Since 1982, we have been shaping tomorrow’s leaders.
1982
ISLI was founded. Intentions were made of providing high school students with leadership trainings. The US Department of Defense Schools (DoDDS) took the initiative.
International
Inspired by the US schools’ atmosphere of international collaboration, from the very onset, the institute was designed to cherish this. Schools from the partner NATO countries of Canada, France, and Germany were invited. A program was devised to elect a Board of Regents to act as the faculty for the coming year's Institute.
1984
The Board of Regents was extended to 15 members. Before, it only consisted of 1 teacher from the DoDDS Schools, a Canadian and a French school, and a German Gymnasium in Ulm. All schools sent multiple Student Regents.
Read more about Today’s Board of Student Regents.
Words spread
ISLI extended: the number of participants was increased to 175 in 1985. The first Bavarian Gymnasium attended. In 1989 a Dutch school joined, followed by Sweden, Poland, Denmark, Latvia, Belgium, Finland, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary and finally Italy in 2009.
2023
ISLI was re-established after the COVID-19 pandemic. An absence of three years, the institute is back to tackle the future. The momentum in 2023 proved that ISLI carries undeniably important values.
Learning materials
In 1988, the Issues Forum was added to the program. Lessons reflected the material found in Dr. Woyach's book, Preparing for Leadership: A Guide to Leadership in the Global Age for Young Adults. We were priviliged to the author as a guest in 2007. Today we use The Student Leadership Challenge by James Kouzes and Barry Posner.
Our community
To those who have once served as regent or delegate in the past, to those presently attending, and to those in the future, we thank you all for a very rich tradition of excellence that continues on at ISLI.