Sikyong Dr. Lobsang Sangay today inaugurated the second leadership summit of Tibetan students at the lower TCV school in Dharamshala. The eight-day summit, organised by the Department of Education, Central Tibetan Administration, is being held to build on the success of the first leadership summit organised by the department last year.

Over 300 class X students from Nepal and India are participating in this year’s summit. The chief guest of the inaugural ceremony was Sikyong Dr. Lobsang Sangay. Education Kalon Mr. Ngodup Tsering and Education Secretary Mr. Topgyal Tsering were also present.

Addressing the inaugural ceremony, Sikyong Dr. Lobsang Sangay noted that this is the first initiative of the Kashag as well as the education department in the year 2015, and expressed optimism towards the symbolic value of the year’s first activity.

Since this was only the second day of the new year, Sikyong Dr. Lobsang Sangay asked the students about their new year’s resolutions. Amidst incomprehensible responses from the students, Sikyong encouraged them to make new resolutions i.e, to make tireless efforts towards becoming future leaders of Tibet.

Sikyong Dr. Lobsang Sangay also spoke about the importance of education including leadership qualities to have a successful career, reiterating that education is one of the most important component of the present Kashag’s policies.

He urged the students to use the insights and information inculcated during the summit for practical purposes at school and in life.

Education Kalon Mr. Ngodup Tsering, in his speech, spoke about the aims and objectives of the education department to organise these leadership summits. “We recognise the importance of good leaders to lead a movement. Therefore, we have started this summit last year to impart leadership qualities to our students at an early age. It will help nurture their ambitions and produce effective leaders in the future,” he said.

Explaining the reasons for organising these summits at Dharamshala, he said: “ There are two central reasons for organising the leadership summits at Dharamshala. First, Dharamshala is the abode of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and secondly, it is also the seat of the Central Tibetan Administration. Therefore, we organise these summits here to help the students receive these various experiences.”

This is the second leadership summit for Tibetan students being organised by the Education Department. The first summit was held last year and was attended by 310 students from 31 different schools in India and Nepal.

This year’s summit have 302 students including 140 boys and 162 girls from 33 different schools. The eight-day summit will introduce the students to various kinds of leadership skills including participatory leadership and emotional intelligence. The summit also include activities to foster acquaintances between the students to create a leadership network.

Some notable personalities who will be taking the leadership sessions during the summit include Tibetan political leader Sikyong Dr. Lobsang Sangay, Mr. Penpa Tsering, Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament, Mr. Ngodup Tsering, Education Kalon, and various other experts from diverse fields of work.