Global Dialogue "Building Learning Societies"
"Learning",
the topic of this Global Dialogue, is at the very core of any AIESEC activity:
Whether we organise international exchange, develop our members or partner with
external organisations - what we always strive for is to provide learning experiences.
Therefore it seemed natural to respond positively to an offer by World Bank
to run a Youth session at the Global Dialogue. Our aim was, on the one hand,
to develop a Youth approach to Civic responsibility based on intercultural learning.
On the other, we wanted our international participants to interact as much as
possible with the two "official sessions" Workshop 21 and Science in Dialogue.
Moreover, four international AIESEC members were selected as rapporteurs for
these sessions in order to provide direct input. Gautham (USA) and Katrin (Germany)
attended Workshop 21, whereas Julian (South Africa) and Antony (Indonesia) followed
discussions in Science in Dialogue.
Following a brief overview of the agenda, you will find two reports: One is
from Fabian, who participated in the AIESEC-run seminar; the other is from Katrin
summing up her impressions from the official programme.
Tuesday: Pre-Meeting
The delegates had a pre-meeting in order to get prepared for the following 3-day
Global Dialogue. They had sessions about getting to know each other in order
that they can work together. The session about Cultural Learning start already
that day so that we were able to start with the Simulation the next day.
Preparation for Cultural Simulation: Explanation the Cultural Simulation
due to take place the next day. The participants already started "practising"
the culture they had to simulate. They also got a theoretical background about
"culture".
Global Village Party: An international party where every delegate presented
his or her country with traditional clothes, food and drinks.
Wednesday: Cultural Learning
Cultural Understanding is the main focus of AIESEC: Learning experiences facilitated
through AIESEC activities are based on cultural diversity. Every student that
is going abroad for a traineeship is to take part in an Intercultural Training
in order to better prepare for and, possibly, overcome cultural differences.
Cultural Simulation: A Cultural Simulation Game provides an introduction
in different cultures. The participants went through a learning process. They
simulated three different cultures, the task of all groups being to organise
a specific project. The goal of the simulation was that the participants became
aware of culture-based problems.
Thursday: Learning for Civic Responsibility
On this day, we used the Learning Tool, a device especially developed by CELEMI
and AIESEC. It consists of various WorkMats®, a video tape, background articles
on current issues, exercises on learning etc. The session that we used is called
"21st century citizen". Learning Tool Session using the WorkMat® "21st century
citizen"
Working groups about Civic Responsibility: Participants developed their
own project ideas focused on creative learning in our societies. These proposals
also served as an input to the following session of Workshop 21.
Workshop 21 - Session V: "Understanding Civic Responsibility": organised
by UNESCO, providing Youth input both through our panellists, Nina Hansen, as
well as all participants present.
Friday: Interactive Learning
In a one-day simulation workshop, knowledge gained from the previous sessions
was applied in order to close the learning loop.
Interactive Learning Simulation: Facilitated by Changeworks, we went
through the Learning Simulation "Promises, Promises!" from Eagle's Flight® Canada.
The simulation places people in a situation that forces them to confront the
pressures and obstacles of interdependent teams. They face the challenges of
needs, deadlines, limited resources and prior commitments.
The experience demonstrates the impact of unmet needs on a system. Participants
recognise how their own needs-driven behaviour impacts overall corporate objectives.
In "Promises, Promises!", participants must ensure that resources get to where
they need to be within a given deadline. Power struggles develop, wasting time
and other valuable resources. Eventually, teams overcome the barriers which
prevent them from reaching their goals and they become united.
Platform for the Future: A Global Culture of Learning
Concluding Panel, organised by Unesco and DSE
Cornelius Brökelmann
Team "AIESEC meets EXPO 2000"