Leadership Education
Develop informed judgement through 20 hours of academic learning.
African Young Leaders Fellowship Program 2027
Begin the year with purpose. Prepare to lead with impact.
A structured leadership development experience for high-potential young Africans below 40 years of age.
A transgenerational approach
Leadership learning that continues through the people you develop.
Every year in the New Year, the University of Gold Coast, through the University of Gold Coast Leadership Academy, offers 100 tuition scholarships for the African Young Leaders Fellowship Program.
The fellowship connects academic knowledge with practitioner experience, practical coaching and continuing mentorship. It is designed to strengthen ethical judgement, purposeful action and the ability to contribute within organisations and communities.
Experienced leaders share knowledge. Emerging leaders apply it, examine it and prepare to support others.
Curriculum
Four connected areas of leadership development.
Study the ideas. Examine experience. Practise the skills. Apply the learning.
Leadership Conversations
Explore the decisions, alternatives and lessons behind leadership experience.
Leadership Coaching
Practise communication, negotiation, enterprise thinking and implementation.
Leadership Mentoring
Continue your development through a twelve-month mentorship phase.
Leadership Enrichment
Strengthen self-awareness, ethical judgement and communication.
Understanding Africa
Interpret leadership within selected African historical, cultural and economic contexts.
Social Impact Entrepreneurship
Explore how enterprise can combine financial viability with social contribution.
Innovation and Technology for Change
Define a problem, compare responses and test a practical solution.
Effective Global Engagement
Develop cross-cultural communication, partnership-building and negotiation.
Governance for Sustainable Development
Examine accountability, stakeholder engagement and institutional responsibility.
Peacebuilding and Conflict Resolution
Develop an introductory understanding of conflict analysis and constructive dialogue.
The learning experience
From understanding to capability.
Leadership development that connects reflection with practice.
Conversations with practitioners
Through moderated dialogue, examine the choices, setbacks and lessons behind leadership experience. The aim is to strengthen your judgement.
Practical coaching
Practise communicating vision, analysing stakeholders, presenting an enterprise concept and planning implementation.
Your 90-day action plan
Translate the experience into a manageable commitment with clear initial steps and measures of progress.
Twelve-month mentorship
After graduation, an assigned mentor supports reflection, review of progress and the application of learning in your own setting.
Who should apply?
Bring initiative, integrity and a commitment to service.
The fellowship welcomes young Africans below 40 years of age who demonstrate initiative, a commitment to service and the capacity to engage with its academic and practical demands. A formal leadership title is not essential.
- Emerging entrepreneurs, start-up chief executives, graduates and young professionals
- Student leaders, social innovators and organisational or community leaders
- Applicants with evidence of contribution, integrity, motivation and leadership potential
- Participants available for the complete intensive programme and continuing mentorship
Application and progression
Leave with a considered commitment to action.
A shared project, an individual plan and a continuing development journey.
Leadership Impact Project
Work with a group to develop a feasible response to a defined leadership, enterprise, organisational or community challenge.
Personal 90-day action plan
Identify a contribution in your own setting, establish initial steps and specify how progress will be recognised.
One learning portfolio
Bring together reading, reflections, conversation insights, practical evidence, project contribution and your action plan.
100participants in one cohort
10learning circles of ten
12months of continuing mentorship
Your 2027 fellowship journey
Six days to begin a longer practice.
Five intensive learning days
Education, conversations, coaching and learning-circle activities from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Reflection and induction
Mentoring induction, portfolio review, graduation and fellowship induction, subject to successful completion.
Continuing mentorship
Application of learning and structured review of your development in your own setting.
Fellowship and scholarships
Enter as a participant. Graduate as a Fellow.
Successful participants receive a certificate of completion and are formally inducted as African Young Leaders Fellows under the University of Gold Coast Leadership Academy.
100 tuition scholarships
Scholarships cover programme tuition only. Accommodation is not included. Participants arrange and fund their own accommodation. International travel, visa costs, meals, local transport and personal expenses are not assumed to be covered.
How to apply
Complete the application form, explain your background and motivation, provide evidence of leadership, initiative or service, and describe a challenge you would like to address. Applications are reviewed competitively.
Frequently asked questions
Planning your participation.
What is the age requirement?
Applicants must be below 40 years of age. Detailed entry requirements will be provided in the official application call.
Do I need to hold a formal leadership position?
No. The programme considers evidence of initiative, contribution and leadership potential. A formal title is not essential.
Is the intensive programme five days or six days?
The complete experience runs for six days, from 25 to 30 January 2027. It includes five learning days and a sixth day for reflection, mentoring induction, graduation and fellowship induction.
What does the scholarship cover?
Programme tuition only. Accommodation is not included and must be arranged and funded by participants.
When do I become a Fellow?
Fellowship status follows successful completion of the intensive programme requirements and formal induction. Attendance alone does not confer the designation.
What happens after graduation?
Fellows enter the twelve-month mentorship phase and join the continuing fellowship community.
African Young Leaders Fellowship Program 2027
Begin 2027 with purpose. Prepare to lead with impact.
Applications are reviewed competitively. Application website: aylfp.ugc.edu.gh