Welcome to AIESEC
AIESEC, the world's largest student organization, is the international platform for young people to discover and develop their potential so as to have a positive impact on society.
In addition to providing over 7,500 leadership positions and delivering over 350 conferences to our membership of over 32,000 students, AIESEC also runs an exchange program that enables over 4,450 students and recent graduates the opportunity to live and work in another country. AIESEC is celebrating in 2008, 60 years of activating leadership in young people.
Latest News
Nobel Laureate recalls his AIESEC Experience
ROTTERDAM, December 16 th, 2008- Speaking to AIESEC in Finland, Martti Ahtisaari recalled warmly his time in AIESEC, as a university student. Mr Ahtisaari was a member of AIESEC in the early 1960’s and continues to endorse the relevance of working with young people to build peace and international co-operation.
In his recent video message to AIESEC in Finland, Mr Ahtisaari speaks warmly of his time in AIESEC, recalling the important contribution made in organising international internships and the strong friendships he built as a member and then alumnus of the association.
Mr. Ahtisaari was, last week, awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in a ceremony in Oslo, and has also been awarded the UNESCO Peace Prize for 2007.
In an interview with AP Television News following the announcement of his achievement, Mr Ahtisaari expressed his ongoing commitment to supporting the next generation in their challenges, namely youth unemployment. "Making peace is one thing but then how to build a peaceful society from there requires as much effort as the peace negotiations" said Mr Ahtisaari.
Founded in 1948, the youth-run network AIESEC is celebrating 60 years of enabling the
leaders of tomorrow. “AIESEC is more than anything, an environment which has the ability to accommodate all types of people, take excellent care of them, and one day send them all off to all corners of the world for purposeful action” says Mairi Jürska, a recent alumni of the association.
Watch Mr Ahtisaari's message to AIESEC here.
Social Networks reshaping the recruitment landscape
ROTTERDAM, December 11
th, 2008-
Social networks are changing the dynamics of recruitment across the world,
according to the first global Digital Generation survey. The survey has been created by workplace
experts Career Innovation (Ci) in partnership with AIESEC, the world’s largest student-run
organisation.
The Digital Generation Survey suggests a global community of young people, attentive to the opinions and experiences of their peers. With 75% of young people surveyed logging onto social networking sites daily, the survey indicates young people are using a diversity of online channels to share their experiences and opinions with one another, including their experiences in the workplace.
“Business has always been about relationships, conversations and networks” comments Jonathan Winter of Career Innovation. “Now at last we are seeing the rise of software that reflects this reality.”
The researchers, Career Innovation, acknowledge that personal networks have always been an effective way of recruiting, especially in small organisations. Career Innovation cite the growth in social networking as the catalyst that could move this from an invisible informal activity to a mainstream priority for employers.
“The survey reveals the astonishing effectiveness of personal referrals in recruitment” comments Winter. “When we asked young workers from 83 countries, 45% said someone has joined their organisation as a result of their recommendation. If that’s proving so effective, why should employers pay head-hunters a huge commission to source candidates?”
The move away from traditional headhunters, driven by the next generation of workers, is a revealing outcome of the Digital Generation Survey, which consulted students around the world about their motivation and behaviour using new technologies. The survey revealed their rapid adoption of online social networks for serious work-related purposes including recruitment.
Lucy Symons, Chief Communication Officer for AIESEC International believes this is an open invitation to organisations to engage and involve the next generation through youth networks, like AIESEC.
“The survey results represent an exciting opportunity for organisations to work together with tomorrow’s global opinion leaders in their roles as workers, clients and donors. It is clearly important for organisations to work more closely with young people and AIESEC provides the platform for this co-operation” commented Ms. Symons.
“Companies can now track the rise of these new technologies within their workforce,” said Linda Shelley of Career Innovation. “They are using the Digital Generation Survey to shape a strategy which harnesses the enthusiasts without alienating the traditionalists”.
Find out more about the Digital Generation Survey at www.thedgeneration.com.
A new way of doing business and promoting development
ROTTERDAM, December
4
th
2008- In challenging economic times, AIESEC connects young people and organisations in over
100 countries to empower entrepreneurial leaders of positive change. In 2008, amidst the innovative
festival of Global Entrepreneurship Week, The Social-Business Ventures Internship Program is
inspiring a new generation of entrepreneurs in the development of market based solutions for social
and environmental problems.
A Supporter of Global Entrepreneurship Week, AIESEC offers leadership and learning
opportunities to young people keen to acquire the skills and awareness needed to be an
entrepreneur today. Through AIESEC, a youth run leadership network, young people have the opportunity to apply for internships and to be placed with entrepreneurs across Latin America and Asia. Since 2004, Artemisia and Ashoka have been working closely with AIESEC to grow the Social-Business Ventures Internship Program, providing 76 Internships across 12 countries that have allowed entrepreneurial young people to experience for themselves the lifestyle and lessons of working with groundbreaking entrepreneurs.
Eny Garcia, a young Mexican intern placed at Cooperativa Educacional in Argentina, feels the experience has equipped him to make change happen in his native Mexico.
“This internship has changed my way of thinking about business, people, family and friends. I know that education is my aim in life and I will go back to Mexico to create a language school focused on environment”, says Eny.
Carolina de Andrade, Strategic Partnerships Coordinator at Artemisia, sees this practical
experience as an essential step in the entrepreneurial journey of the students and recent
graduates involved in the internship program.
“Our experience in identifying potential entrepreneurs has shown us that vision, initiative, risk-taking and commitment are crucial attributes for aspiring young entrepreneurs. Working with successful entrepreneurs provides a unique opportunity for the participants to develop these attributes! They can also learn a lot about ethical values and creativity, because we are talking about entrepreneurs of innovative businesses that are both economically viable and contribute to solving social and environmental problems”, says Carolina.
Commenced in 2004, the Social-Business Ventures Internship Program has funded 76
internships with entrepreneurs and hosted 2 regional events in Latin America to connect
interns and provide space to share their experiences. In 2008 the partnership has been
expanded to India, with the ambition to place 8 interns across the country. Carolina de
Andrade sees the Social-Business Ventures Partnership as an open opportunity for young
people to develop the leadership skills they will need to create entrepreneurial change in their communities.
“Artemisia believes strongly in the power of this partnership to develop key entrepreneurial competencies in young people, not only for their professional development, but for all aspects of their life”, says Carolina.
Find out more about the Social-Business Ventures internship Program by contacting AIESEC in your country, accessible via www.aiesec.org
World AIDS Day: AIESEC invites global youth to Understand, Experience and Act
ROTTERDAM, December 1
st, 2008-
On this World AIDS Day, AIESEC members across Africa and Asia are creating a
wave of change through a global initiative with Standard Chartered Bank that will educate 300,000
young people on HIV and AIDS by 2010. AIESEC invites young people across the world to join the
initiative to build the skills, networks and international experience required to take on the
challenges posed by the HIV and AIDS pandemic.
“Living with HIV” is a global initiative of Standard Chartered Bank in partnership with AIESEC, empowering young people across Africa and Asia to explore their role in facing the challenges of HIV and AIDS. A component of the banks broader programme to educate 1 million people worldwide by 2010, the initiative gives students and recent graduates the opportunity to understand the issues through workshops, experience the reality first-hand in their communities and act to further spread education and awareness as HIV and AIDS ‘champions’.
Emma Kerubo, a 21 year old Kenyan student of Finance, has travelled to Nigeria as an HIV
and AIDS ‘champion’ and has returned to Kenya as a peer educator. Through the program,
Emma feels she has made an important contribution and developed the experience and
networks she will need to make a positive change.
“I left my comfort zone, my home country Kenya, to go to Nigeria a place where I did not know anyone before hand to create awareness on the HIV and AIDS issue. What motivated me to go was the fact that I was to meet AIESEC members in Nigeria who share the same values as I do… The fact that I was a young person who had come from another country to
voluntarily create awareness on HIV and AIDS to fellow young people had a major positive
impact on my mission”, says Emma.
From October 2007 to October 2008 this initiative between AIESEC and Standard Chartered Bank has reached 65,000 young people in 17 African and Asian countries. In of these countries multicultural teams of young people have been conducting education sessions, multiplying the effect of the valuable HIV Champions network established by Standard Chartered Bank. Vanessa Green, Group Sustainability Manager who runs ‘Living with HIV' globally at Standard Chartered Bank believes the program is a powerful contribution to building the generation of leaders to address the issues of HIV and AIDS.
"Through our "Living with HIV" program, we have developed a highly effective workplace HIV education model that has been rolled out to all our employees. We are freely sharing our HIV education tools for other organizations in order to educate one million people on HIV and AIDS by 2010 in order to reduce the numbers of new HIV infections. We are proud that AIESEC has teamed up with us to reach 300,000 young adults, an age-group significantly impacted by HIV, and who represent tomorrow's leaders", says Ms. Green.
Involving more than 65,000 students from over 411 secondary schools and a host of young interns from across the globe, the initiative is open to students and recent graduates interested developing themselves and others to in make a difference. Emma Kerubo feels this initiative has equipped her with new perspectives and a path to make change as a young person.
“I am a university student studying Business and my course of study is not directly in line with the issue of HIV and AIDS. This has not stopped me from contributing to the fight against HIV and AIDS and it will not stop me in future”, says Emma.
Sourcing Global Talent: AIESEC celebrates 5,000 international internships provided in 2008
ROTTERDAM, November 30
th, 2008- With economic crisis topping the global agenda, AIESEC has celebrated the
achievement of 5,000 internships provided in 2008. Founded in 1948, AIESEC is a growing global
network bringing together talented young people and organisations in over 100 countries.
AIESEC launches global online platform for its alumni
Celebrating 60 years of activating leadership, AIESEC congratulates
alumnus and Nobel Laureate Martti Ahtisaari for his bold commitment to peace.
For the first time in 60 years, AIESEC is honored to congratulate an alumnus, and champion of the AIESEC vision of peace, for being awarded the 2008 Nobel Peace Prize.
“Nobel Laureate Martti Ahtisaari is a role model AIESEC alumni. His lifelong commitment to peace, participation and diversity reflects the best of 60 years of AIESEC history, enabling the leaders of positive change our world needs. On behalf of over 30,000 young people in more than 100 countries, I congratulate Martti Ahtisaari for his contribution to peace and the fulfillment of humankind’s potential” said Juan Cajiao, President of AIESEC International.
Nobel Laureate recalls his AIESEC Experience
ROTTERDAM, December 16 th, 2008- Speaking to AIESEC in Finland, Martti Ahtisaari recalled warmly his time in AIESEC, as a university student. Mr Ahtisaari was a member of AIESEC in the early 1960’s and continues to endorse the relevance of working with young people to build peace and international co-operation.
In his recent video message to AIESEC in Finland, Mr Ahtisaari speaks warmly of his time in AIESEC, recalling the important contribution made in organising international internships and the strong friendships he built as a member and then alumnus of the association.
Mr. Ahtisaari was, last week, awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in a ceremony in Oslo, and has also been awarded the UNESCO Peace Prize for 2007.
In an interview with AP Television News following the announcement of his achievement, Mr Ahtisaari expressed his ongoing commitment to supporting the next generation in their challenges, namely youth unemployment. "Making peace is one thing but then how to build a peaceful society from there requires as much effort as the peace negotiations" said Mr Ahtisaari.
Founded in 1948, the youth-run network AIESEC is celebrating 60 years of enabling the
leaders of tomorrow. “AIESEC is more than anything, an environment which has the ability to accommodate all types of people, take excellent care of them, and one day send them all off to all corners of the world for purposeful action” says Mairi Jürska, a recent alumni of the association.
Watch Mr Ahtisaari's message to AIESEC here.
Social Networks reshaping the recruitment landscape
The Digital Generation Survey suggests a global community of young people, attentive to the opinions and experiences of their peers. With 75% of young people surveyed logging onto social networking sites daily, the survey indicates young people are using a diversity of online channels to share their experiences and opinions with one another, including their experiences in the workplace.
“Business has always been about relationships, conversations and networks” comments Jonathan Winter of Career Innovation. “Now at last we are seeing the rise of software that reflects this reality.”
The researchers, Career Innovation, acknowledge that personal networks have always been an effective way of recruiting, especially in small organisations. Career Innovation cite the growth in social networking as the catalyst that could move this from an invisible informal activity to a mainstream priority for employers.
“The survey reveals the astonishing effectiveness of personal referrals in recruitment” comments Winter. “When we asked young workers from 83 countries, 45% said someone has joined their organisation as a result of their recommendation. If that’s proving so effective, why should employers pay head-hunters a huge commission to source candidates?”
The move away from traditional headhunters, driven by the next generation of workers, is a revealing outcome of the Digital Generation Survey, which consulted students around the world about their motivation and behaviour using new technologies. The survey revealed their rapid adoption of online social networks for serious work-related purposes including recruitment.
Lucy Symons, Chief Communication Officer for AIESEC International believes this is an open invitation to organisations to engage and involve the next generation through youth networks, like AIESEC.
“The survey results represent an exciting opportunity for organisations to work together with tomorrow’s global opinion leaders in their roles as workers, clients and donors. It is clearly important for organisations to work more closely with young people and AIESEC provides the platform for this co-operation” commented Ms. Symons.
“Companies can now track the rise of these new technologies within their workforce,” said Linda Shelley of Career Innovation. “They are using the Digital Generation Survey to shape a strategy which harnesses the enthusiasts without alienating the traditionalists”.
Find out more about the Digital Generation Survey at www.thedgeneration.com.
A new way of doing business and promoting development
A Supporter of Global Entrepreneurship Week, AIESEC offers leadership and learning
opportunities to young people keen to acquire the skills and awareness needed to be an
entrepreneur today. Through AIESEC, a youth run leadership network, young people have the opportunity to apply for internships and to be placed with entrepreneurs across Latin America and Asia. Since 2004, Artemisia and Ashoka have been working closely with AIESEC to grow the Social-Business Ventures Internship Program, providing 76 Internships across 12 countries that have allowed entrepreneurial young people to experience for themselves the lifestyle and lessons of working with groundbreaking entrepreneurs.
Eny Garcia, a young Mexican intern placed at Cooperativa Educacional in Argentina, feels the experience has equipped him to make change happen in his native Mexico.
“This internship has changed my way of thinking about business, people, family and friends. I know that education is my aim in life and I will go back to Mexico to create a language school focused on environment”, says Eny.
Carolina de Andrade, Strategic Partnerships Coordinator at Artemisia, sees this practical
experience as an essential step in the entrepreneurial journey of the students and recent
graduates involved in the internship program.
“Our experience in identifying potential entrepreneurs has shown us that vision, initiative, risk-taking and commitment are crucial attributes for aspiring young entrepreneurs. Working with successful entrepreneurs provides a unique opportunity for the participants to develop these attributes! They can also learn a lot about ethical values and creativity, because we are talking about entrepreneurs of innovative businesses that are both economically viable and contribute to solving social and environmental problems”, says Carolina.
Commenced in 2004, the Social-Business Ventures Internship Program has funded 76
internships with entrepreneurs and hosted 2 regional events in Latin America to connect
interns and provide space to share their experiences. In 2008 the partnership has been
expanded to India, with the ambition to place 8 interns across the country. Carolina de
Andrade sees the Social-Business Ventures Partnership as an open opportunity for young
people to develop the leadership skills they will need to create entrepreneurial change in their communities.
“Artemisia believes strongly in the power of this partnership to develop key entrepreneurial competencies in young people, not only for their professional development, but for all aspects of their life”, says Carolina.
Find out more about the Social-Business Ventures internship Program by contacting AIESEC in your country, accessible via www.aiesec.org
World AIDS Day: AIESEC invites global youth to Understand, Experience and Act
“Living with HIV” is a global initiative of Standard Chartered Bank in partnership with AIESEC, empowering young people across Africa and Asia to explore their role in facing the challenges of HIV and AIDS. A component of the banks broader programme to educate 1 million people worldwide by 2010, the initiative gives students and recent graduates the opportunity to understand the issues through workshops, experience the reality first-hand in their communities and act to further spread education and awareness as HIV and AIDS ‘champions’.
Emma Kerubo, a 21 year old Kenyan student of Finance, has travelled to Nigeria as an HIV
and AIDS ‘champion’ and has returned to Kenya as a peer educator. Through the program,
Emma feels she has made an important contribution and developed the experience and
networks she will need to make a positive change.
“I left my comfort zone, my home country Kenya, to go to Nigeria a place where I did not know anyone before hand to create awareness on the HIV and AIDS issue. What motivated me to go was the fact that I was to meet AIESEC members in Nigeria who share the same values as I do… The fact that I was a young person who had come from another country to
voluntarily create awareness on HIV and AIDS to fellow young people had a major positive
impact on my mission”, says Emma.
From October 2007 to October 2008 this initiative between AIESEC and Standard Chartered Bank has reached 65,000 young people in 17 African and Asian countries. In of these countries multicultural teams of young people have been conducting education sessions, multiplying the effect of the valuable HIV Champions network established by Standard Chartered Bank. Vanessa Green, Group Sustainability Manager who runs ‘Living with HIV' globally at Standard Chartered Bank believes the program is a powerful contribution to building the generation of leaders to address the issues of HIV and AIDS.
"Through our "Living with HIV" program, we have developed a highly effective workplace HIV education model that has been rolled out to all our employees. We are freely sharing our HIV education tools for other organizations in order to educate one million people on HIV and AIDS by 2010 in order to reduce the numbers of new HIV infections. We are proud that AIESEC has teamed up with us to reach 300,000 young adults, an age-group significantly impacted by HIV, and who represent tomorrow's leaders", says Ms. Green.
Involving more than 65,000 students from over 411 secondary schools and a host of young interns from across the globe, the initiative is open to students and recent graduates interested developing themselves and others to in make a difference. Emma Kerubo feels this initiative has equipped her with new perspectives and a path to make change as a young person.
“I am a university student studying Business and my course of study is not directly in line with the issue of HIV and AIDS. This has not stopped me from contributing to the fight against HIV and AIDS and it will not stop me in future”, says Emma.
Sourcing Global Talent: AIESEC celebrates 5,000 international internships provided in 2008
The AIESEC Global Internship program is at the core
of AIESEC’s integrated leadership
program. Run by young people for young people, The
AIESEC Global Internship Program is run by volunteer students in universities and tertiary
institutions across the world, from
Armenia to Zimbabwe. The achievement of 5,000
internships is a benchmark for the
organisation, the highest number of recorded
internships for 15 years of AIESEC’s 60 year history.
As the world’s economies look for paths out of the
financial crisis, the President of AIESEC
International Juan Cajiao, believes AIESEC is playing
an important role in providing young talent to drive sustainable growth. “Organisations need
employees who are
entrepreneurial, culturally sensitive and socially
responsible to face the challenges of our
global future. Every day somewhere in the world, 16
individuals take up an AIESEC
internship, developing the skills and awareness they
will need to drive change. Our network celebrates this achievement of 5,000 internships as an
important contribution to the growth of global society”, said Juan.
Organisations in business and civil society partner
with AIESEC at a global, local and national level, placing interns into professional roles for 3
to18 months. The AIESEC Global
Internship Program is available to organisations in
diverse sectors including management,
technical, education and development fields. Partner
organisations span from Microsoft, who take 16 interns in their Global Offices, to a small
Non-Profit in Colombia which benefits from a single intern.
The achievement of 5,000 internships reflects growth
across all five continents of AIESEC’s
operations, confirming the relevance of the youth
leadership program for global markets.
“Star performers such as AIESEC in Indonesia, Vietnam
and Hungary are growing alongside the emerging economies of AIESEC in China, India and Turkey, Juan
says.
Jan Muehlfeit, Chairman of Microsoft Corporation
Europe, congratulates AIESEC and invites
organisations across the globe to partner with the
Global Internship Program. Speaking to
members of the Global Office in his role as a member
of the International Supervisory Group, Mr Muehlfeit said “
You should be proud of what you are doing. It’s important not just for the
companies, but for the globe”
AIESEC launches global online platform for its alumni
ROTTERDAM, November 8 th, 2008- For more than 800,000 alumni in over 100 countries, AIESEC represents a powerful network of change-makers. Launched in the year of AIESEC's 60 th anniversary, MyAIESEC.net is the virtual space for alumni to catch up with old friends, find new opportunities and plug in to AIESEC today.
Capturing the spirit of the AIESEC network, MyAIESEC.net is the global online platform connecting AIESEC members and alumni. Emil Ivanov, Global Alumni Relations Manager, describes the launch as an important step for the organisation;
"In 1948, AIESEC played a driving role in forgoing international co-operation in post-war Europe. In 2008, AIESEC is using Web 2.0 technology to enable our alumni to host conversations that matter today", says Emil.
MyAIESEC.net captures the energy of AIESEC's alumni base, comprising Heads of State, Business leaders and entrepreneurs of civil society. Akber Pandor, Alumus and Director of Learning and Development for KPMG Europe, sees AIESEC as an open opportunity to connect with an international network of change-makers.
To read more click here.
For the first time in 60 years, AIESEC is honored to congratulate an alumnus, and champion of the AIESEC vision of peace, for being awarded the 2008 Nobel Peace Prize.
“Nobel Laureate Martti Ahtisaari is a role model AIESEC alumni. His lifelong commitment to peace, participation and diversity reflects the best of 60 years of AIESEC history, enabling the leaders of positive change our world needs. On behalf of over 30,000 young people in more than 100 countries, I congratulate Martti Ahtisaari for his contribution to peace and the fulfillment of humankind’s potential” said Juan Cajiao, President of AIESEC International.
To read more click here.
Entrepreneurial youth gather in Brazil to celebrate 60 years of
leadership
SAO PAULO, August 5, 2008—Over 700 young people will gather in Brazil from the 21st-30th August for the International Congress of the world’s largest youth run organisation. AIESEC will be hosting the annual International Congress in Sao Paulo for the first time, recognising Brazil’s emergence as a front runner in sustainability.
Celebrating 60 years of developing leadership, the AIESEC International Congress will connect young people with some of the world’s most experienced and effective leaders to explore the challenges and opportunities of a sustainable future. The Congress is an opportunity for young people to challenge their preconceptions and options and become agents of positive change.
To read more click here.
BRUSSELS, June 18, 2008— Brussels will be transported in time as it hosts AIESEC’s 60th anniversary celebrations June 27 – 29, 2008 . Established in 1948 by seven European countries—including Belgium ,—AIESEC’s aim was to foster cultural understanding amongst nations, a similar dream to the would-be European Union.
Over 150 elite business leaders along with past and present AIESEC
members will gather for this event in Brussels, which was the home of AIESEC’s international
secretariat for many decades.
European Commission Vice President
for Enterprise and Industry, Gunter Verheugen will speak about the role of Europe
today at the opening of the event in the Crowne Plaza Brussels, on June 28, 2008.
To read more click here.
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about AIESEC and our activities around the globe.