The Global Youth Leadership Program is run by the World Internet Conference, an international organisation established on 12 July 2022 and headquartered in Beijing, whose founding members include the Global System for Mobile Communication Association, China’s national computer network emergency response centre, the China Internet Network Information Center, Alibaba Group, Tencent and Zhijiang Lab. The WIC created the programme in 2023 to select outstanding young people in the global internet field on a regular basis. It runs on three pillars the organisers group as meetings, study and research: the “Youth and Digital Future” forum held at the annual Wuzhen Summit, high-level study and training activities, and research on current internet questions. Those selected receive the WIC Global Youth Leader certificate and attend the Wuzhen Summit in Zhejiang province as official guests, with a speaking slot at the youth forum. Fifty-six Global Youth Leaders from 38 countries and regions have been named across the first three editions, and the 2025 round drew applicants from nearly 120 countries and regions.
Benefits & funding
- The official WIC Global Youth Leader certificate.
- A place at the 2026 WIC Wuzhen Summit as an official guest, including a speaking slot at the “Youth and Digital Future” forum.
- Round-trip airfare plus catering and accommodation for the duration of the summit, available on application.
- Standing to propose and host a workshop, and inclusion in the programme’s other youth activities.
- Priority access to internship and job openings within the WIC organisation.
- Applicants who reach the final stage without being selected receive a nominee certificate and can join the WIC youth community.
Eligibility
- Open to applicants worldwide. No nationality or residency requirement is stated, and the 2025 round drew applicants from nearly 120 countries and regions.
- Under 45 years of age.
- Support for the WIC’s purpose of building a community with a shared future in cyberspace, held with a strong sense of mission.
- Notable achievement in one of four fields: policy, meaning service in government or an international organisation; business, meaning head or senior manager of a leading internet company; research, meaning results in areas such as artificial intelligence or big data; or public interest, meaning leadership of a civil-society body doing public-good work.
- An international outlook and interdisciplinary thinking.
- Strong public speaking ability.
- No degree, subject or years-of-experience requirement is stated.
Can you apply?
Worth a closer look
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Age requirement
≤ 44 yrs
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Application process
- 1Register an account on the WIC application and review system at awards.wicinternet.org.
- 2Complete the Global Youth Leadership Program personal information form online.
- 3Upload the supporting materials: a recommendation letter from a relevant institution, plus copies of research output and of any honours or awards.
- 4Record a self-introduction video with a transcript, setting out views on the WIC Global Youth Leaders Initiative and the activities or projects the applicant would run once selected.
- 5Submit before the deadline; the 2026 round closed on 24 July 2026 at 17:00 Beijing time (GMT+8).
- 6Expert review of the complete applications follows, after which the organisers contact those selected and arrange summit attendance.
Program timeline
Applications open
Mid-March 2026
Application deadline
24 July 2026, 17:00 (GMT+8)
Expert review and shortlisting
By end of August 2026
Selected leaders notified, summit attendance arranged
By end of September 2026
WIC Wuzhen Summit and the “Youth and Digital Future” forum, Wuzhen, Zhejiang province
Early November 2026 (tentative)
Applications open for the next edition
March 2027 (expected, not yet published)