Global Leadership Program in Panama: interview with returned student Lachlan John

Lachlan John [pictured above, right] is a Civil Engineering student from the University of Technology Sydney. Earlier this year, Lachlan left our shores and travelled all the way to Central America to participate in the Global Leadership Program in Panama. Lachlan was such an awesome participant that he has been invited back again next year as a Student Coordinator, which is a real honour! Lachlan tells us about his experiences below:

Hi Lachlan! Could you please introduce yourself?
Hi! I'm Lachlan John and I'm currently studying Civil Engineering at UTS

Why did you choose the GLP Panama program?
I chose the Panama program because I wanted to visit a completely new area of the world and experience what life is like there, and Panama seemed to be a good first step, a safe introduction to Latin America shall we say!



Did you have any fears or concerns before doing the program?
I was a little worried about the workload as it sounded extreme, but it turned out to be quite manageable, to the point where I was able to hone my teaching and tutoring skills by helping the others do theirs. Being a native English speaker was definitely an advantage.

Tell me about a typical day during the program
Up at 7:30ish, shower and skip breakfast to get on the bus by 8.
Arrive at the Uni around 8:30/9.
Have first class till 12 then break for lunch.
Have second class from 12:30/1 to 3:30/4 then head home on the bus.
Arrive home around 5ish, make plans for that evening/hang out with other program members.
Do homework till anywhere from 12-3am then sleep.



What was the highlight of the program for you?
Definitely the friends I made. I now have 15 or so friends from Mexico, one from Venezuela, a few from Columbia, a few from Panama, a couple from the States and one from the Czech Republic. Other than this, the whole travel experience in general was great.



Did you gain any interesting insights into the Panamanian culture/Panamanian people?
Panama is really a country between western progression and old world traditions. While Panama city and a couple of other places are really riding on a wave of development, the vast majority of the country is almost virgin forest or countryside with quite poor residents, including a number of indigenous tribes, some of whom still live by their traditional means. This makes for very interesting cultural identity issues when not everyone within the one country can identify with the same patriotic ideal or mantra. Plus it can be quite confronting going from the relative affluence of some parts of the city to dirt floor huts in the country.


Do you have some tips for someone who's going on this course?
If you are willing to put in the hours and perhaps go without some sleep here and there, the study should be no problem. Being a native English speaker, you will have a huge advantage and may just find a lot of the work at least easier, if not easy.



I had originally planned to fly through Buenos Aires, Santiago and Bogota to get to Panama before the volcano erupted in Chile. I did have friends who were able to do this and I would highly recommend this option if you are going to be in the region anyway. This would be best before the program, as you will have time between your exams finishing and the program starting, whereas you won’t have any between the program finishing and the next semester starting.


Must-do activities are San Blas island weekend, hopefully we will be able to organise this again in 2012; a visit to Casco Viejo (old town part of Panama, with lots of history and some good restaurants and clubs) as well as Panama Viejo (original Panama ruins).

There are a few good clubs, with some new ones opening as we were leaving, all within a short distance of each other, however I cannot remember where.

How has this program impacted you?
This program has impacted me in my love for travel, I now cannot wait till I’m on my next adventure; and my ability to lead in alien situations with cultural sensitivity.



What would you say to somebody who’s thinking of doing the program?
I would say definitely go for it! It is an experience you’ll never forget and you’ll be on Skype for the next 2 or 3 months talking to all your new friends you grew so close to over the month.

Global Leadership Program: applications now open for July 2012

Now in its 13th year, the Global Leadership Program in Prague is an intensive academic program with participants from all around the world taking part.

Open to students from all discipline backgrounds, this prestigious program includes academic classes (Philosophies of Leadership, Global Business, Human Rights, Social Entrepreneurship and Media, Democracy and Development), as well as cultural activities, field trips and community work.

Workshops give you an opportunity to learn practical skills such public speaking, writing a business plan and how to implement a project in your home community. Limited places offered to participants from around the world so apply early to avoid missing out.
Read more


"This was a life changing experience! I never thought that I'd have the chance to spend the summer in one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. I now have a different view on leadership and life and also many new life long friends!"
Marcus Raty [pictured left], Griffith University, 2011 participant. Read full interview

Credit and funding

*This program may be able to count for credit towards your degree. More info

*Over $5800 in Government funding may be available for eligible students. More info on the OS-HELP website.

Limited places, apply early!
Early-bird discounts available


Photos from past participants:

We are currently accepting applications for this program for July 2012.
*To find out more about this program, go to our website: www.aimoverseas.com.au or email us on info@aimoverseas.com.au
*To apply, fill out this application form

Places for this program are strictly limited, so apply early to avoid missing out.

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Global Leadership Program in Prague: interview with returned student Marcus Raty

Marcus Raty, a 3rd year Engineering student from Griffith University, spent four weeks in the beautiful city of Prague, studying Global Leadership with other like-minded students from around the world. Marcus tells us more about this life-changing experience:

Hi Marcus! Could you please introduce yourself?
Hello! My name is Marcus and currently I am studying on exchange studying at KTH, or the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Sweden. At the moment I am in the third year of my Bachelor of Engineering, specialising in Electronic and Computer Engineering and currently thinking about what the future holds for me when I get back home to Australia and finish my degree.

Why did you choose to participate in AIM Overseas' Global Leadership in Prague?
I had not travelled much overseas before so the chance to travel and study at the same time was a big reason in choosing this course. Further to that I thought that the content of the course would be different to what I usually study in engineering and it would give me a chance to work on a different skill set.

Did you have any fears/concerns before doing the program?
As I was not use to the kind of essay writing and intensive readings that the program required that was really the one thing that I was a bit nervous about coming into the program. I was worried that after three years of an engineering degree my brain was more wired for math and science, however I found the work really exciting and rewarding. I truly surprised myself with my ability to adapt to a completely different work environment.

Tell me about a typical day during the program.
A typical day would be waking up at about 7am and getting ready for class. Having morning class was good because it meant that I was forced to get up early to get the most out of the day, and it also meant that I was able to speak to some family and friends back home as mornings were when the timezones aligned the best. From home I would spend until about 2pm at school, first having Global Business and then with Philosophies of Leadership. After lunch I would usually get most of the readings and homework done for the next day and still have many sunlit summer Czech hours to explore the city and do things with friends.


Marcus and friends taking a dip

How has this program affected you, either personally or professionally?
Personally, I think that the program has given me so much more faith in myself. As I said I was worried about doing courses that were really different to the norm for me. However I really surprised myself with what I was able to do and how truly adaptable I am. I know now that I should give myself more credit next time!

Further to this I believe that through showing I am able to be adaptable in this way I have increased my future employability. Through attending the GLP program you really show that you are willing to through yourself in the deep end and do a job really well.

What was the highlight of the program for you?
The highlight of the program for me was meeting a group of like-minded people, not just the students but also the student leaders and the teachers themselves. Travelling in Europe in summer was an unforgettable experience but any travel is really highlights by the friends and the people you meet. Not only did the group of GLP make my time in Prague unforgettable but it was also inspiring to meet a group of students with such a positive and interesting outlook on life and education.


Aussie Aussie Aussie!

Do you have any funny travel stories you’d like to share?
This happened before I had even left Australia, as I had to catch a flight to Brisbane first and wait for my plane onto Prague. I had forgotten to charge my phone the night before in the rush that I was in and I had caught a really early morning flight into Brisbane in case it would be delayed. That meant I had seven hours in Brisbane airport with no phone, nothing to do! There are only so many hours you can go duty free shopping with a limited budget! Make sure you always charge your phone!

What would you say to somebody who’s thinking of doing the program?
Do it! At first you could be nervous about doing something totally different like it, but you need to give yourself a chance to surprise yourself with what you are capable of!

I totally understand that sometimes the process of studying abroad can be tedious with lots of steps and essays and forms, but the experience is totally worth it; once you are there you won't remember the forms or essays you will remember the amazing time you had with all your new friends!

Thanks Marcus!


More swimming pics...


These guys certainly took advantage of the glorious European summer!



This program runs every year in the July uni holidays. To find out more about this program or to apply, please go to our website: www.aimoverseas.com.au or email us on info@aimoverseas.com.au

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Why study overseas? Acacia Burns tells...

Acacia Burns, a Science/Law student at Griffith Uni, embarked on the trip of a lifetime when she participated in AIM Overseas' Global Leadership Program in Prague. Acacia loved her experience so much she's heading off to the UK this July to study our Cambridge Summer School program.

Here's an article by Acacia about studying abroad:

Take the plunge and study overseas- it’s the best decision you’ll ever make!

I love to travel! And what better way to make the most of your precious travelling time than to study overseas. So when I was offered a place in the 11th Annual Global Leadership Program (GLP) held in Prague, I jumped at the chance. It wasn’t long before I was boarding my first long-haul flight to Europe, and over 30 hours in transit and 2 stopovers later I had landed in what is known as “the city of a thousand spires”...Prague, of course!

I was now a student of Charles University (one of the oldest universities in Europe) for the next month, along with 49 other undergraduate students from around the world. After all the introductions, a welcome lunch and one “Amazing Race” around the city, we headed off into the Czech countryside to our base for the weekend: Châteaux Liblice. During this weekend retreat of site visits, team building activities and community service, Heather, our lecturer and founder of the GLP programs, lived up to her seemingly impossible promise that “by the end of this weekend you will know EVERYONE!”

The core component of GLP is the course Philosophies of Leadership, with a choice of 3 electives: Comparative Religion, Human Rights and International Relations, and Global Business. A definite highlight for me was experiencing a different style of teaching. The classes were small and very interactive. In Philosophies of Leadership we discussed what it means to be a leader by drawing on commentaries by philosophers such as Aristotle, Plato, Hobbes, Ghandi and Martin Luther King. Heather would often come to class in-character, playing her role so well that it was ages before we even realised! Similarly, it wasn’t long before our human rights class relocated to a nearby coffee shop, where we engaged in lively and often very passionate debates about cultural relativism, universality and the like.

In a city with as much history (and quirk!) as Prague, you will never run out of things to do. From visiting the chapel made entirely of human bones, or the communist/ chocolate/ torture/ (no joke) sex machine museum/s, to climbing the giant baby sculptures that crawl along the Vltava river. And of course there’s that magnificent castle! For GLPers (as participants are fondly known as) there’s an organised weekend trip outside the Czech Republic to Berlin or Budapest, as well as Czech film screenings and cultural nights (aka vegemite on toast nights).

Being a part of the GLP program and having the opportunity to study overseas has definitely been a major highlight of my life so far. Through GLP I met some truly generous, hard working and inspirational people, and made friends for life.

For me, studying overseas was an amazing experience and I would recommend it to anyone.

This program runs every year in the July uni holidays. To find out more about this program or to apply, please go to our website: www.aimoverseas.com.au or email us on info@aimoverseas.com.au