Timothy Larsson / Rafael Fernández Calvo DFS (Sweden) <timothy.larsson@gmail>/

1. IS&YP SIN (Informatics Students and Young Professionals Special Interest Network) Ideas and proposals Timothy Larsson / Rafael Fernández Calvo DFS (Sweden) <timothy.larsson@gmail.com>/ ATI (Spain) <rfcalvo@ati.es> Ljubljana, April 12 2008

2. Background (1) • Presentation of ATI in the 2007 Spring Council meeting (Prague) of issues in the field of Informatics Students and Young Professionals (IS&YP) regarding CEPIS and CEPIS member societies. • With the ultimate goal of setting up a strategic action plan to address the needs of IS&YP and rejuvenate our societies, a decision was approved of conducting a survey among member societies in order to know their present situation and action plans regarding these categories. IS&YP SIN: Ideas and proposals Ljubljana, April 12 2008

3. Background (2) • The survey was launched online in July 2007 and eleven societies responded: ATI (Spain), BCS (United Kingdom), CCS (Cyprus), CICA (Croatia), Dansk IT (Denmark), DFS (Sweden), DND (Norway), NGI (The Netherlands), NJSTZ (Hungary), VRI (The Netherlands), plus GI (Germany), that responded offline and was not computed • Conclusions of the survey • Some societies have very solid and well articulated strategies & policies for Informatics Students and young professionals • Societies that currently have not an strategy in this area are interested in knowing other societies’ experiences • The need seems to exist for cooperation and experience-sharing among CEPIS societies regarding this matter • ATI presented the results of the survey in the 2007 Autumn Council meeting (Brussels) and the following was approved: create a workshop on IS&YP with an allocation of 10,000 Euros IS&YP SIN: Ideas and proposals Ljubljana, April 12 2008

4. IS&YP SIN Meeting • The meeting was held in Brussels on February 29 2008 • The following representatives of CEPIS member societies attended: • Balazs Benedek - NJSTZ (Hungary) - Young member • Rafael Fernández Calvo, Chair - ATI (Spain) • Richard French - BCS (United Kingdom) • Timothy Larsson - DFS (Sweden) - Student • Panicos Massouras - CCS (Cyprus) • Federico Mon-Trotti - ATI (Spain) - Student Fiona Fanning, CEPIS Policy and Communications Executive, was present at starting and wrap up time • Participants first described in detail the strategies and activities of their societies in the IS&YP field IS&YP SIN: Ideas and proposals Ljubljana, April 12 2008

5. Problems detected • Insufficient knowledge about their needs and requirements • Insufficient specific services for young members • Low IS&YP membership • Retaining young members • Lack of IS&YP strategy of CEPIS and many CEPIS member societies IS&YP SIN: Ideas and proposals Ljubljana, April 12 2008

6. Mostcommonbestpracticesin the IS&YP field • Significant reduction of membership fees for students and young members • Student branches or Special Interest Groups • Participation of IS&YP in national or regional Boards of societies • Programming contests (Application contest in Hungary) IS&YP SIN: Ideas and proposals Ljubljana, April 12 2008

7. Prerequisites of any Action Plan • It must give visibility and be beneficial both to CEPIS and CEPIS member societies, without interfering with member societies’ autonomy • In most instances it should be implemented with the cooperation and funding of European institutions and corporations, universities, etc. • It should not be expensive nor burdensome for CEPIS IS&YP SIN: Ideas and proposals Ljubljana, April 12 2008

8. Proposals for Action – External (1) • Sponsorize awards at the European level (along with European institutions, corporations, universities, ....) in areas such as: • Contests • Programming • Applications • Games • Best PhD Thesis in the IT field • Best IT student (including best female student) • Best young professional • Best young startups in the IT industry IS&YP SIN: Ideas and proposals Ljubljana, April 12 2008

9. Proposals for Action – External (2) • Establish relationships with students’ unions and associations (e.g. EESTEC, Association of European Electrical and Computer Science Engineering Students) • Promote placement of young members by ICT companies (not only big ones) across Europe • Swapping membership of young members through associations when they stay abroad. • Coorganize public ludic events for IS&YP (e.g. Campus Party in Spain – see http://www.campus-party.org/) IS&YP SIN: Ideas and proposals Ljubljana, April 12 2008

10. Proposals for Action – Internal • Establish a permanent CEPIS IS&YP SIN open to all member societies • Create repository and disseminate information about societies’ best practices in the IS&YP field • Create a CEPIS mailing list, of forum, for young members • Hold Council meeting for young members once a year • Promote membership of young female students and professionals • Create a CEPIS European Chapter for the Young IS&YP SIN: Ideas and proposals Ljubljana, April 12 2008

11. Not just a name … We have initially called this project CEPIS Junior Thanks for your attention! IS&YP SIN: Ideas and proposals Ljubljana, April 12 2008