Two Texas Women’s University students will travel to the Caribbean to participate in the 2009 Summer Institute for Future Global Leaders this week.

Ashleigh Rolle and Annette Thomas are two of the 36 students from 20 universities across the Caribbean and United States selected to attend the two-week program.

The course is designed to guide students in developing leadership skills to become global leaders, according to program officials.

Those skills and knowledge will lend insight into how a global community can work together for a prosperous economy, said Thomas, a graduate student working toward master’s degrees in business administration and health systems management.

“The summer institute is designed to nurture future leaders, especially in the Caribbean area,” she said. “They will provide us with broader knowledge and skills to be used for future leadership roles.”

Thomas said she plans to eventually return to the Caribbean and open a free clinic.

The institute will help the students learn basic conversational skills in French, English, Spanish, Japanese, Chinese and the principal Caribbean Creole language, which Thomas said will help her open the clinic and approach other nations.

“Opening my mind to other people and their perspectives will be helpful in my future goal to open a medical clinic in a Third World country,” Thomas said. “It is a global world of opportunity out there, and the more you know about it, the better it is for you.”

The best prepared leaders are able to understand dynamic global realities taught at the institute, said Solomon Kabuka, director of the summer institute.

“The institute provides students with the building blocks for acquiring that capacity,” she said.

Rolle, a junior studying kinesiology, said the program will help her prepare for her career in physical education.

“Health care and the world economy are connected, and learning more about it will benefit my future career,” Rolle said.

Rolle said she looks forward to forming bonds and networking with students who also hope to be future global leaders.

“I’m just looking forward to the program,” she said. “I’m excited. It’s approaching so fast.”