Switzerland Global Leadership Challenge Program 2026 invites postgraduate students and young professionals worldwide to a virtual leadership program where participants develop leadership skills, design-thinking action projects, and engage with world-renowned academics and senior leaders. The GLC Scholarship includes training, mentorship, and certification for active participants.
The Global Leadership Challenge is hosted by the St. Gallen Symposium and the University of Oxford, aiming to empower responsible leaders through cross-border connections and practical projects. The program selects candidates for virtual sessions and offers top teams the opportunity to attend the 56th St. Gallen Symposium in Switzerland with expenses covered.
Global Leadership Challenge Program Benefits
- Students will become part of a diverse international community of young leaders.
- Students will get a chance to engage with renowned academics and senior business and policy leaders.
- Candidates will use design thinking principles to develop action projects for addressing global challenges.
- Applicants will learn leadership skills.
- All candidates will get an official Certificate of Achievement.
- Students will get leadership training and mentorship offered by the Oxford Character Project.
- The top three performing teams will get a chance to win an invitation to attend the 56th St. Gallen Symposium in April 2027 as Leaders of Tomorrow, with all expenses covered.
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Global Leadership Challenge Program Eligibility Criteria
- Candidates should be currently enrolled in a Masters or a PhD program or be a young professional.
- They should be between 21-30 years old.
- Applicants should have completed their undergraduate studies.
- You should have already participated in extra-curricular activities or have work experience related to responsible leadership.
- You should be available for 5 days from 10-14 December 2026 for the Global Leadership Challenge.
- You should participate actively in all sessions to get the Certificate of Achievement
Required Documents
- Recent portrait picture (JPEG or PNG).
- CV (PDF).
- Proof of enrollment (students only) (PDF).
How to Apply for Global Leadership Challenge Program
- Click on the apply now button below to proceed to 2026 GLC application.
- Click ‘New User’ on the application web page.
- Enter your email address and password and click submit.
- Answer the questions related to your unique abilities and related past experience.
- Upload your photograph and CV.
- Select 3 SDGs you would like to address in GLC.
- Enter your personal and educational information.
- Fill in your contact details.
- Mention your work experience.
- Review and submit the form.
- You can save your progress and complete the form later on as well.
Don’t miss this deadline
Applications close on Thursday, 5 November 2026. We’ll email you 7, 3 and 1 days before.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are the most frequently asked questions about the Global Leadership Challenge (GLC) Scholarship. These answers cover eligibility, benefits, deadlines, and how to apply based on the official program information.
What is the Global Leadership Challenge (GLC) program?
The Global Leadership Challenge is a virtual leadership program run by the St. Gallen Symposium and the University of Oxford that develops leadership skills through cross-border connections, mentorship, and action projects. Participants engage with academics and senior leaders and complete a week-long GLC program to earn a Certificate of Achievement.
Who can apply for the GLC Scholarship 2026?
Candidates eligible for the GLC Scholarship should be enrolled in a Master’s or PhD program or be young professionals, have completed undergraduate studies, be aged between 21 and 30, and have extracurricular or work experience related to responsible leadership, as stated in the program eligibility criteria.
What are the program dates and time commitment?
Applicants must be available for the Global Leadership Challenge from 10-14 December 2026. The program is delivered virtually during these five days, and active participation in all sessions is required to receive the Certificate of Achievement.
What benefits do participants receive?
Participants join a diverse international community, engage with renowned academics and leaders, receive leadership training and mentorship from the Oxford Character Project, use design thinking to create action projects, and obtain an official Certificate of Achievement. Top teams may be invited to the St. Gallen Symposium with expenses covered.
How are action projects used in the program?
During the program, participants work in teams to design action projects addressing real-world challenges defined by GLC partners, applying responsible leadership, sustainability, and design-thinking principles. Projects are judged, and top teams may be awarded invitations to the St. Gallen Symposium.
What is the prize for top performing teams?
The top three performing teams will have the opportunity to attend the 56th St. Gallen Symposium in Switzerland in April 2027 as Leaders of Tomorrow, with all expenses covered, according to the program description in the official content.
What documents are required for the application?
Required documents for the 2026 GLC application include a recent portrait picture (JPEG or PNG), a CV (PDF), and proof of enrollment (PDF) for students. These document requirements are listed in the official program details.
How do I apply for the GLC Scholarship?
To apply, visit the official application link and click ‘New User’ to create an account, provide your email and password, answer application questions about abilities and experience, upload your photo and CV, select three SDGs, enter personal and educational information, provide contact details and work experience, then review and submit.
What is the application deadline for GLC 2026?
The official deadline for the Global Leadership Challenge 2026 application is 5 November 2026, as stated in the program’s official information on the page.
Will I receive a certificate for participating in GLC 2026?
Yes. All candidates who actively participate in the GLC sessions will receive an official Certificate of Achievement, provided they attend all required sessions and meet the participation criteria outlined by the program.
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