Over the past seven years, the Scottish Student Sport Leadership Development Programme has become a launchpad for aspiring student leaders across Scotland. The programme looks to develop not only the student sport sector, but also the participants who are supporting it. It’s not just about learning to develop sport, it’s about new skills, making connections, building confidence, and, hopefully, setting yourself up for future success.
At its core, the programme is designed to inspire and connect. The programme, open to all registered students at any member institution, is a year-long opportunity for students to engage with a network of like-minded individuals, looking to make their mark in sport.
What to expect?
The programme revolves around a series of masterclass sessions held online. These sessions, led by experts from the Scottish Student Sport network, cover a range of topics, from leadership styles to employability. Mia Jennings, a member of the Scottish Student Sport’s Executive Committee and a graduate of the programme, sums it up perfectly:
"It’s a year-long course, and you can join the online seminars with guest speakers. You talk about things like leadership styles, working effectively in a team, and what success looks like. To be honest, I found it really beneficial. I honestly think it helped me get the job I'm in now."
“It’s not just about showing up to listen, though. The programme is about active participation. You’ll be working on your communication skills, your confidence, and your ability to work in a team. You’re talking, you’re networking with other people from different ages and positions. It’s all about self-reflection, which helps build on your own confidence."
A confidence booster
Whether it’s practicing speaking publicly, or networking with people in higher positions, one of the key takeaways from the programme is hopefully a boost in confidence. The programme is designed to push you out of your comfort zone. Mia added;
"I would say the number one thing for me was confidence. Speaking publicly, talking to people you don’t know in higher positions—at the start, it was intimidating. But once it clicked that you don’t need to be the loudest in the room to be confident, it all made sense to me."
Networking is a significant component of the Leadership Development Programme. You’ll meet people from various universities, different sports, and different levels of leadership. You’ll hear about their experiences and learn how their career paths have unfolded. As Philine Rouwers, another member of the Executive Committee said:
"Sometimes people don’t realise how much they’ve developed until they reflect on it later. When they do, they realise they’ve got so much to talk about in future interviews or with employers because they’ve been building these skills all along in a non-academic, non-work setting."
"Previously, I honestly didn’t even know jobs like this existed!" Philine shares. "It’s interesting meeting people and hearing how they got to where they are. It’s a great way to expand your experience and figure out where your own path could lead."
A Pathway to Future Success
Many graduates of the programme have gone on to take up roles within the sporting world. Some become university Sports Presidents, while others find themselves working in key positions across the Scottish sporting network. Ryan Cairns, also from the Executive Committee, highlights how the programme serves as a bridge to these professional roles:
"If you want experience in leadership in sports or want to go into a professional role in the industry, this is a good way to go about it. You can not only develop your skills but also gain a deeper understanding of the wider network."
At the end of the day, what you put into this programme is what you’ll get out of it. Ryan puts it simply: "If you really throw yourself in, meet people, and have these conversations, then you’ll get so much more out of it."
