Host: Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF)
Programme Name: ASEFYLS Capacity Training 2026
Focus: Anticipatory Leadership for a Human-Centred Future
Timeline: June – November 2026
Target Group: Students and young professionals aged 18–30
Application Deadline: Tuesday, 12 May 2026
The ASEFYLS2026 youth leadership programme connects young people from Asia and Europe through a leadership journey focused on anticipatory leadership. The 2026 edition explores how participants can use the future to inform the present by analysing trends, weak signals, and changing contexts.
About the ASEFYLS2026 Youth Leadership Programme
ASEFYLS is a youth platform that helps build a community of young people from Asia and Europe. It encourages participants to grow in self-leadership, team leadership, and societal leadership. In addition, it aims to foster curiosity, innovation, and intercultural understanding among young people who want to contribute to a more equitable and sustainable future.
The 2026 programme runs from June to November and combines learning activities, community engagement, and one additional in-person component for selected participants. As a result, participants do not only study leadership concepts, but also apply them in their own communities.
What Participants Can Experience
✓ Learning sessions on anticipatory leadership for a human-centred future
✓ Input from institutions, thematic experts, and high-level speakers
✓ Networking with youth from across Asia and Europe
✓ Opportunities to bring knowledge back to local communities through grassroots action
Programme Elements
The programme has two main elements and one additional opportunity for selected participants.
Online Training Phase
From 9 June to 30 July 2026, participants join the online Training Phase. During this period, they explore anticipatory leadership styles, systems thinking, and the use of anticipatory approaches in organisations. They also study strategic foresight, horizon scanning, and the influence of technologies such as AI on ethical, inclusive, and sustainable leadership.
Local Action Phase
From August to November 2026, participants move into the Action Phase in their local communities. In this phase, they are expected to organise multiplier events that turn theory into action and share their learning with a wider audience.
In-Person Opportunity in Norway
The source states that 40 participants will be selected, based on their engagement and commitment during the Training Phase, to join the Asia-Europe Youth Leadership Training: Anticipatory Leadership in the Arctic. This additional in-person training will be held in Tromsø, Norway, from 23 to 29 August 2026. It is organised together with the Arctic University of Tromsø and under the European Youth Capital 2026 initiative.
Who Can Apply
• Applicants must be citizens of one of the eligible Asian and European countries
• Applicants must be students or young professionals between 18 and 30 years old
• Applicants must hold a leading role in a youth organisation or student association
• Applicants must demonstrate excellent spoken and written English
The source further explains that motivation, experience in community and societal leadership, and the ability to create impact and multiplier effect in local communities will be taken into account during selection.
Costs and Support
There are no registration fees or participation fees for the programme. In addition, accommodation, meals, and travel subsidies are provided for selected participants.
Expected Commitment
Participants are expected to attend two online Training Phase sessions each week between 9 June and 30 July 2026, making a total of 16 sessions. The source estimates this at around 4 hours per week, together with self-paced individual tasks.
After the Training Phase, participants are expected to organise multiplier events in their local communities. These activities may be arranged either online or in person. For selected participants, this comes after the on-site training in Tromsø.
Key Dates
The final deadline to apply is Tuesday, 12 May 2026. The page also highlights a FAQ webinar on Tuesday, 21 April 2026 for participants who want more information about the programme and application process.
