AIESEC’s approach to developing high-potential students into globally-minded responsible leaders consists of an innovative 5-stage experience.

Our experience enables young people to develop themselves into leaders that have the skills, networks and perspectives necessary to drive positive change in the world.

In the first stage of the experience, we introduce our members to the organization and engage them in a goal-setting exercise, allowing them to map out their personal and professional development goals. Our members then take these goals and compare them to opportunities in AIESEC, identifying which opportunities would best enable them to achieve their goals.

Having identified which opportunities in AIESEC best align with their personal and professional development goals, in the next two stages our members start to take action towards achieving their goals. They begin developing practical management, entrepreneurial and leadership skills by taking responsibility over certain projects and activities and by moving into a formal leadership role in AIESEC locally, nationally or internationally. Click here to see a typical "day in the life of an AIESECer".

The Global Internship stage is the most powerful stage of the experience. It is this stage which allows our members to apply for the unique opportunity to live and work in another country. Participating in the internship program allows our members to gain an unmatched professional work experience and cultural experience, further contributing to their personal and professional development.

In the final stage our members prepare to enter the workforce and take the skills, perspectives and networks they have gained in AIESEC to drive positive change in the world, wherever they go, whatever they do.

5 key principles guide the behaviour of our members as they go through the AIESEC experience: 

Taking an Active Role

Individuals need to take a proactive role in acting on the opportunities available in AIESEC to further their development. Our members take responsibility over their own learning and the learning of others to ensure that they and others in the organization get the most out of their experience.

Developing Self-Awareness and Personal Vision

AIESEC creates an environment in which our members can clarify and expand their ambitions. Throughout their experience, our members engage in mentorship, personal visioning and goal-setting exercises allowing them to gain an understanding of where they can make a contribution in the world.

Increasing Theoretical Knowledge and Practical Experience

At all stages of the experience our members increase their theoretical knowledge in a wide-range of functional and interpersonal skills and then have the opportunity to put their knowledge into practice.

Building Personal and Professional Networks

AIESEC Kenya's 40-year history and vast global network of students, partners and alumni allows individuals to acquire lifelong personal and professional networks of friends and business contacts around the world. Through conferences, on-line forums and in their day-to-day activities our members are gaining valuable networks that will support them in the personal and professional pursuits.

Challenging Worldview

AIESEC provides young people with an intense learning experience allowing our members to challenge their perspectives about themselves and the world around them. A stronger and more holistic view of the world enables our members to more easily incorporate new perspectives into their thinking, see interdependencies among the forces shaping our world and identify ways to positively impact any given situation.