A new leadership programme designed by Otago Girls' High School principal Linda Miller is being watched closely by the Ministry of Education, with an eye to introducing it at secondary schools across the country.
The initiative, called the Global Leadership Programme, aims to help pupils develop global awareness, build global networks and contribute to global solutions.
Ms Miller said she created the programme because there appeared to be a void in global leadership education programmes in New Zealand secondary schools.
''The world in which students live is changing. It's increasingly complex, it's increasingly internationalised - the world is a much smaller place.
''There's a need to be far more aware of what is happening in the world. You want young people to have agency; you want them to feel like they can make a difference; you want them to feel like the major events and issues that are developing in the world are not insurmountable and that they can do something about it.''
Ms Miller said opportunities were growing for people from New Zealand to be leaders in global organisations.
''You only need to look at [former prime minister] Helen Clark and various other New Zealanders who are at the forefront on the international stage ...
''There's an opportunity for the girls to do that, but to also develop those skills that will enable them to contribute, to be global citizens.''
The initiative would be tried for a period and perfected, and it was hoped the programme would eventually spread to other schools, she said.
''`The Ministry of Education, Education New Zealand and the Asia New Zealand Foundation are all really keen on the idea, but they want to see how it goes. If it is successful here, I don't see why it couldn't be rolled out to other schools.''
She said United Nations organisations she spoke to during a recent trip to Geneva were also enthusiastic about her programme.
Participating pupils would work through three levels of the award - bronze, silver and gold, she said.
''At each level, there will be four facets - learn, experience, communicate, act - with individual elements to each.
''Pupils will collect evidence of their participation and completion of each element, and store it in a digital portfolio.
''The portfolio will provide an enduring record of their Global Leadership journey throughout their time at school and, potentially, beyond.''
