LAIDLAW SCHOLARS LEADERSHIP AND RESEARCH PROGRAMME

The Laidlaw Scholars Leadership and Research Programme, funded by the Laidlaw Foundation, aims to develop a new generation of leaders who are skilled researchers, embrace data-based decision making, and believe it is a moral imperative to lead with integrity. It invests in talented and motivated undergraduate students, giving them the knowledge, skills and experience to become active global citizens and future leaders in their chosen field.

We need a new generation of leaders who have the research brilliance to help solve intractable problems, who behave with integrity and are determined to make the world a better place.

Susanna V. Kempe, CEO

PROGRAMME ELEMENTS

The Laidlaw Scholarship uniquely funds both undergraduate research and leadership development. It has five components to it:

A 6-week summer research project of your choice;
Leadership development training – a multi-day retreat supplemented by group work, exercises, dinners and other inspiring programme activities between your first and second Scholarship summers;
A 6-week Leadership-in-Action experience in your second summer that enables you to put into practice the leadership expertise you have learnt theoretically in a new and challenging environment;
A custom-designed global masterclass about ethical leadership to learn how to lead with integrity;
Global networking through an online Scholars community platform: the Laidlaw Scholars Network.

6 REASONS TO BECOME A LAIDLAW SCHOLAR

1. DEVELOP YOUR LEADERSHIP SKILLS

Receive bespoke leadership training to develop the core attributes of a successful leader. Enjoy group leadership retreats, meet inspirational guest lecturers, and benefit from personal coaching and development.

Join a custom-designed global Ethical Leadership masterclass to learn how to lead with integrity.

2. CONDUCT YOUR OWN RESEARCH

Spend 6 weeks of your summer independently researching a topic you are passionate about, and contribute to solving one of the world’s intractable problems.

Conduct your very own in-depth investigation as an undergraduate, working with a leading academic and/or an experienced team, exploring primary data, developing your research skills, and honing your critical thinking.

3. BECOME A REAL-WORLD LEADER

In the second summer, stretch your leadership skills, expand your cultural understanding and challenge yourself by participating in a 6-week immersive, international Leadership-in-Action project.

You can choose to practically implement your research, work with a university-approved programme, or choose from one of the centrally-offered partner projects.

4. CONNECT WITH BRILLIANT MINDS

As a Laidlaw Scholar, you will become a part of an expert community of 1500+ ambitious, brave, curious, determined and extraordinary peers from the most prestigious universities around the world.

Our online community platform, the Laidlaw Scholars Network, enables you to publish your research, connect with others, and collaborate on projects.

5. RECEIVE A GENEROUS STIPEND

As a Laidlaw Scholar, you will receive a generous stipend or an expenses-paid experience over both summers of the programme.

You could spend your summers working in a bar, a fast food chain or a faceless corporation; OR you could spend it researching something that will make a difference, becoming a better leader and an active global citizen.

6. FUND YOUR FUTURE BUSINESS

Laidlaw Programme alumni with 2+ years of business experience can apply for funding from Laidlaw Scholars Ventures (LSV), a venture capital fund offering pre-seed to Series A capital.

LSV invests exclusively in businesses where a Laidlaw Scholar is a founder or has a significant executive role & ownership. The fund seeks to support ethical businesses that positively impact society and the world.