2025 Young Leaders Institute: Issues in International Security

YLI 2025: Issues in International Security Main

Schedule

Monday, July 14 – Friday, July 18, 2025
8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Daily

In a world more globally connected than ever before, leaders need to be well-prepared with the right knowledge, attitudes, skills, and behaviors to be successful. Asia Society Texas' Young Leaders Institute (YLI) is a week-long summer program for high school students that promotes global competence, elevates leadership skills, and connects students from across diverse backgrounds and experiences.

Since launching in 2016, YLI has provided new perspectives and strengthened skills for more than 470 students. The Institute's 10th year invites students to explore some of the most timely, relevant global issues for young leaders today.

What skills will students learn from the Young Leaders Institute?

During the Institute, students will engage in the four tenets of global competence, as defined by the Asia Society Center for Global Education: investigating the world, recognizing perspectives, communicating ideas, and taking action.

Throughout the week, students will deepen their knowledge of the global policy issues of the day, then work in teams to research and develop solutions for the challenges facing the world. Working in groups, students will practice their communication and collaboration skills, strengthen their written and oral presentation skills for the future, and engage respectfully and thoughtfully with peers to expand their views and understanding of the world.

In addition, students will have opportunities to learn new approaches to leadership and practice different skills demanded of leaders, including initiative, collaboration, empathy, and overcoming differences and challenges.

What activities should students expect during the Institute?

During the Institute, students will hear from experts in the field, engage in team-building or leadership activities, and work in groups to research, debate, and present policy solutions for challenges facing the world. While students will be provided time to work during the session, some work outside of Institute hours will be expected.

On the Institute's final day, students will present their policy recommendations developed from all they have learned throughout the week before a panel of impartial judges. A top group will be selected and honored for their policy presentation. Students will be mentored throughout the week by Asia Society Texas staff, receiving feedback and guidance on topics, teamwork, and presentation skills.

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Session 2: Issues in International Security

Register now! We are accepting registrations on a rolling basis. Interested students are encouraged to register by midnight on Friday, May 31, 2025. Session capacity is limited, so students are encouraged to register early to ensure their spot.

Students confirmed for this session will receive an email and informational packet approximately one week before the session's first day.

What topics might be discussed during the Issues in International Security session?

Geopoltiics of Asia in the contexts of territorial disputes, competition, cooperation, and conflict
Understanding and defining security and human rights
Nontraditional security threats, including cybersecurity, transnational crises, and environmental and natural disasters
Global security challenges, with emphasis on the security landscape across Asia
Roles of international organizations and alliances, including ASEAN, APEC, and mulitlateral treaties
Forced migrations and displacements
Humanitarian intervention and diplomatic solutions

Speaker information will be announced.

Additional 2025 Sessions

2025 YLI: South Korea's Global Impact SQ

Session 1: South Korea's Global Impact
Monday, June 23 – Friday, June 27, 2025・8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Daily
Explore South Korea's influence on the global stage, with special focus on economic and industrial development and U.S. relations. Dive into South Korea's multifaceted contributions to technology, innovation, and the global rise of Korean soft power, including K-pop and Korean television and films.

Session 3: The Future of Energy
Monday, July 28 – Friday, August 1, 2025・8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Daily
Learn how renewables and energy transition initiatives are shaping the global economic, environmental, and energy outlook. Gain insights on how policymakers, industries, nonprofit, and international organizations are creating innovative solutions for a greener and more sustainable future.

Testimonials

"During YLI, I realized how important it is to take the ideas of your peers into consideration and to let everyone have a chance to voice their thoughts. It's changed my perspective on teamwork, and I can now see how having a group of people working together can help you." — 2024 Renewable Energy and Climate Solutions student

"I have learned a good leader listens to all perspectives in a group and is thoughtful to different views or ways of doing things. They also take initiative in situations that might be uncomfortable. I want to be the first to take initiative and reach out in the future." — 2024 Human Rights and International Security student

"By learning how to better adapt to change or collaborate with others efficiently, I think that my perspective of what makes a good leader has become more nuanced. Although confidence and decisiveness are just as important, so is going the extra mile to prepare for changes, which are inevitable. In the future, I will continue to push myself to try my best to improve in whatever I do, be it as a leader or student." — 2023 Equality and Human Development student

"From the Young Leaders Institute, I have learned that good leaders not only take charge of situations and can adapt to crises; they also serve to diverse communities and communicate their ideas purposefully and consciously. After participating in YLI this week, my personal leadership style will become more communication-focused and emphasize understanding and empathy." — 2022 International Security and Defense student

"The most important thing I learned this week was learning to not only listen to others, but also to learn how to combine key skills like research, teamwork, policy, and presentation (as demonstrated by many of the speakers who spoke to us this week). I also learned the importance of being thoughtful towards others." — 2021 Public Health student

Asia Society Texas Business & Policy Programs are endowed by the Huffington Foundation.

Business and Policy programs at Asia Society Texas are presented by Bank of America, Muffet Blake, and ExxonMobil. Major support comes from Nancy C. Allen, Chinhui Juhn and Eddie Allen, The Brown Foundation, Inc., and Houston Endowment Inc. Generous funding provided by bp America, Inc, Anne and Albert Chao, ConocoPhillips, Mitsubishi Corporation (Americas), Regions Bank, and Stephanie and Frank Tsuru. Additional support is provided by the Friends of Asia Society, a dedicated group of individuals and organizations committed to bringing the best in public programming.

Business & Policy Presenting Sponsors

About Asia Society Texas

Asia Society Texas believes in the strength and beauty of diverse perspectives and people. As an educational institution, we advance cultural exchange by celebrating the vibrant diversity of Asia, inspiring empathy, and fostering a better understanding of our interconnected world. Spanning the fields of arts, business, culture, education, and policy, our programming is rooted in the educational and cultural development of our community — trusting in the power of art, dialogue, and ideas to combat bias and build a more inclusive society.