Florida International Leadership Conference (FILC)
About:
FILC is an annual student conference organized by the Florida Association of International Educators (FAIE). Over the last few years, the conference has attracted over 180 international students and U.S. study or service abroad students across Florida. With the support of the FAIE, the conference provides a unique leadership training experience and networking opportunity for this group of student leaders. To learn more about the FILC, please visit http://faie.org/2025-filc/
Goals of FILC:
- To enhance leadership skills.
- To promote friendships and networks among international and study-abroad students.
- To acknowledge and reward student leaders who work to promote international understanding on campus.
- To challenge students to see themselves as global leaders.
- To recognize the different styles of leadership across cultures.
The Center for Global Engagement (CGE) selects ten students to represent FAU at the FILC each year. FILC 2024 was held from Friday, April 4 to Sunday, April 6, 2025 , at Camp Geneva, Fruitland Park, Florida.
By attending FILC, students have a unique opportunity to enhance your leadership skills, build friendships and networking, share educational experiences, and promote global education. If you want to challenge yourself as a global leader, do not miss out on this great opportunity!
Application for FILC 2025 will open in around late November 2024. Stay tuned for updates.
Experiences From FILC 2024 Attendees
The FILC 2024 was held from Friday, April 5 to Sunday, April 7, 2024 at Camp Cloverleaf, Lake Placid, Florida. These are our student representatives who attended the FILC 2024 and their takeaways!
FILC 2024 Students' feedbacks:
"Attending FILC was a life-changing experience for me. It allowed me to meet people from all over the world, make new friends, and try new things. Kayaking with friends stands out as a favourite memory, and participating in the elevator pitch contest helped me overcome my stage fear. Additionally, I had the opportunity to learn so many new things about different countries and cultures, broadening my understanding of the world. I'm grateful to the FILC’24 team for accommodating Ramadan needs, going above and beyond to make the event inclusive and memorable. Looking ahead, I am excited and eagerly anticipating the opportunity to be part of FILC again next year, this time as a peer leader,” - Mohammad Shehroz Ashraf, from Pakistan.
"(It) was an enriching experience that broadened my perspectives and enhanced my leadership skills. Meeting peers from diverse backgrounds and engaging in various sessions opened my eyes to different cultures and ideas. From the inspiring keynote addresses to the interactive breakout sessions, I learned valuable lessons about emotional intelligence, global citizenship, and effective communication. Coming from a sub-urban part of the Himalayas, this experience was particularly crucial for me. It provided insights into navigating the U.S. job market, learning new languages, and marketing my international experiences to potential employers. The opportunity to immerse myself in a community of like-minded individuals fueled my passion for personal and professional growth, emphasizing the importance of embracing diversity and continuous learning in today's interconnected world.," - Bishal Dhungana, from Nepal.
"The excitement for the friendships and experiences that would unfold over the course of the weekend was evident as soon as I entered the conference space. I'm glad I attended the FILC conference; it was an exciting trip filled with new experiences. It included kayaking under the open sky, learning how to play basketball, gathering around crackling bonfires, dancing with so much excitement, sharing stories and insights with new friends whose perspectives broadened your own, giving an elevator speech, and attending all of the fascinating presentations. These activities all helped me gain the confidence and real global leadership skills I needed to empower myself as a leader and as a person navigating a diverse and interconnected world," - Awele Enwemnwa, from Nigeria.
"Attending the FILC conference was profoundly rewarding and enlightening. Surrounded by a diverse group of individuals from around the world, I gained invaluable insights into cross-cultural leadership, vital in our interconnected global community. Engaging in keynote sessions, insightful workshops, and meaningful networking opportunities have undoubtedly shaped my journey as an aspiring physician and future leader. This experience reaffirmed my commitment to fostering understanding across cultures, which I eagerly aim to apply in both personal and professional endeavors. Being selected as a participant was a highlight of my senior year, and I am deeply grateful for the friendships formed, further enriching my experience and reinforcing the bonds of global unity that FILC embodies," - Jackie Pinedo, USA student who studied abroad in South Korea.
"As a participant in FILC 2024, I had an amazing experience that allowed me to enhance my leadership skills, build friendships and networks with students from around the world, and promote global education. Through team-building activities, I was able to connect with educators and students from other countries and learn more about their cultures. The keynote sessions and presentations on cross-cultural leadership redefined my perception of leadership and made me more confident not only as a leader but also as an international student," - Ganesh Podishetti, from India.
"I felt honored and fortunate to be representing FAU to attend and present at FILC 2024. It was an extraordinary experience to be in a place that celebrates diversity and leadership development. I met so many students from other universities with very different backgrounds. It was great to share my experiences and learn about others' lives through the many presentations and various conversations with people. The conference offered us many fun activities - and I especially enjoyed kayaking on the lake at the campground. I made some beautiful memories with FAU students, advisors, and everyone else I met through the conference," - Lanxi Tao, from China.