WHAT IS IT AND WHY?

The Network Effect has been created to nurture networks between the next generation of leaders. European societies face a set of challenges over the coming decades that do not lend themselves to technical, managerial solutions. These challenges include placing their economies on a sustainable low carbon footing, managing the democratic transition of an ageing population, building cohesive communities in the face of growing social diversity.

The Network Effect is a response to this challenge, by providing forums for debate, a creative perspective on critical issues, and helping to build the capacity required to address them. Using a variety of methods, learning-by-doing, challenging content, teamwork, and online networking, we want to sustain a network of future European leaders committed to making a difference.

WHO TAKES PART

The Network Effect is aimed at young professionals, aged between 25 and 35, with a European outlook. Participants come from all over Europe and include media professionals, those involved in think tanks, project managers, youth party leaders, politicians, government civil servants, researchers and lawyers working in a national context at the local, regional, or national level in Europe.

Participants have come from 37 countries in Europe and beyond – from Portugal to Russia; Finland to Azerbaijan.  They are dissatisfied with the traditional routes for changing the world (such as working in politics, or NGOs or in the media).

HOW IT WORKS

Network Effect forums are held approximately every four months and hosted by different British Council offices in Europe in partnership with local organisations. Each event addresses a specific set of issues and consists of a challenging programme of debates, real-life visits and creative problem-solving activities.

Participants leave with a commitment to further develop their interest in the issues they have discussed. An online community helps participants stay in touch and continue to share ideas and opinions, leading to spin-off activities and collaborations.

The first forum took place in Stockholm in October 2005.  Subsequent forums have been held in Amsterdam (June 2006), Bratislava (October 2006), Istanbul (March 2007), Tallinn (May 2007), Berlin (October 2007) Budapest (March 2008), and Moscow (Oct 2008), Prishtina (27 - 30 May, 2009) with a topic ‘Education in Europe’. Next forum is planned in Lisbon (2009) which will be part of the Transatlantic Networks 2020 project.

The forums address a diverse range of issues, but all of them are trying to answer the question: ‘What sort of Europe do we want to live in?’

Each forum is attended by around 35 young participants – some for the first time; some who have taken part in previous forums. They spend two and a half days together in lively debate, exchanging views and generating ideas. They also visit local organisations who are working in the area that is being discussed.

Topics explored so far have included:

• the increasing democratic deficit in Europe, and the role of the media in this
• are cities the best means of meeting the challenges of Europe’s diversity?
• the changing roles of non-governmental organisations in the 21st century
• corporate social responsibility
• the changing demographics of Europe, and the challenges and opportunities this brings
• cultural identities,
• diversity and prejudices in modern Europe and beyond

More info is available on http://www.britishcouncil.org/networkeffect

In Latvia Dace Melbarde is responsible for the Network Effect. Please contact Dace if you have any questions or want further information about the project.