DDQIC officially launched the Future Leaders Initiative at Queen’s University (FLIQ), a ready-made entrepreneurship program for high school-aged youth to develop a business pitch and compete internationally.
While the pilot competition took place in 2022-2023 at participating schools in Kingston, Toronto, Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam), the official launch has included expansion to four additional high schools in Tegucigalpa (Honduras), Bancroft, Toronto and Kingston (Canada).
New this year, youth will have the opportunity to compete for a trip to Queen’s University campus in July 2024. Teams with the top pitches will be selected from each region to stay in residence and participate in experiential learning on campus.
The program’s design has been informed by and anecdotal evidence collected during the FLIQ pilot showing the benefits of extra-curriculars and on-campus visits to build awareness and confidence of diverse youth to pursue post-secondary education.
FLIQ is a collaboration between Undergraduate Admission and Recruitment and aligns with Queen’s University’s mission to build a more inclusive campus. It was selected as an institution-wide fundraising priority in May 2023. With funding, it has the potential to expand to more youth facing barriers to accessing post-secondary education, including in rural areas, Indigenous communities, and socio-economically diverse urban centres.