Call for Applications

PSIA is calling on students to support and take part in the ninth edition of the Youth & Leaders Summit, to be held in-person, on 26 January 2024. There are many opportunities for students to participate in various roles. The Summit is our flagship event and is designed to be a highlight of your experience here, so we're counting on your active participation and engagement!

The deadline to apply for all roles is Sunday 5 November 2023 at 23:59pm CET.

General Information

Eligibility: all PSIA students are welcome to apply (first year, gap year, second year, exchange students). Degree-seeking students will be given priority.

Application form: Students may apply to 1 or 2 positions. A streamlined application form allows you to apply for 2 positions at once. Students who apply for 2 positions must rank them by order of preference. The form consists of two parts: 1/ general information (contact info, CV); 2/ specific position information (two sections are required – see details below). 

Summit registration: independently of this application process and its results, all PSIA students will be able to register to attend the Summit. Registrations will open in January.

Speaker

Description: A Student speaker is needed for each of the Summit’s panels. Student speakers will be full and equal members, and will contribute a speech of 3-5 minutes (the same time allotted to leaders) and answer questions raised by the audience. In short, Student speakers will engage with and challenge today’s leading international affairs personalities on an equal footing.

Applicants should tell us how they will bring unique, innovative, and bold issues that will foster thought-provoking discussions to their chosen panel. This is an opportunity to make your voice heard on today’s most pressing issues in global affairs. 

Note: if they so wish, applicants may work with other students (i.e. in teams) to share ideas and collaboratively formulate a speech; however, a single spokesperson will need to be identified to represent the group. We will arrange for student speakers’ to receive some support from selected PSIA faculty in advance to help maximize their impact at the event.

Availability: availability is mandatory the beginning of the week prior to the Summit (22-26 January) for coaching. During the event, availability is mandatory on the day (26 January).

Selection process: one position will be made available per panel. The selection is organized as a two-step process. The first step involves the submission of two written sections of the Application form (see below). The deadline is 5 November. For students who are short-listed after the first round, the second step will require the submission of a short video or an interview. Final selection will be announced by end of November.

Application form: in the form, two written sections are required. 
1/ Motivation section (1000 characters): please tell us why you apply to this position. 
2/ Position-specific section (2000 characters): please submit an executive summary of your proposed pitch, explaining your knowledge and research on the topic of the chosen panel.

Panel Presenter

Description: A Panel Presenter is needed for each of the Summit’s panels. Panel Presenters will briefly introduce the topic of the panel, as well as the speakers and the Panel Chair (2-3 minutes). You will have the chance to engage directly with the speakers, and take a central role in helping to frame the topic.

Availability: availability is mandatory the beginning of the week prior to the Summit (22-26 January) for coaching. During the event, availability is mandatory on the day (26 January).

Selection process: one position will be made available per panel. The selection is a one-step process. The deadline is 5 November. Final selection will be announced by end of November. 

Application form: in the form, two written sections are required. 
1/ Motivation section (1000 characters): please tell us why you apply to this position. 
2/ Position-specific section: please prepare a 2-minute video, upload it to your Sciences Po drive and share the link with us. In your video, please answer the following question: Why do you want to introduce this theme? What would you do to make it effective? What relevant experience would you bring to the role?

Panelist liaison and chair of break-out session

Description: Each panelist will be assigned with a Panelist Liaison and Chair of Break-out Session to accompany the panelist throughout the day and to chair the break-out session with that panelist. 

The Summit will feature a series of breakout sessions immediately after each panel discussion. Each 30-minute session will allow a limited number of students to have an in-depth exchange with one of the Summit leaders. A Student Chair will lead each breakout session. You will coordinate with the guest speaker to agree how the session will be structured and which topics (including, potentially, career-oriented ones) will be addressed. You will also be the point of reference for students participating in your session, and with the PSIA team. So determination, precision and accountability are requested.

Acting as a liaison between the panelist and the PSIA team, tasks may include communication in the days leading up to the event to ensure a smooth arrival, meeting at the airport or the hotel and assisting with transport to Sciences Po, guiding the speaker throughout the event day, solving any last minute issues, and generally being a reassuring beacon of support for our VIP guests!

Availability: availability is mandatory the beginning of the week prior to the Summit (22-26 January) for briefing and advanced preparation. During the event, availability is mandatory on the day (26 January).
Selection process: a number of positions will be made available. The selection is a one-step process. The deadline is 5 November. Final selection will be announced by end of November.

Application form: in the form, two written sections are required. 
1/ Motivation section (1000 characters): please tell us why you apply to this position. 
2/ Position-specific section: please prepare a 2-minute video, upload it to your Sciences Po drive and share the link with us. In your video, please answer the following questions: How would you structure the session and why? What could you do to help engage as many students as possible? What relevant experience would you bring to the role? 

Note: as indicated, access to breakout sessions with leaders will be granted to a small group of students. The process to participate as a chair and to attend as a student are different. Information about the latter will be released in January. 

Journalist

Description: Student Journalists will attend the panel discussions and collectively ensure that an executive summary of the event is written. This will involve writing an overall summary, including highlights and quotes, for each of the panel discussions they are assigned to cover. The work of Student Journalists will be published on the official website of the Youth and Leaders Summit.

Availability: availability is required the beginning of the week prior to the Summit (22-26 January) for briefing. During the event, availability is mandatory on the day (26 January). Availability for writing and editing summaries is also required after the Summit.

Selection process: up to 3 positions will be made available. The selection is a one-step process. The deadline is 5 November. Final selection will be announced by end of November.

Application form: in the form, two written sections are required. 
1/ Motivation section (1000 characters): please tell us why you apply to this position. 
2/ Position-specific section (2000 characters): in the style of a journalist, tell us why your writing is effective and engaging? What relevant experience would you bring to the role?

Community Manager

Description: Student Community Managers will have a key role in promoting this year’s YLS summit on social networks and other communication channels. They will be in charge of the communication strategy around the event. They will handle live tweets and posts on social media during the event in order to announce a panel, present a guest speaker, a student speaker, etc.  

Availability: availability is required the beginning of the week prior to the Summit (22-26 January) for briefing. During the event, availability is mandatory on the day (26 January).  

Selection process: up to 3 positions will be made available. The selection is a one-step process. The deadline is 5 November. Final selection will be announced by end of November.

Application form: In the form, two written sections are required. 
1/ Motivation section (1000 characters): please tell us why you apply to this position. 
2/ Position-specific section (2000 characters): how would you promote YLS 2024 to engage as many students as possible? What relevant experience would you bring to the role?

Artist

Description: Student Artists will make the Summit even more dynamic and interactive. Between the panel discussions and lectures, there will be short breaks (10-15 minutes) which we would like to animate with artistic content: poetry, music, art/dance performance, video projections, photography exhibition, etc. In keeping with the Summit’s theme, performances should ideally have some connection to "The World at Crossroads"; but please feel free to propose something with a less obvious fit; we are open to ideas!

Availability: availability is mandatory  the beginning of the week prior to the Summit (22-26 January) to be able to rehearse / install the performances and to ensure that everything will run smoothly. During the event, for live performances, availability is mandatory on the day (26 January).

Selection process: the selection is a one-step process. The deadline is 5 November. Final selection will be announced by end of November.

Application form: in the form, two sections are required. 
1/ Motivation section (1000 characters): please tell us why you want to participate. 
2/ Position-specific section: please prepare a 2-minute video, upload it to your Sciences Po drive and share the link with us. In your video, please answer the following question: tell us about your contribution, including its format. Feel free to present a sample of your proposed performance. Why do you think it is relevant in regards to the topic of the Summit?

Apply Now!

Please fill in the online application form before Sunday 5 November 2023 at 23:59 pm CET for all positions.

For any questions, please contact: psia.events@sciencespo.fr

More information the Youth & Leaders Summit