UBC's Summer Institute for Future Legislators teaches students how to be politicians

UBC is offering a summer course that will teach aspiring politicians how to launch their political careers.

The Summer Institute for Future Legislators will be open to anyone interested in going into politics and provides students with the training they need to run for office.

See also

• If you could ask Christy Clark, John Horgan, and Andrew Weaver anything, what would you ask?
• New BC voters website allows you to email your candidate directly
• My Vote, My Future: William Ross Chernoff on BC Election 2017

The curriculum includes lessons about law making, representation, parliamentary relationships, ethics, constituency service, and communications.

“We trust elected officials with some of the biggest decisions in our lives, yet society offers and requires surprisingly little training to prepare them for life in government,” said Gerald Baier, academic director of the institute in a release.

“To help address this education gap, we’re offering one of the first comprehensive training programs for aspiring legislators.”

Students will receive hands-on lessons in BC’s legislature in order for participants to gain a practical understanding of what it is like to serve as a legislator.

Here’s a recap how the course went last summer:

High-profile politicians will also bring their expertise to teach lessons in the course.

Former guest instructors include Preston Manning, former leader of the Reform party of Canada, former BC premier Mike Harcourt, and former BC cabinet minister Carole Taylor.

Heather Sweet, MLA for Edmonton-Manning, was a student at the institute in 2014. In 2015, she won her riding and credits the program for helping her gain hands-on experience.

“The experience of working with other participants on topics like representation, lawmaking, and constituency service, and the exposure to inspiring practitioners, is helpful to anyone interested in serving in elected office whether at the local, provincial or federal levels,” she said in a release.

The program will run between July and August at the UBC Vancouver campus and the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia in Victoria.

To register, for the program can be found on the Summer Institute’s website. The course costs $1,200, although a limited number of scholarships are available.