Want to be a Change Maker? Apply today!
❓ Have you always felt like you want to make a change in society, but you don’t know where to start?
❓ Do you want to play a more active role in society and mobilise others to amplify the impact, but you don’t know how?
❓ Would you like to learn about community organizing and mentoring?
❓ Are you a committed, self-motivated individual who can work on this project for the next 18 months?
👉 Then you are right for the European Change Makers Academy (ECMA)!
Creating a change, you want to see in the world is not something you can do in one fast move, but it is doable in a series of small planned steps. We don’t have all the answers on how to become the best Change maker, but we know the steps and together with you, we will make certain that your work matters and there will be no compromise about it, you have our word! If this sounds like a cool idea, check out the call below and let’s start working.
What do we offer?
A training & mentoring programme via the Erasmus+ funded ECMA project including:
💡 a comprehensive online course on change making, community organizing & mentoring
📘 guidelines for “Community Leaders”
👩🏫 1 International Training in Spain complementing the online course
🚂 3 International participatory events (incl. policy seminar & ideathon) in Belgium & Italy
🦸 a chance put into practice what you’ve learned & to mentor others
💻 national & international online meetings with your fellow Change Makers
🧐 1 study visit & 1 national event in cooperation with the ISSU that brings together all the project members of your country
👨👩👧👦 120 new friends all over Europe
Check out our roadmap to find out more about this change making journey!
“Make A Change” Timeline: Please note that AEGEE is another coordinating partner on this project. You will run your national event with the ISSU in Ireland.
What will you learn?
● Leadership skills that can help you to anticipate changes in society and respond to them in a creative way
● How to motivate & mentor other people
● Skills to put your ideas about change into practice
● To develop an open eye and mind to find different solution to an existing problem
● To go outside your comfort zone & think out of the box
● How to deal with setbacks on your way & how to keep continuing your journey
● To connect with your community to bring change about on a local level without losing sight of the more global perspective
How long does the programme run?
1,5 years, from May 2020 - October 2021
What profile are we looking for?
● You are motivated to change the status quo & you don’t want to do it alone
● You are familiar with youth work, community organizing and mentoring, and you are ready to share your knowledge with others
● You are committed to engage throughout the whole process, until December 2021
● You are are aged 18 years or older or will turn 18 before 31st August 2020
● You are motivated to put in practice the skills and competencies you gained throughout the project in your own organization and community
● You are willing to contribute to other ad-hoc tasks within the project
How can you apply?
Fill out the application form here before 6pm on April 28th: APPLICATION FORM
The European Change Maker Academy is an Erasmus+ funded project that is coordinated by OBESSU in cooperation with the ISSU and other project partners across Europe.
#ClarificationNow: ISSU Campaign for Clarity on the 2020 State Examinations
The Irish Second-Level Students’ Union (ISSU), as the national representative body of second-level students, is calling on the Minister for Education and Skills to provide clarity on the contingency plans being arranged for the 2020 State Examinations.
The Covid-19 pandemic has greatly impacted the nation of Ireland and the ISSU recognises the huge effort and steps the government is taking to protect the public. The ISSU continues to follow, support and promote the Health Service Executive guidelines for the well-being and safety of all our members. However, in these unprecedented times, for thousands of examination students across Ireland, there is an immense feeling of uncertainty and anxiety as each student eagerly awaits for information regarding their exams.
The ISSU is asking the Minister for Education and Skills, to include the student voice in finalising these contingency plans. The ISSU is requesting to be involved in setting a clear deadline for when these decisions will be disseminated to the public and to assist in providing clear steps to be taken to ensure fairness and quality for all students and stakeholders involved.
President of the ISSU, Ciara Fanning commented “This is a hugely difficult and confusing time for everyone, but particularly for students who are due to sit State Exams in June. Having built up to these exams this year and previous school years there is huge pressure to perform well, and students are now unsure when they will be sitting the exams or if they will happen at all. This makes it incredibly difficult to focus on study and preparation for the exams. We need clarity immediately on the State Exams to put students at ease and reduce the immense stress and confusion they are already feeling at this time.”
Student welfare is paramount at this difficult time and reinforces the need to receive clarification as soon as possible on proposed plans that will impact the students' futures. The ISSU will continue to advocate that students, as key stakeholders in their education, are consulted and included in any decisions to be made regarding their education in the coming weeks and months.
We're Hiring: Student Voice Development Manager
We’re hiring a new Student Voice Development Manager to join our team!
The Student Voice Development Manager will manage the secretarial functions of the Irish Second-Level Students’ Union and will have responsibility for delivering organisational growth, fulfilling administrative and research/communications functions and is tasked with executing ISSU policy.
The role also includes representative responsibilities in line with the ISSU’s objective of supporting student voice. The successful candidate will be tasked with fostering the continued development of the national organisation and enabling the work of the ISSU National Student Executive.
CONTRACT LENGTH: Reporting to the Board of Directors and to be employed on a two year fixed-term contract, and subject to completion of a 6-month probation period.
WORKING HOURS: 37.50 hours (on a flexi-time basis). Occasional out-of-office hours may be required.
For more information and to apply online, see careers.issu.ie
Students Should Not Be Forced To Sit State Exams During Medical Emergencies
The Irish Second-Level Student`s Union (ISSU) is calling on the Department of Education & Skills and the State Examinations Commission (SEC) to put in place a provision allowing students who are experiencing medical emergencies at the time of their Leaving Certificate exams, so that they have the option to defer the exams and sit them in July along with students who deferred exams due to bereavement.
President of the ISSU, Ciara Fanning commented on the issue, saying “We at the ISSU want students to be able to reach their true potential in the education system. This means allowing students to be in a fit state mentally and physically, whilst sitting the exams that are the culmination of 6 years of second-level education. In no way should students still be feeling the effects of medical emergencies or strong anaesthetics whilst sitting the exam. We are calling on Minister McHugh and the SEC to change this and change it fast so no more students are forced to sit their exams during medical emergencies. These students deserve empathy for their situations and respect in the way they are treated.”.
Ms. Fanning noted that there are many stories of students who had to sit their exams while experiencing medical emergencies. The ISSU has been told stories of students who have been forced to sit Leaving Certificate exams having just given birth, having been in a car crash and having undergone serious operations.
The ISSU recently released a video featuring one of these students, Amy Richards, who sat her Leaving Cert this past June ( Video Link: http://tiny.cc/nex89y ). Amy underwent emergency surgery for acute appendicitis at 1am on the morning of English Paper 1. The surgery lasted four hours, finishing at 5 am. Moments prior to beginning her English Paper One exam she was informed that she was in fact lucky to be alive, being told she had a blood infection, a gangrenous appendix and a large abscess in her stomach.
Having undergone a serious operation during which she was under general anaesthetic, it is clear that Ms. Richards was not in any state, either physically or mentally to sit a Leaving Certificate exam. It is cases like this that the ISSU wishes to cease from happening. Students experiencing serious medical emergencies during their exams must be shown empathy, and the respect for their health that they deserve. This can be done through the extension of the July deferral scheme for bereaved students to those who are experiencing medical emergencies.
Check out the video with Amy Richards here: http://tiny.cc/nex89y
National Student Executive (NSE) Takes Office
The National Student Executive (NSE) of the Irish Second-Level Students’ Union has taken their seat for the upcoming year. Elected at the Annual Assembly on April 23rd, the incoming officers have been cooperating with the outgoing NSE over the past weeks to ensure a strong transition and handover.
ISSU President Ciara Fanning stated “We are delighted to welcome our new NSE officer and to start the year with the new Executive. We were incredibly impressed by the incredible ideas and projects presented at the Annual Assembly and are looking forward to a productive year on behalf of all second-level students of Ireland”.
Pictured (l-r): Sarah Harte (Honorary President), Eiman Elsir (Communications Officer), Caoilfhinn Ní Choiligh (Student Council Support Officer), Gearoid O’Donovan (Education Officer), Chloe Griffin (Deputy President), Eric Ehigie (Equality Officer), Caoimhe Ní Mhaolaí (Oifigeach na Gaeilge), Ciara Fanning (President), Luke Casserly (Secretary), Seán Carey (Welfare Officer), Nadine Toye (International Officer).
The National Student Executive (NSE) 2019-2020 are;
President: Ciara Fanning
Deputy President: Chloe Griffin
Secretary: Luke Casserly
Education Officer: Gearoid O'Donovan
Welfare Officer: Sean Carey
Equality Officer: Eric Ehigie
Student Council Support Officer: Caoilfhinn Ní Choilligh
Communications Officer: Eiman Elsir
Oifigeach na Gaeilge: Caoimhe Ní Mhaolaí
International Officer: Nadine Toye
Honorary President: Sarah Harte
ISSU meets An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar
ISSU Welfare Officer Eric Ehigie meets An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar at the Future Jobs Summit at the Aviva Stadium
Member's of the ISSU National Student Executive were delighted to have participated in the Future Jobs Summit at the Aviva Stadium which brought together over 160 stakeholders from all aspects of society to discuss what jobs and careers will look like in the future. Over 65% of professionals surveyed believed that their skills will be inapt or out of date within 4 years. We need to ensure that students are adaquately equipped with the relevant skills to adapt and diversify as they will have to in the future. This means reforming the leaving cert to ensure that creativity, critical thinking and analytical skills are promoted and part of the curriculum.
Members of our NSE quizzed An Taoiseach and the Minister for Education on LC reform and insisted that the student voice must always be heard.