Steinbach MLA and Education and Training Minister Kelvin Goertzen announced that the province is investing $2.5 million over 10 years to support the University of Manitoba’s James W. Burns Leadership Institute.
“Our government is focused on ensuring Manitoba students have the education and training they need in order to compete for jobs today and in the future,” said Goertzen. “We are proud to support the James W. Burns Leadership Institute, enabling students to access relevant skills and opportunities for employment. Funding provided to the institute supports our goal to develop a talent pipeline that is responsive to industry workforce needs.”
The James W. Burns Leadership Institute, located in the Asper School of Business, supports these goals by providing opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students from a number of disciplines to develop leadership knowledge and skills to pursue careers in a broad range of fields.
“This partnership and support from the province allows Manitoba to continue to elevate its competitiveness by harnessing the potential of young leaders across all disciplines and program areas provincewide,” says David Barnard, president and vice-chancellor at the U of M. “I am delighted that these talented young students will have the opportunity to develop the leadership skills necessary to succeed in the 21st century.”
The institute also provides a knowledge centre for innovative educational programming in leadership and is a leadership research hub.
The minister noted this annual investment of $250,000 aligns with the development of Manitoba’s Skills, Talent and Knowledge Strategy, a key part of phase one of Manitoba’s Economic Growth Action Plan.
“The institute focuses on local, national and international cutting-edge research and leadership,” added Goertzen. “We are pleased to support the leaders of tomorrow and look forward to seeing the positive impact they have on Manitoba.”
