Emerging Leaders Program Overview
What is the Emerging Leaders Program?
The Washington Ireland Program’s vision is for a peaceful and prosperous future for Northern Ireland and Ireland. The legacy of division on the island of Ireland, however, continues to impact many people across the island and solving these issues will take creativity and courage from committed leaders.
To help develop leaders who are equipped to lead around the evolving nature of these challenges, we created our Emerging Leaders Program. Celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2024, Emerging Leaders is renowned as an inspiring year-long program of personal development, policy debate, community service, and public discussion. The Program is open to full-time students enrolled in a Higher Education course and who consider Northern Ireland or Ireland to be home.
How does it work?
Each year we select 30 emerging leaders who have shown the commitment, passion, and ability to spark change in communities across the island of Ireland. We actively seek people who have a track record of service and leadership within the community and the maturity and ability to deal with differences and diverse views in a positive way.Where and when does it take place?
The Emerging Leaders Program takes place in Northern Ireland, Ireland, and Washington DC. It also includes a week-long study visit to New York City, where participants get to learn from well-known leaders from a range of sectors.Applications open in October of each year, interviews are held in January, and our first orientation weekends usually take place in early April.
Each year we receive up to 500 applications for the Program. It is a competitive process and we encourage you to read our application tips before completing your application form.
In Washington DC
Each summer, the Program includes a high-profile eight-week work placement in Washington DC. We aim to match our work placements to the student’s skills and interests. Previous placements have included Capitol Hill Offices, businesses, PR firms, research laboratories, non-profits, and advocacy organizations. Our students also visit with WIP’s service partners to learn about service in a US setting and the challenges they face in Washington DC around issues including homelessness and disadvantaged young people. Our participants stay with a host family while in the United States, and for many students, this is one of the highlights of their program. We match our students with host families based on mutual interests, personality match, distance from work placements, pet preferences, and allergy requirements.
In Northern Ireland and Ireland
Each summer, the Program includes a high-profile eight-week work placement in Washington DC. We aim to match our work placements to the student’s skills and interests. Previous placements have included Capitol Hill Offices, businesses, PR firms, research laboratories, non-profits, and advocacy organizations. Our students also visit with WIP’s service partners to learn about service in a US setting and the challenges they face in Washington DC around issues including homelessness and disadvantaged young people. Our participants stay with a host family while in the United States, and for many students, this is one of the highlights of their program. We match our students with host families based on mutual interests, personality match, distance from work placements, pet preferences, and allergy requirements.
Alums
Our alum community includes over 900 people, many of whom have gone on to become well-known political, business, community, and civic figures.
They include Leo Varadkar (WIP 2000), the youngest Taoiseach in Ireland’s history; Claire Sugden (WIP 2010), who was appointed at the age of 29 as Northern Ireland’s Minister for Justice; and other rising stars including artist Adrian Margey (WIP 2005), Queen’s University Belfast Heaney Fellow Tara McEvoy (WIP 2014), and tech entrepreneur Aidan Corbett (WIP 2005).
Our diverse alum community is invited to stay connected with each other and the Washington Ireland Program. You can find out more about how to do this and our upcoming events on our Alum page.
A life-changing opportunity
You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.C.S. Lewis
What the Emerging Leadership Program offers
Leadership development
Our Emerging Leaders Program offers a range of unique development opportunities. Our curriculum is designed to hone participants’ leadership skills through experiential learning, exposure to local and global leaders, and service components that address needs seen in many communities.Summer semester experience
Each student is offered a high-profile work placement. Aligning with their interests and skills, opportunities range from Capitol Hill Offices, businesses, PR firms, research laboratories to non-profits and advocacy organizations, offering enjoyable and challenging learning and insights.Community service insight
Each participant takes part in regular visits to service partners in Washington DC, granting an invaluable insight into service within a US setting and allowing them to learn and contribute to efforts to combat difficult issues, including homelessness and disadvantaged young people.Peer learning
We place a great emphasis on peer learning and encouraging our students to challenge perspectives, engage in debates, and collaboratively create policy papers that can deliver the peaceful and prosperous future for Ireland and Northern Ireland that we wish to see.Host family community
Living with WIP’s host families offers the opportunity for a cultural exchange, for personal growth and understanding, and the chance to make lifelong friendships.