FLITE – Faculty Leadership for International Training and Exchange
FLITE is a professional development program for U.S. college faculty and administrators to strengthen global leadership on their campuses.
In today’s interconnected world, preparing students for success requires equipping them with the skills and perspectives needed to thrive in a global workforce. The FLITE program empowers faculty and administrators at U.S. colleges and universities with the knowledge, resources, and professional networks to embed international education into their institutions and cultivate globally-minded graduates.
Overview
FLITE is a professional certificate course in International Education Leadership for higher education faculty and administrators delivered in partnership between the Council of American Overseas Research Centers and College of the Canyons.
The program consists of three elements:
Borobudur Temple, Java, Indonesia
Online Coursework. A 10-week online course consisting of synchronous and asynchronous presentations, readings, and discussions, led by experts in the field covering a broad spectrum of topics in international education, such as COIL programs, institutional partnerships, and student mobility.
Project. Participants - working individually or in teams - design a project to be implemented at their institutions following the program. The project is guided by IE Mentors who guide and advise the project throughout the course with regular meetings and written evaluations and assessments. Participants are required to submit a final written Project Report at the conclusion of the course, and a Project Presentation during the Overseas Faculty Development Seminar.
Overseas Faculty Development Seminar. After completing the online coursework, participants attend a 10-12 day professional development seminar at an Overseas Research Center (ORC) in the CAORC network. During the seminar, participants engage in a variety of in-country activities, including lectures, discussions, site visits, and hands-on experiences at universities, NGOs, and historical and cultural sites. Participants also have opportunities to connect with local university faculty and researchers. At the culmination of the seminar, participants deliver their Project Presentation.
The 2026 Overseas Faculty Development Seminar component is scheduled to take place in Indonesia, hosted by the American Institute for Indonesian Studies. Seminar activities will take place in Jakarta, Yogyakarta, and other locations in Java from June 8 to June 19, 2026*.