African Leadership Academy

The African Leadership Academy logo

The African Leadership Academy (ALA) is a residential, secondary institution located in the outskirts of Johannesburg, South Africa. It is dedicated to 16 to 19-year-olds from Africa and the rest of the world, with alumni from 45 countries currently.

Founded in 2004 by Fred Swaniker, Chris Bradford, Peter Mombaur, and Acha Leke,[1] ALA officially opened in September 2008 with an inaugural class of 97 students.[2] ALA seeks to transform Africa by identifying, developing, and connecting the next generation of African leaders. To achieve this goal, ALA teaches a two-year curriculum in African Studies and Entrepreneurial Leadership, as well as the usual academic core subjects.

History

The founders of ALA, around 2004 launched Global Leadership Adventures, a summer program that would be a precursor to ALA.

In 2006, Swaniker and Bradford were recognized, by Echoing Green, who described them as two of the 15 best emerging social entrepreneurs in the world.[3] In 2007 the initial campus was confirmed, and Christopher Khaemba was announced as the inaugural Dean of the School while the current dean is Uzo Agyare-Kumi.

ALA campus

The campus is located in Honeydew, on the outskirts of Johannesburg. Students share a dormitory, and there are modern facilities including a sports field, 350 seater auditorium, classrooms and dining hall. In 2014, construction began on new dormitories that will allow ALA to increase new student numbers to 120 in 2016.

Admission process

Campus of the academy

The African Leadership Academy receives several thousand applications during the first round, where approximately 400 are selected to attend Finalist events held across the continent. The finalists then write entrance exams, participate in group activities & are interviewed as 120 students will be selected to attend the Academy. Admissions status is usually finalized by mid-April.

Selection criteria

The African Leadership Academy uses five criteria for admission:[4]

Curriculum

Two Year Pre-University Program

The academic core combines a two year pre-university program based on the Cambridge A Levels and ALA’s unique curricula in Entrepreneurial Leadership, African Studies and Writing and Rhetoric. A Level.[5]

Entrepreneurial Leadership and African Studies

ALA's Entrepreneurial Leadership curriculum is a cornerstone of the student experience that creates opportunities to practice leadership and entrepreneurship skills through simulation and project-based learning. Students are encouraged to work on team building and original thinking. In the interdisciplinary African studies curriculum, students study hunger eradication, health care provision, economic growth, and conflict resolution.

Faculty

Dean of African Leadership Academy

Inaugural Dean Christopher Situma Khaemba was previously Principal of Alliance High School on the outskirts of Nairobi, Kenya. Khaemba received his MBA from Kenyatta University in Nairobi.

Current Dean Uzo Agyare-Kumi is an educator and social activist with a passion for helping young people develop the skills they need to flourish as confident, productive members of society. She is a dual Nigerian/British citizen.

Faculty members

Faculty members go through a process that includes multiple interviews, academic background checks, and verification of personal and professional references. After the first round of interviews, the prospective teacher conducts a mock lesson in the presence of students and two faculty members. This is followed by a final round of interviews.

All faculty members are graduates from universities and have previously taught at leading institutions.

Student life

Sports

Students are encouraged to participate in a fitness activity. However sport is not a strong part of the Academy, neither is it done competitively nor invested in as other aspects of ALA. Current competitive sports include soccer, basketball and volleyball.

Student clubs and organizations

Students participate in a variety of clubs, and each student is expected to create or run either a "Student Enterprise", an "Original idea for Development" or a "Community Service Project".

Student Enterprise Programmes (SEPs)

The student-run businesses only operate on campus, and include:

Original Ideas for Development

Original Ideas for Development (OIDs), are projects that have a wide scope and run beyond the students' time at ALA. Current OIDs include:

Supervised trips

Students explore the local community, Africa, and the world,[9] by participating in an excursion program. Outdoors enthusiasts participate in weekend hiking trips in the Drakensberg mountains and longer excursions during holiday periods, while scientists may apply to attend the American Association for the Advancement of Science conference in the United States.

Global Scholars Program (GSP)

Global Scholars Program (GSP)is a three-week, global leadership summer program for teens aged 15-19.

Catalyst Term

A study abroad experience for secondary students from around the world to develop as social innovators.

Model African Union

MAU is a four-day conference where participants from secondary schools around the world debate and discuss some of the most complicated issues on the continent. Participants also attend presentations by African Union officials and foreign policy experts.

Anzisha Prize

Africa's premier award for young entrepreneurs aged 15-22, who have started and are actively running innovative social ventures or for-profit businesses with potential.

Africa Careers Network

Africa Careers Network (ACN) is a platform that connects young African talent from ALA and the MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program to high-impact internship and job opportunities across the African continent.

Global Advisory Council

As well as the Board of Trustees, the Academy’s Global Advisory Council is composed of African and global luminaries in business, leadership development, secondary education, and social entrepreneurship. The Global Advisory Council provides strategic input and guidance to the ALA management team.

African Leadership Foundation

The African Leadership Foundation is a USA 501(c)(3) non-profit foundation that supports the African Leadership Academy and the next generation of African leaders.


References

  1. ↑ Official Site Archived 6 January 2010 at the Wayback Machine.
  2. ↑ Mission Statement Archived 25 April 2009 at the Wayback Machine.
  3. ↑ Echoing Green Archived 19 May 2009 at the Wayback Machine.
  4. ↑ Admission Requirements Archived 30 December 2008 at the Wayback Machine.
  5. ↑ CIE website
  6. ↑
  7. ↑
  8. ↑ GSIE site
  9. ↑ Financial Mail Archived 25 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine.

Additional sources

Coordinates: 26°04′31″S 27°54′58″E / 26.075376°S 27.916067°E / -26.075376; 27.916067

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