17th International Youth Leadership Conference. Prague, the Czech Republic

  Czech Republic

• Prague: 
Prague

Term: Summer, Winter 
Dates: Winter

Description: The International Youth Leadership Conference is a weeklong forum on world politics, international relations, law, media, business and global economy. We started the IYLC in 2000 in Prague as a week-long forum that now draws on average 120 university students from 35+ countries across the globe biannually. Since its inception, the conference has touched the lives of nearly 200 participants from a total of 120 countries and is considered by them an unparalleled learning experience. The theme of the conference is a "cross-cultural exchange of young ideas concerning the future of world leadership."

The 17th IYLC, taking place on winter 2009, will practice the student's leadership skills and introduce them to international organizations that promote peace using the following inter-related events:

- A United Nations Security Council emergency meeting simulation
- A mock International Criminal Court pre-trial
- A model European Parliament proceeding
- Visits to Foreign Embassies, Senate of the Parliament of the Czech Republic
- Representation of the European Commission in the Czech Republic, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, PricewaterhouseCoopers
- Group Debates and Panel Discussion on international security, envrionmental sustainability, rule of law, responsible leadership and mass media
- Meetings and Banquet Dinners with leading experts, diplomats, politicians and businessmen

Highlights: The main objective of the IYLC is to facilitate an exchange of ideas across an ethnically diverse and socially responsible group of young international leaders. The conference blends social interaction with cultural and educational components into one cohesive experience. Our organisation, Civic Concepts International, believes in the learning method of direct, hands-on experience. In our simulation activities, students have the opportunity to test their leadership skills, debate current issues, deliver speeches, draft resolutions, make executive decisions, and realize through experience the complexities of international relations. By participating in simulations that recreate a United Nations Security Council crisis meeting, an International Criminal Court hearing, and a model European Parliament session, students begin to understand international relations and relationships through practice as opposed to theory (as taught in their university curriculum). Their interaction provokes communication and dialogue that, throughout the week, provides an unparalleled learning experience and cross-cultural adventure.

With a wide range of nationalities participating in the conference, we stress cross-cultural understanding and an open-minded exchange of different national perspectives on global issues. Among the many events packed into the week, the IYLC recognizes communication, cooperation, and dialogue to be the most important aspect of the conference. The individuals that create the conference are each other's best resource in uncovering the similarities and differences between people from different backgrounds coming from diverse geographical locations. By bringing over 40 nationalities together, and exposing them to real world issues, we are strengthening relationships and cooperation between cultures and creating a network between the future leaders of the world.

IYLC student sponsors and alumni agree that the International Youth Leadership Conference is an excellent forum for young leaders to benefit from the experiential learning and cross-cultural exchange of ideas with like-minded students from around the world.

Qualifications: Educational Background - A student between the ages 18-24, preferably enrolled in a university program. We welcome a wide range of participants, however particular themes of the conference include international relations, global politics, international law, cultural understanding, media, and leadership.

The conference is intended for university students aged 18-24, although we do have some discretion on this matter to account for different countries' educational systems. However, for liability reasons, we cannot accept students younger than age 18 at the time of the conference. This age must be calculated from the time of birth (Western age standards), even if by the standards of your country, your age is different.

Filling Out the Application The only way to apply for the IYLC is our online application, and each student must apply individually.

Conference participants will be selected according to the following three criteria:
1. Educational Background (year, grade point average, and area of study)
2. Level of English (as a second language)
3. Two Short Essays

Cost in US$: 1400

Experience Required: no

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants.

Participants Travel to Czech Republic Independently

Typically Participants Work in Groups

Scholarships are Available. - We offer a limited number of scholarships in form of a conference fee reduction. The Scholarship Committee will award total of 30 scholarships in two different categories. Only applications from the accepted IYLC participants will be considered. The Scholarships will not be awarded to students eligible for an Early Bird discount or for a Partner University discount. 1) NIS Scholarships - EUR 500 NIS Scholarship is awarded to IYLC participants from the Newly Industrialised States (NIS)*. Eligibility criteria - At the time of a scholarship application, a student MUST: be an accepted IYLC participant be a citizen of and reside in a Newly Indsutrialized State be a currently enrolled university student not be a recipient of an Early Bird discount, Partner University discount or International Student Scholarship (ISS) be able to demonstrate inability to pay the full amount of the conference fee be able to demonstrate that all other fundraising efforts were unsuccessful There will be 10 of these scholarships awarded. With this scholarship award, the student fee will be reduced from EUR 980 to only EUR 480. *The term NIS applies to low income and lower middle income economies, as classified by the World Bank. 2) ISS Scholarships - EUR 100 or EUR 200 International Student Scholarship (ISS) is a need-based scholarship awarded to students from across the world. Eligibility criteria - At the time of a scholarship application, a student MUST: be an accepted IYLC participant be a currently enrolled university level student not be a recipient of an Early Bird discount, Partner University discount or NIS Scholarship be able to demonstrate inability to pay the full amount of the conference fee be able to demonstrate that all other fundraising efforts were unsuccessful There will be 20 of these scholarships awarded - 10 scholarships of EUR 100 and 10 scholarships of EUR 200. With this scholarship award, the student fee will be reduced from EUR 980 to EUR 880 or EUR 780 accordingly.

Application Process Involves:

• Essay
• Physical Exam/Health Records

Post Services Include:

• Alumni Network

Civic Concepts International's Mission Statement: Our mission at Civic Concepts International is to enable motivated and ambitious young leaders to jump out of the classroom and into the world. We provide the tools for youth to participate in society and feel a broader connection to their world; because once they are connected they are also involved. And once involved they can make positive changes in their communities because they are informed, inspired, determined, and responsible. By facilitating a cross-cultural exchange of ideas and fostering international relationships, we learn from each other and with each other. We will continue to teach young international leaders to practice tolerance and coexistence early on by exposing them to people and places they would not otherwise encounter. Civic Concepts International is an innovation in education that bridges knowledge and experience in order to facilitate unrestricted learning.

Year Founded: 2001