The Yale World Fellows program has named 16 global leaders to its Class of 2016. The new class includes an Austrian climate change expert, a Syrian human rights activist, a Chinese journalist and 13 other game-changing global leaders.

This cohort brings the total number of Yale World Fellows since the program’s start in 2002 to 291 Fellows, representing 86 countries. This year marks the 15th cohort of Yale World Fellows. The program joined the Jackson Institute in 2015.

“I’m delighted to announce the 2016 cohort of Yale World Fellows,” said Emma Sky, director of Yale World Fellows and a Senior Fellow at the Jackson Institute. “They are wonderful sources of inspiration and mentors for Yale students,” she said.

Yale World Fellows is Yale University’s signature global leadership development initiative and a core element of Yale’s ongoing commitment to internationalization. Each year, the University invites a group of exemplary mid-career professionals from a wide range of fields and countries for an intensive four-month period of academic enrichment and leadership training.

“From public servants and elected officials to human rights advocates, filmmakers, entrepreneurs and journalists, Yale World Fellows are diverse, creative and energetic. They join our YWF network, committed to making the world a better place,” Sky said.

Read more about this year’s Fellows on the Yale World Fellows website.