The aim of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at McGill is to empower scholars with the tools they need to fulfil their full potential, to flourish personally and academically, and to develop the ability to lead transformative change across Africa and beyond. This is achieved through wrap-around services that support the Scholars’ integration into the McGill ecosystem, as well as tailored professional development programming that enhances their skills in leadership and entrepreneurship, while preparing them for their chosen careers on the continent and beyond.
Leadership
Mastercard Foundation Scholars are selected based on their demonstrated intention to carry out positive change within their communities. Transformational leadership is core to the Scholars Program at McGill and the leadership development curriculum takes a global approach to African contexts. The tailored program exposes Scholars to different forms of leadership, professional development, mentorship, entrepreneurship, while fostering experiential learning and community engagement.
Entrepreneurship
Fostering Innovation and Social Impact
Developing an ecosystem that inspires entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship that inspires social change on the African continent is core to the Mastercard Scholars Program. A key partner in our work is the McGill Dobson Centre for Entrepreneurship, a hub of entrepreneurship at McGill with the mission to teach, coach, and support entrepreneurs.
Mastercard Foundation Scholars and Alumni have been participating in the McGill Dobson Cup Competition since the start of the Scholars Program and have a legacy of creating impactful business ideas across the four streams: health sciences, technology, environment, and social impact.
In addition to participating in the main Dobson Bootcamp & Cup Competition, Scholars and Alumni also participate the Mastercard Foundation-Dobson Startup Awards. These awards embody a commitment to nurturing viable, sustainable, and scalable social ventures and community projects, ones that foster economic empowerment and opportunity for all.
Transitions Support
The goal of transitions support at McGill is to empower Scholars to effectively navigate their careers, launch entrepreneurial pursuits, connect with mentors, and build an ecosystem of support that will provide them with a solid foundation to find meaningful work and have impact in Africa and beyond. Building on the lessons learned from the McGill Mastercard Foundation Transitions Project that was piloted between 2020 – 2023, transitions support for Scholars at McGill is grounded on a strong network of employers, educational institutions, private, public, and civil society organization partners, and McGill alumni who serve as catalysts for the success of Scholars and their impact now and in the future. This is accomplished through the following pillars:
- Experiential learning and Internships
- Entrepreneurship
- Career & Professional Development
- Mentorship
