WYF Gathers 400+ Students for Liberal Arts Leadership Summit

The World Youth Forum (WYF), an international nonprofit platform that engages more than 500,000 young people annually across over 30 countries, successfully concluded the Future Liberal Arts Leadership Summit (WYF-FLALS 2026) in Macao. The five-day event brought together more than 400 students for interdisciplinary learning, cross-cultural collaboration and leadership development.

Participants came from more than 10 countries and regions, including Cambodia, China (including Hong Kong SAR, Macao SAR and Taiwan region), India, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, the United States and Vietnam. The Macao summit followed the earlier WYF-FELS event in Hong Kong and together the two gatherings engaged more than 1,000 young people in 2026 through programmes focused on economics, liberal arts and cross-cultural exchange.

Jointly organised by the World Youth Forum and the Organizing Committee of the International Academic Decathlon (IAD), WYF-FLALS 2026 explored the theme 'Our Changing Climate'. Students examined the issue through multiple academic lenses, including social science, literature, fine arts, science, mathematics, economics and music. Through interdisciplinary challenges, collaborative projects, speeches and structured exchanges, participants analysed the scientific, economic, social and cultural dimensions of climate change.

The summit featured a series of high-profile guests who interacted with students and connected classroom learning to real-world global challenges. Guests included Wong Yee Lam, Member of the Administrative Committee of the Commerce and Investment Promotion Institute; Cheng Wai Tong, Deputy Director of the Macao Government Tourism Office; Cheong Man Fai, Head of the Department of Youth Affairs at the Education and Youth Development Bureau; Li Feilong, Director of the Taiwan Affairs Department at the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao SAR; Jia Qiong, Second Secretary at the Department of Information and Public Diplomacy of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the Macao SAR; Lao Ngai Leong and Si Ka Lon, Deputies to the National People’s Congress; Wong Kit Cheng, Vice-Chairperson of the All-China Youth Federation; Lam Ieng Pui, Founding President of the Chinese Youth Advancement Association; Zhang Senhua, President of the Chinese Youth Advancement Association; Zhao Gang, Director-General of the Global Innovation Center; Amy Dosch, Executive Director of the United States Academic Decathlon (USAD); and Henry Peng, Global Council Member of the World Youth Forum.

These guests participated in academic sessions and direct exchanges with students, encouraging participants to approach complex issues from multiple perspectives and to link academic knowledge with practical global challenges.

Programme highlights included the Super Quiz, Academic Exploration Fair, Team Spark & Global Fusion Fest, U20-Master Call, U20-Idea Incubation, Themed Speech, U20–Youth Voice, and Bridging Worlds: Real-World Learning Journey. Awards were presented to recognise excellence in academics, teamwork, communication and creativity.

The summit emphasised challenge-based and interdisciplinary learning. By combining elements of the liberal arts with contemporary issues such as climate change, organisers aimed to develop students’ ability to think critically, collaborate across cultures and communicate complex ideas effectively. Activities were designed to move beyond traditional classroom formats and to give young participants practical experience in research, presentation, teamwork and idea development.

World Youth Forum operates as a nonprofit platform that supports education, competitions, conferences and youth-led initiatives. Through partnerships with schools, educators and international organisations, including the International Academic Decathlon, WYF seeks to expand access to high-quality interdisciplinary learning opportunities for young people across Asia and beyond.

The successful conclusion of WYF-FLALS 2026 in Macao marks the completion of the organisation’s 2026 summit series. Organisers indicated that they will continue collaborating with the International Academic Decathlon, educational institutions and international partners to broaden access to similar programmes in the future.

For many participants, the summit provided a rare opportunity to engage with peers from different countries while tackling a shared global issue through diverse academic disciplines. The combination of structured academic challenges, cultural exchange and interaction with policymakers and education leaders created an environment focused on both intellectual development and personal growth.

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As youth leadership programmes continue to grow in importance across the region, events such as WYF-FLALS demonstrate the value of bringing students together around interdisciplinary themes. By framing climate change as a multifaceted challenge that spans science, economics, culture and the arts, the summit encouraged participants to develop broader analytical skills and a more integrated understanding of complex problems.

The World Youth Forum plans to build on the momentum of the 2026 summits by expanding its network of schools and partners. Future programmes are expected to maintain the same emphasis on challenge-based learning, cross-cultural collaboration and the development of young leaders capable of engaging with global issues from multiple perspectives.

The Macao edition of the Future Liberal Arts Leadership Summit stands as a clear example of how international youth platforms can combine academic rigour with real-world relevance, offering students meaningful opportunities to learn, collaborate and lead.