Future Leaders Connect

What is Future Leaders Connect?

Future Leaders Connect is a pioneering policy and leadership programme for exceptional individuals from around the world, who are aged between 25 and 35.

We are building a global network of emerging policy leaders connected over the long term to realise substantial change on today’s global challenges. With 150 members so far and tens of thousands of people involved in our online community, Future Leaders Connect is bringing people together to lead change through policymaking.

By taking part in a six-week policy and leadership development programme, designed by UK experts, based on the needs of young, global policy leaders, members have a unique opportunity to further their skills and access international networks and ultimately make a difference through policy-making. Members will:

• Develop an action plan to bring their policy change forward
• Join a network of exceptional policy change makers from around the world and discuss today’s biggest global challenges
• Learn about leadership styles and approaches, and build the international networks needed to be an influential leader.

What does it mean to be a member?

Being a Future Leaders Connect member is a long-term commitment. You will be connected to the British Council in your home country and asked to participate in local, national and international opportunities over the following months and years, as part of your ongoing professional development as a policy leader. You will also be connected to existing Future Leaders Connect members from around the world, an impressive network of leaders who are leading change. Almost all Future Leaders Connect members continue to be in regular contact with the network, accessing the exclusive ongoing opportunities and working together.

We are looking for exceptional individuals with the ideas, energy and commitment to work collaboratively with all members of the Future Leaders Connect and senior leaders. The programme aims to be representative of the countries in which it operates, and we encourage applications from all sections of society.

The Programme

Between 2017 and 2019, Future Leaders was delivered as a face-to-face programme. In 2021 it will be delivered online.

Future Leaders Connect 2021

The British Council’s programme for young policy leaders is happening online this year.

Now more than ever, the world needs inspiring policymakers.

This year’s programme will run from Monday 11 October to Friday 19 November 2021. It will include all the elements of previous years – the taught component, networking, relationship-building and action plan development – delivered digitally. The difficulty of meeting face-to-face at this time has given us an additional real-world challenge that will only inspire our future global leaders.

The programme will consist of self guided study, team work and live online sessions. Participants will commit to spending an average of 10 hours a week on the programme, for six weeks.

The launch of the programme will take place on Monday 11 October and subsequent live sessions will be scheduled weekly on a Tuesday and Wednesday from 09.00 – 10.30 UK time.

Members will benefit from:

• Exclusive access to policy experts and training
• The opportunity to learn about leadership styles and access international networks to make a difference through policy-making
• The chance to discuss your policy ideas with UK Parliamentarians and Government and network with some of the world’s most senior leaders
• Joining an exclusive network of exceptional policy change makers from around the world and discuss today’s biggest global challenges.

New for 2021:

• Coaching sessions with existing Future Leader Connect members to expand your network and support you during and after the programme
• Access to the British Council Foreign Policy Forum, a vibrant network (professionals working on the development of foreign policy for think tanks, political parties and parliamentarians) with exclusive access to events, platforms, intelligence and insight from across the British Council global network
• Mentors (mostly representing UK think tanks) who will support you to develop and deliver your policy action plan
• A wider, more diverse range of contributors and speakers.

Apply to become a Future Leaders Connect member

Becoming a member of the British Council’s Future Leaders Connect programme means you will be part of an exclusive group of exceptional individuals from around the world who are recognised as the next generation of leaders.

Applications for 2021 are now open. 

The closing date will vary by country, depending on the number of applications we receive, with a finite deadline of Monday 5 July.

Who can apply?

To be eligible to apply you must meet the following criteria; (otherwise your application cannot be accepted)

• Living in one of our participating countries (Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, Pakistan, Poland, Ukraine, UK (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales)
• Aged between 25 and 35 (at the start of the programme)
• Able to speak and understand English (no official qualification is required, but you must be able to speak English to IELTS level 7 or equivalent).

What are we looking for in potential members?

We are looking for exceptional individuals with the ideas, energy and commitment to work collaboratively with all members of Future Leaders Connect and senior leaders. The programme aims to be representative of the countries in which it operates, and we encourage applications from all sections of society.

• You should be able to explain how you want to make change in your country and beyond through policymaking
• You should have a good knowledge about policy and how policymaking happens in your country
• You should be willing to engage with the British Council and the Future Leaders Connect network in the long-term
• You are likely to be in your early to mid-career and already have examples of when you have demonstrated leadership ability
• You should have strong networks and be committed to supporting the development of the country you are living in through policy change.

Application information

For full details of the application and selection process please visit our Terms and Conditions page.

Completing your online application 

Before applying, you will be asked to answer several screening questions to ensure you meet the criteria. If successful, you will receive an email inviting you to make your application. It will take you approximately one hour to complete your online application. Please note, you cannot save and come back to it later, the whole application must be done at once.

Shortlisting and interview

If you are shortlisted, you will be invited to interviews/an event in your country (dates to be shared with those shortlisted). At the interview or event you will present your policy vision and explain your leadership experience to a panel of experts. Unfortunately, if you cannot attend the interview/event your application cannot be progressed. There will be some places on the reserves list at this stage.