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ASEF Young Leaders Summit

Education

Programme

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Since: 2015

The ASEF Young Leaders Summit (ASEFYLS) is the place for Asian and European young professionals and students to connect, dialogue and learn from one another. It is the forum for youth to voice their ideas and develop their leadership capacities.

ASEF Young Leaders Summit

ASEF Young Leaders Summit

Education

Programme

Share:

Programme
Since: 2015
Since:
2015
Theme:
Education

The ASEF Young Leaders Summit (ASEFYLS) is the place for Asian and European young professionals and students to connect, dialogue and learn from one another. It is the forum for youth to voice their ideas and develop their leadership capacities.

Share:

WHAT IS #ASEFYLS?

The ASEF Young Leaders Summit (ASEFYLS) is a Youth platform that connects young people across Asia & Europe, applying a 360 degree approach on leadership development and community engagement: 1) self-leadership (you), 2) team leadership (we) and 3) societal leadership (all).

It aims to give #Youth the opportunity to:

Receive Training from Experts
Training on emerging topics from world-leading institutions and experts
Contribute to Decision-Making
Bring the youth voice into the multilateral policy arena. Contribute to reports and publications.
Access an Asian and European Youth Network
Making life-long friends and opening doors for cross-regional collaboration and exchange

PROGRAMME HIGHLIGHTS

The ASEFYLS is built on 4 programme elements:

1) Knowledge Building Phase

Participants attend online crash courses on policy making, leadership and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and build up thematic expertise for the conference on site.

2) Leadership in Action activities

The ASEFYLS format allows participants to collaborate to solve global societal challenges.

3) On-Site Programme

The programme includes a variety of learning formats: thematic lectures, human libraries, skills trainings, collaborative working groups and dialogue sessions between junior and senior leaders from politics, business and academia.

4) Connections with Asian and European Leaders

At the ASEFYLS, one-to-one meetings are arranged between participants and decision makers.

CURRENT EDITION OF ASEFYLS

The ASEFYLS Capacity Training 2026 is a youth leadership programme focusing on ‘Anticipatory Leadership for a Human-Centered Future’, with a 8-week collaborative online Training programme. Selected participants from the online training will also be invited to join the ‘Asia-Europe Youth Leadership Training: Anticipatory Leadership in the Arctic’.

The ASEFYLS2026 programme takes place from June to July 2026 and consists of 2 programme elements with the aim to give participants the opportunity to learn, to collaborate and to turn theory into action: (1) the Online Training (2) Multiplier Activities in Local Communities.

Learn more about the programme and about Anticipatory Leadership here.

PAST EDITIONS OF ASEFYLS

YOUTH SUMMITS

“Leadership and Society 5.0”

August – October 2025 | Virtual & Osaka, Japan

Learn more here.

“The Future of Economy, Environment, and People & Work in Society 5.0”

August 2025 | Virtual

Learn more here.

“Leadership and Society 5.0”

August – December 2023 | Virtual & Salamanca, Spain

Learn more here.

“Sustainable Development in a Post-COVID-19 World”

February – June 2021 | Virtual, Cambodia & ASEM countries

Learn more here.

“Ethical Leadership”

15-19 October 2018 | Brussels, Belgium

Learn more here.

“Access to Youth Employment”

ASEM Lifelong Learning Hub (ASEM LLL Hub) & Korea Youth Work Agency (KYWA)

16-22 September 2017 | Seoul, Korea

Learn more here.

“Entrepreneurship and Youth Employment”

University of Luxembourg & European Investment Bank (Luxembourg)

1-5 November 2015 | Luxembourg

Learn more here.

CAPACITY TRAININGS

In the lead up to the 6th ASEF Young Leaders Summit (ASEFYLS6)
July 2025 | Warsaw, Poland

Learn more here.

“Leadership and Society 5.0”
July – December 2024 | Virtual, China & Hungary

Learn more here.

In the lead up to the 5th ASEF Young Leaders Summit (ASEFYLS5)
21-25 June 2023 | Singapore

Learn more here.

In support of the 4th ASEF Young Leaders Summit (ASEFYLS4)
August 2020 – December 2021, Virtual, Cambodia, Singapore & ASEM countries

Learn more here.

In the lead up to the 3rd ASEF Young Leaders Summit (ASEFYLS3)
College of Europe, Natolin
10-14 July 2018, Warsaw, Poland

Learn more here.

In the lead up to the 3rd ASEF Young Leaders Summit (ASEFYLS3)
Symbiosis International (Deemed University)
16-20 May 2018, Pune, India

Learn more here.

On Public Speaking & Networking
The National University of Lao & Global Changemakers
9-10 October 2017, Vientiane, Lao PDR

Learn more here.

On Public Speaking & Negotiation Skills
Aristotle University in Thessaloniki, Global Changemakers and ESN Greece
4-5 July 2017, Thessaloniki, Greece

Learn more here.

On Evaluation Techniques & Impact Assessment
North South University & Paia Consultancy
22-23 March 2016, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Learn more here.

On Societal Leadership Skills
National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) & Institute for Societal Leadership (ISL) at Singapore Management University (SMU)
17-18 March 2016, Islamabad, Pakistan

Learn more here.

On Team Management & Leadership Skills
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cambodia, Union of Youth Federations of Cambodia & Sqore
30 November – 2 December 2015, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Learn more here.

WATCH THE HIGHLIGHT VIDEOS FROM PREVIOUS EDITIONS:

PUBLICATIONS

Transforming Society 5.0

Case Studies for Ethical, Inclusive, and Sustainable Societies in Asia and Europe

ASEF Youth Report 2024

Shaping Society 5.0: Youth Perspectives and Leadership Development for a Human-Centered Future

ASEF Youth Report 2023

Stepping into Society 5.0: Youth Perspectives on Technology-Informed Societal Leadership

ASEM Youth Report

For Young People, By Young People: Insights Into Young Adults’ Leadership Experiences and Aspirations in ASEM Countries

Un(masked)

Reflections on Self and Collective Responsibility during the COVID-19 Pandemic

WATCH THE TRAILER FOR ASEFYLS

ASEF truly opened my eyes from the perspective of intercultural learning- I interacted with people and got to know cultures that I previously did not have access to and this not only put my community into a different perspective but also made me want to explore and truly understand Asian cultures more.
Thin
ThinMyanmar
The ASEFYLS allowed me, both to explore my own individual identity as well as explore how our collective societal identities affect our lived experiences and vision of the future. Through an incredibly diverse learning experience, ranging from workshops on digital/AI competences, to simulation games, to study visits to cultural sights across China, and discussions with my incredible fellow participants, I witnessed a shift in the way I see myself and my ability to create social impact, not only through my actions but also through my identity. Thank you to ASEF for a truly life-changing experience.
Yoan
YoanBulgaria
The ASEF Young Leaders Summit stands as a prestigious program that unites talents from both Asia and Europe, featuring influential speakers across diverse dialogues. It is a genuinely empowering initiative for young leaders, fostering a sense of encouragement and empowerment to effect positive change and give back to society. I’ve forged meaningful connections with young leaders from Asia and Europe, and this experience has empowered me to be a catalyst for change.
Elaine
ElaineMalaysia
My overall experience of the Summit was excellent. The event was organised with painstaking care, while maintaining a degree of flexibility all along. It was the first time I took part in an event like this and I am truly grateful for this unparalleled opportunity to delve first-hand into fields that intrigue me so much within the broader framework of Asia-Europe relations, which has been my main academic and professional focus so far.
RenéItaly
My journey at ASEFYLS5 in Salamanca was nothing short of transformative. The conference itself was a melting pot of diverse ideas and perspectives, bringing together young leaders from all corners of the world. The sessions and workshops were both insightful and engaging, covering a wide range of topics, from sustainability and innovation to global diplomacy and leadership skills. ASEFYLS5 in Salamanca was more than just a conference; it was a life-changing experience that broadened my horizons, expanded my global perspective, and equipped me with the tools to become a more effective and compassionate leader.
PhouphetLao PDR
It was a truly enriching experience for me, both on a personal and professional level. Being at one of Europe’s oldest universities, engaging with a diverse array of experts, and connecting with numerous young leaders from Europe and Asia significantly broadened my horizons. Each day, I witnessed the tremendous effort put forth by the organizers to ensure the success of the event, and I feel profoundly grateful to have been one of the participants who benefitted from this opportunity.
RoxanaRomania
My overall experience was undeniably unique. Engaging with individuals from diverse professional and cultural backgrounds proved intriguing and enlightening. The sessions covering a range of topics, such as the evolving role of Artificial Intelligence in shaping our future, the expectations associated with the futuristic concept of Society 5.0, and the imperative of maintaining balance while considering the concerns and perspectives of various nations across Europe and Asia, brought forth a multitude of distinct viewpoints and contemplative moments.
Sibtain AliPakistan

Contact & More Information
For questions or more details, contact us at asefyls@asef.org.

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