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Daily Tribune
18-06-2025
- General
- Daily Tribune
A Leaning Lab expands elite Harvard YLC program to Oman and Bahrain
Youth leadership initiative to benefit more high school students in GCC High school students in Oman and Bahrain will have the opportunity to build their profile and develop critical skills as A Learning Lab expands the prestigious Harvard Youth Lead the Change (YLC) program into the territories. The elite leadership development conference that has transformed shy teenagers into confident trailblazers will be staged in the two countries for the first time this Summer. Staged in Dubai, the GCC's first Harvard YLC conference was convened in 2022, and the event has taken place in July and December every year since its launch in the region. The highly selective youth development program has seen significant growth in numbers of both participants and events, with the most recent conference hosted in Riyadh in January welcoming over 100 students, most of whom were Saudi nationals. Curated by the Leadership Institute at Harvard College, the YLC program offers young people from 13 to 18 years old a life-changing opportunity to receive mentoring from students from the Ivy League college. The conference enables aspiring leaders to recognize their own strengths, and to define goals that will help them identify the career, subjects, and universities that would suit them in the future. The program of events sees students work in mentor-led groups to take part in a range of workshops, case-studies, and project-based activities to promote self-reflection, build confidence, and develop their problem-solving and presentation skills. With a mutual understanding of the nuances of growing up in the 21st century, the mentors guide the delegates with their invaluable skills and experience of life beyond high school. Participants collaborate within multicultural, interdisciplinary teams to develop social change projects that could address some of the most pressing youth-related issues. Reflecting on her experience, 2024 participant, Jehan Ibrahim, from GEMS Our Own English High School, said, 'It was an honour to be part of the Harvard YLC, to make friends with like-minded individuals and to learn a lot in the process. Every single student was so talented in each field, which made it an amazing setting to learn and grow with others. Meeting with the Harvard mentors, learning about their life on campus and the college application process, alongside the leadership conference, was an amazing experience and I'm glad to have had this opportunity.' Neha Kaul, mother of 2023 participant and The English College student, Samara Bhardwaj, said, 'The Harvard YLC was a tremendous experience for Samara. She enjoyed interacting with all the mentors and students and it's given her a lot more confidence. The concept of working on a social project was fantastic and it's made her think about things she'd never considered before.' Founder of A Learning Lab, Varun Jain, said, 'The Harvard YLC is one of the most transformational programs that high school students can be part of in this region. After just a few days of learning from the Harvard mentors and collaborating with their peers, we see students emerge with more confidence, sharper skills and real experiences of taking a leading role in a social cause. The program is an invaluable opportunity to set students on the pathway to personal and professional success.' Harvard YLC is open to applications for the forthcoming events taking place in Oman from 2nd-5th July and Bahrain from 8th-11th July.
Mid East Info
14-05-2025
- Business
- Mid East Info
A new series of bootcamps to unlock students' leadership potential - Middle East Business News and Information
Building on its successful series of Harvard Youth Lead the Change (YLC) conferences, A Learning Lab is expanding its support to high school students with two further programs developed with leading names in global higher education. The Harvard Business and Leadership Bootcamp and the Cambridge Tech Lead Bootcamp have been created to unlock students' leadership potential across different professional domains, and both will be staged around the region this Summer. Pioneering the GCC's inaugural Harvard YLC conference in Dubai in 2022, A Learning Lab has gone on to curate another program that connects high school students in the region to mentors from the Ivy League institution. The Harvard Business and Leadership Bootcamp (HBLB) is designed to help students explore various career paths, build essential skills and gain hands-on professional experience. The first program of its kind in the region, HBLB will be staged over three days, with each session focussing on a key area of business and consulting, combining theory with practical exercises, simulations and mentorship. Incorporating industry-based consulting frameworks and real-world case studies, the program culminates in an entrepreneurship and career development day, where participants learn about creating and financing a new business venture and explore best practices in resume preparation and interview techniques. For aspiring technology leaders, A Learning Lab has developed the Cambridge Tech Lead Bootcamp, an interactive program that blends leadership principles with cutting-edge technology to equip students with the skills needed to succeed in a rapidly evolving digital world. Led by expert facilitators, it integrates AI, data-driven decision-making and agile methodologies into the framework of leadership training. Through a comprehensive three-day program, participants of the Cambridge Tech Lead Bootcamp will learn about leadership in the digital age, harnessing artificial intelligence in decision-making and problem-solving, and adapting to market changes in the era of disruptive innovation. Students will also have the opportunity to hone their storytelling skills and develop and pitch a business idea. Speaking about the programs, Founder of A Learning Lab, Varun Jain, said, 'The Harvard Business and Leadership Bootcamp and the Cambridge Tech Lead Bootcamp are two unique programs that enable high school students to gain invaluable experience. Skills in entrepreneurship, technology, problem-solving and adaptability will be vital for the next generation of leaders, and these programs allow students to get a head start, whilst also giving them real-world experiences that they can draw upon in their applications for higher education. Participation in a bootcamp also helps students to grow in confidence and build the self-belief to identify and achieve their aspirations.' Both programs are open to applications for 13-17 year-old students. The Harvard Business and Leadership Bootcamp is starting in Dubai on 28th June, Abu Dhabi on 2nd July, and Riyadh on 7th July. The Cambridge Tech Lead Bootcamp will be staged in Qatar from 9th July, Jeddah from 14th July, and Kuwait from 19th July.
