. We believe this to be an unconditional quality which transformational servant leaders practice."
Developing servant hearts
Paul Hooper of Wycliffe Bible Translators of Canada agrees. "One of the major qualities that needs to be developed in international leaders is a servant heart," he says. "Jesus gave us that example, but even the secular world is recognizing people in leadership who want to serve are more effective."
This heart to serve is stressed through Wycliffe's curriculum, comprised of COPE, or Cultural Orientation for Personal Effectiveness, and language training through the Canada Institute of Linguistics (CanIL).
"If you are going to lead internationally, you need to have a strong desire to respect and understand the host culture," says Hooper, who served for 13 years in Papua New Guinea. "[Overall] effectiveness is determined by knowing the national language."
In addition to providing language training, CanIL—situated on TWU's campus—also offers courses in cross-cultural communication, translation principles and anthropology. "The vision is to enable people to learn another language and culture, and to be able to minister in that context," explains president Mike Walrod.
Each semester CanIL boasts more than 130 students representing 18 different nationalities. After earning their TESL or linguistics degrees some return home while others seek Bible translation employment elsewhere.
"Our program really enables a person to comprehend a completely different worldview," says Walrod, "and provides the skills to be able to communicate with a radically different culture."
International leadership
Ambrose University College in Calgary, Alberta, also prepares students for international leadership through its bachelor of ministry in intercultural studies or bachelor of theology in intercultural studies.
"These degrees are for the student who wants to have a solid theological and intercultural foundation for going abroad or working with new Canadians," explains intercultural studies assistant professor Emma Emgard.
Intercultural studies students are required to live overseas for seven to 12 months during their third year through "onSite," an internship program directed by Emgard. "The time is long enough that they really get a feel for what it is like to be an international worker," she says. "They struggle, and see some success in serious language learning, and begin to understand the new culture."
In addition, the students learn to rely on God. "Everyone thus far has come home with a deeper love and a relationship to God," Emgard explains—a lesson which is key in the formation of servant leaders.
Dear Readers:
ChristianWeek relies on your generous support. please take a minute and donate to help give voice to stories that inform, encourage and inspire.
Donations of $20 or more will receive a charitable receipt.Thank you, from Christianweek.
