About the Leadership Badges
The MRU Student Leader Digital Badging Program exists to allow individuals to showcase and market their accomplishments related to the university’s student leadership program and their specific leadership role(s). The aim of these badges is twofold - first, we want to recognize the work that our students are doing in helping to promote a positive student experience and second, we hope to give students a way of quantifying their experiences and communicating them in a meaningful way beyond the university.
The program awards three student leader badges: Foundational, Intermediate and Advanced. Students earn badges by demonstrating an understanding and modeling the behaviours of the 5 Practices of Exemplary Leadership within their student roles, showcasing their growth and development through self-reflection and critical thinking exercises, and engaging in the betterment of their campus community.
A badge is valueable in several ways:
- It shows the world the knowledge and skills the student leader has demonstrated.
- It helps student leaders publicize their accomplishments on social media, LinkedIn, on a personal website, or in an email signature.
- It contains data about the skills developed to earn it, along with information about the issuing organization, all in a portable image file to which the student has permanent access.
MRU Student Leader: Foundational Badge
Learning to Lead
The MRU Student Leadership: Foundational badge is awarded to student leaders who have demonstrated an understanding of the behavioral competencies of Kouzes and Posner (2018) Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership: Model the Way, Inspire a Shared Vision, Challenge the Process, Enable Others to Act, and Encourage the Heart. They have learned that by aligning behaviors and values, they are setting an example for others. These student leaders have involved others in the creation of common goals while also empowering students to engage in positive and productive risk-taking and critical and creative thinking. They know how to encourage others to reach their potential through teamwork and in doing so, have strengthened Mount Royal University’s community.Pathway One Badge Criteria: Students participating in student leadership opportunity
- Participation in a year-long student leadership opportunity on campus
- Completed training in the 5 Practices of Exemplary Leadership
- Completed a self-reflection on each of the 5 Practices of Exemplary Leadership
- Demonstrated competency in putting the 5 Practices into action in their role as a student leader
- Met the role specific criteria for at least one leadership program offered at MRU
MRU Student Leader: intermediate Badge
Growing in Leadership
The MRU Student Leadership: Intermediate badge is awarded to student leaders who have further demonstrated their application of living Kouzes and Posner (2018) Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership: Model the Way, Inspire a Shared Vision, Challenge the Process, Enable Others to Act, and Encourage the Heart. These student leaders have exhibited and modelled their commitment to: setting the example by aligning actions with shared values, enlisting others in a common vision by appealing to shared aspirations, experimenting and taking risks by consistently generating small wins and learning from experience, fostering collaboration by building trust and facilitating relationships and celebrating their values and victories by creating a spirit of community within Mount Royal University. They have been intentional in their leadership and growth journeys by setting goals around the 5 Practices and participating in personal growth opportunities.
Badge Criteria: Students participating in student leader opportunities
- Completion of the MRU Student Leader: Foundational badge (prerequisite)
- Completed a personal growth plan and created goals centered around at least two of the five Practices of Exemplary Leadership
- Participated in the Intermediate Badge goal training session and check in (September and January)
- Have participated in and met the program criteria for at least one student leadership program offered at MRU
- Demonstrated proficiency in putting the 5 Practices into action in their role as a student leader
- Completed a self-reflection detailing your progress towards your goals and growth plan set at the beginning of the year
MRU Student Leader: Advanced Badge
Living in Leadership
The MRU Student Leadership: Advanced badge is awarded to student leaders who have synthesized their knowledge and experience with Kouzes and Posner (2018) Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership through a capstone project aimed at producing positive change within the MRU community and beyond. Earners of this badge have had to recognize a problem/issue and submit a proposal detailing a plan and the leadership skills necessary to address the challenge. With critical thinking and creativity the student leaders have worked to implement solutions to address the challenge and assess the impact.
- Completion of Foundational and Intermediate badges (prerequisite)
- Connected the practice of the 5 Practices of Exemplary Leadership to a project designed to produce positive change within the MRU and greater City of Calgary community
- Successful completion of the personal/professional development workshops offered
- Successful completion of an approved capstone project* (distinct from any program/course assignment)
- Presented or shared final capstone project with a wider audience (MRU community/industry partners/MRU student leaders)
Contact information
For more about this digital credential, contact the Student Leadership Coordinator at mrulead@mtroyal.ca. If you are not a current participant in a student leader program, check out the student leadership opportunities page for more information on how to get involved.