Welcome to your virtual program for the EF Gap Year Leadership Academy in the UK.
Leadership Academy is designed to give time and space for you to reflect on the year you have had and think about how you will bring it forward into your future. You will be reunited with each other so you can see the growth that each of you has gone through individually, as well as the overall growth that you have experienced as a cohort.
The schedule outlined below is intentionally a mix of structured activities that will help you reflect and prepare for your return, conversations with inspiring EF employees, and free time for you to enjoy each other’s company. And of course, this is also a time to celebrate! We will be celebrating all that you have achieved and accomplished throughout your time on the program.
Ashridge House is a beautiful estate based in Hertfordshire, England – in the rolling countryside about an hour outside London. Ashridge House is owned by the Hult family, who founded EF as well as our sister organization, the Hult International Business School. Ashridge is home to Hult’s Executive Education program, through which CEOs and executives from organizations like Google, the International Red Cross, Heineken, and Swarovski have come to Ashridge to work with experts to hone their business strategy and reflect on their goals in this special space. The estate has an amazing history, and it was even used as inspiration for sets in Harry Potter – it definitely has Harry Potter/Bridgerton/Downton Abbey vibes galore!
You will be staying at the residence at Ashridge and enjoying the last few days of your Gap Year in this unique and beautiful spot. Each sleeping room has three single beds and might be the closest you’ll get to saying you’ve spent the night at Hogwarts. In addition, Ashridge provides delicious buffet-style meals with a variety of choices. It’s hard to be hungry at the castle!
Check out a map of the Ashridge Estate here!
Meet the EF Gap Year staff that will be joining you at Leadership Academy!