Youth and Community Leadership

• UC has a worldwide reputation for its student activism and engagement in youth-led movements. Our students have founded efforts in natural disaster relief, anti-terrorism, sustainability, and cultural diversity, and our campus has hosted visitors such as Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Dr Jane Goodall.
• UC hosts a number of research and specialist centres focused around leadership, volunteerism, and innovative teaching, such as Te Pokapū Pāhekoheko Hapori | UC Community Engagement Hub, Te Puna i-Ako | e-Learning Lab, the Professional and Community Engagement programme, Te Pokapū Rakahinonga | UC Centre for Entrepreneurship, and the UCSA’s Te Hunga Tūao | Student Volunteer Army.
• Many of our graduates have become social entrepreneurs, political activists, and industry innovators, and have been recognised with awards for their contribution to local and global issues.
• You will be taught by an academic team that have extensive experience in youth work and development, community leadership, service-learning, and activism, both in Aotearoa and globally. We work collaboratively with UCSA's Te Hunga Tūao | Student Volunteer Army and UN Youth to honour the heritage of this unique programme.
• Following a particular course pathway focused on youth work and development in the Bachelor of Youth and Community Leadership degree will grant you professional membership with Korowai Tupu, the professional association for youth work in Aotearoa New Zealand. This pathway has been designed in consultation with Korowai Tupu, Ara Taiohi (the national peak body for youth development in Aotearoa), Rerenga Awa | Canterbury Youth Workers Collective (CYWC), and other professional organisations.
• Find out more about youth and community leadership pathways and study options.

The programme is open to students from a range of interests or experience in leadership roles. No particular background study is required. A passion for social change, community work, and volunteering is the best preparation.

Strong written and verbal communication skills will be especially useful.

Youth and Community Leadership creates graduates who are both passionate about and have the skills to challenge global issues. Their experience in creating practical solutions for change will prepare them for a wide variety of industries looking for strong leaders.

Graduates from this subject area will be well-suited to managerial positions, work in charities and non-profit organisations, politics, teaching and training, communications, media, iwi and Māori development, and may even become social entrepreneurs.

Find out more about what you can do with a degree from UC.