Program Overview

The Academy for Future International Leaders (AFIL) is a year-long interdisciplinary program in which outstanding undergraduates with leadership skills and/or potential obtain an in-depth learning experience about global issues.  AFIL complements any major and allows students to gain a global perspective and to prepare for leadership roles in the increasingly international 21^st Century.   

AFIL began in 1998 under the vision of the Texas A&M International Board, an esteemed group of leaders from a variety of fields who advise A&M on matters of international outreach and collaboration.  The Academy is a joint effort among A&M’s nine academic colleges and is coordinated through the Study Abroad Programs Office. 

The AFIL program consists of four major components: a spring seminar, a mentoring program, an international leadership challenge project, and an optional international opportunity.  Click on the following links to learn more about the four major components of the Academy for Future International Leaders:  Academic Seminar | Mentoring Program | International Leadership Challenge Project | International Opportunity |

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Academic Seminar

The AFIL seminar provides students with the opportunity to gain knowledge on a wide array of subjects with an international focus.  The 3-credit hour seminar is conducted on Thursday evenings during the spring semester.  Readings and class sessions cover topics of global importance, such as Strategic Issues Facing the Middle East, National Defense and Global Security, and World Energy Resources and the Environment. 

 

The AFIL seminars encourage participant interaction and are conducted jointly by a Texas A&M faculty member and an outside expert, including members of the Texas A&M International Board.  A typical class session begins with a discussion of the previous week’s topic as well as the reading assignments for the current week.  Following this discussion, students will learn more in-depth about the current topic through 50 minutes of guest speaker presentation(s).  Following the presentation(s), the seminar concludes with an analytical discussion of the current topic.  This format provides a stimulating and interactive environment that challenges the students to a sophisticated level of analytical study.

To learn more about the AFIL seminar, refer to the 2008 AFIL Syllabus.

 

Mentoring Program

The AFIL Mentoring Program is designed to give students the opportunity to learn from international executives whose personal and professional experiences have made them leaders in their chosen fields of expertise.  Each student is paired with a member of the Texas A&M International Board who has offered to provide students with guidance and support in developing the necessary skills for professional success in a global working environment.

Every effort is made to match students and mentors who share interests in a field of study, but this is not always possible.  A successful mentoring program matches individuals on a combination of factors.  We do not necessarily match mentors and mentees by their degree of similarities or interests, but on the ability of the mentor and the student to interact and communicate effectively. The mentors provide guidance to the AFIL students, and it is the responsibility of the student to take advantage of this unique learning opportunity.

To learn more about the AFIL mentoring program, please click on the following links:

Mentoring Program Guidelines for Students

Mentoring Program Guidelines for Mentors

Impact of the AFIL Mentoring Program

 

International Leadership Challenge Project

The International Leadership Challenge Project component was introduced during the 2004 Academy for Future International Leaders (AFIL) class. The goal of this project is to give students a practical challenge in applying their international leadership skills within the Texas A&M or broader global community.  As leaders in a variety of student associations, pairs of students are challenged to initiate and complete a realistic and sustainable project that will promote international exchange on campus or beyond.

The project is kicked off in the fall when the Academy students have the opportunity to meet a group of student leaders within the international community.  Following the meeting, the students are responsible for developing a project proposal and leading the implementation of the project.  Previous international leadership challenge projects have involved the successful construction and continued operation of a day-care center in Honduras, fundraising for tsunami victims, and an international students’ cultural exchange spring break program at A&M.

 

Visit the following links to learn more about the International Leadership Challenge Project:

International Leadership Challenge Project Guidelines

International Leadership Challenge Project Archives

International Opportunities

Students who successfully complete the spring academic seminar with an 'A' or 'B' are eligible to participate in a variety of summer international experiences that are partially funded through an AFIL stipend.  Opportunities may include a summer internship, a traditional study abroad program, a volunteer program, or an intensive language study program, among other alternatives.  AFIL students are encouraged to work with the Study Abroad Programs Office to plan their international experience.  See the Forms & Guidelines  section of the AFIL website for important documents related to the AFIL international experience.