Student-led conference helps develop future leaders

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As artificial intelligence continues to reshape the modern workforce, students face growing pressure to understand how these rapidly developing technologies affect both local policy and the careers they are preparing to enter. Equally important is understanding how industry leaders are working to optimize existing AI infrastructure.

The goal of St. Petersburg College’s Institute for Strategic Policy Solutions’ Student Led Policy Conference is to empower students by providing a forum where they can discuss artificial intelligence with experts from educational and industry backgrounds. After hearing from speakers, students will break into teams and apply their newly acquired knowledge by developing hypothetical policy solutions related to AI expansion.

The 2026 conference, scheduled for July 16 and 17, gives students an opportunity to deepen their understanding of artificial intelligence in a collaborative setting while networking with industry experts and college representatives as they explore next steps in their academic journeys.

The student team that presents the strongest policy solution will receive a monetary award, and their proposal will be sent to state leaders. Teams will be judged on their ability to craft realistic yet innovative policy solutions that align with existing state law.

With the support of ISPS, the conference is student-led and student-run. This for-students, by-students approach ensures participants gain valuable insight into the inner workings of public policy while building lasting connections with their peers.

The Student Led Conference is one of several programs ISPS has established to improve student engagement and increase civic literacy. It offers an encouraging environment where students can practice critical thinking and ask questions on their own terms, and its engagement-focused approach is designed to leave a lasting impression as participants transition into the workforcE.

Article by Sam Jenkins and Kingston James.