The SAIL ASPIRE Leadership and Life Skills Program
The SAIL ASPIRE leadership and life skills program is an Academy-wide program involving all departments It:
- Promotes respect for diversity and inclusion among all Academy student-athletes and staff
- Encourages the development of character, integrity and leadership skills
- Engages student-athletes in service to the Academy and the Doha community
The program is guided by a Leadership and Life Skills Committee, which is a standing committee of the Academy, reporting directly to the Director General and consisting of the following members:
- The Director General
- The Head of Student Care, who serves as the Administrative Chairperson of the Committee and is responsible for the daily administration of the program
- Director-Sport
- Director-Sport Science
- Director-Education and Student Care
- An expert student development consultant, appointed by the Director General, who serves as a full voting member
The Leadership and Life Skills Committee is responsible for designing and implementing a program characterized by the following elements:
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Cognitive, effective and behavioral components reflecting everyday life issues encountered by student-athletes
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An Academy-wide core commitment to treat each other with dignity and respect and act in ways that are fully aligned with the stated vision and values of ASPIRE
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‘Character development’ and ‘leadership’ should be constant points of emphasis with components that teach, advocate, educate and model the core ethical principles and values - trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship - that everyone can agree upon regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, nationality or any other classification
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Co-curricular 'sports culture' components delivered through the Library/Resource Center
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Advancement of individual and social responsibility of student-athletes through the adoption of an Honor Code and Peer Review Honor Committee that permits students to practice self-governance and discipline, guided by social justice values
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A “leadership/personal development” section of the student-athlete’s regular academic and sports Report Card that evaluates specifically defined behavioral student development criteria
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Community service
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Purposeful installation of additional “ASPIRE Culture” mechanisms, such as meaningful graduation and awards ceremonies, the identification, acquisition and display of ASPIRE student-athlete historical records and artefacts, and maintenance of the founder’s vision and story of the establishment of ASPIRE
All ASPIRE staff whose duties and responsibilities involve direct interface with student-athletes receive extensive training and their employment standards reflect the importance and expectations of their key student-athlete influencer positions. Such personnel also receive training in helping students with good decision-making, study skills and learning strategies, as they are the primary supervisors during campus school hours and off-campus training camps and team trips.
The Leadership and Life Skills Committee is also required to produce an annual report to the Director General, encompassing all aspects of the program.