HOUSTON, June 30, 2016 — During the week of June 20-24, 2016, Asia Society Texas Center hosted the inaugural Young Leaders Institute (YLI), a week long program intended to prepare high school students for the challenges facing our globally interdependent society. The 2016 Institute focused on the U.S.-China relationship, namely issues related to cybersecurity, energy cooperation, and the South China Sea.

Twenty-four students from diverse high schools and backgrounds participated in YLI. Learning each day from local experts, students conducted their own research, engaged in debate, and wrote position papers as they worked to understand complex global issues from all perspectives. Through YLI, Asia Society Texas Center seeks to foster global competency: challenging students to investigate the world, weigh perspectives, communicate ideas, and take action.

The 2017 YLI will focus on the U.S.-India relationship. Contact Kelly Kleinkort, Director of Education, Business & Policy, at [email protected] for more details.