About ESE

Equal Student Exchange (ESE) is a volunteer-based student network which provides free information about student exchange and study overseas opportunities.

Focusing on providing information to students from developing countries, ESE acknowledges the financial and organisational obstacles these students must often come to face. It is the belief of ESE that both universities and students can benefit through international engagement. A more culturally diverse range of international students will contribute to the continued exchange of knowledge, ideas and culture between different universities and countries.

The volunteers of ESE recognize the importance of establishing enduring educational, cultural and professional links through student exchange.

Follow this link for more in-depth information About Us.

Thursday, 8 May 2014

UNESCO ESD Youth Conference

The UNESCO ESD Youth Conference
 Application deadline 1 June
Program Flyer and terms of reference



The ESD Conference makes a call to youth leaders around the world committed to building a better future through education:

 • Are you between 18 and 35 years old?

• Are you engaged in Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) as an educator, trainer, member of a non-governmental organization, private sector professional, policy maker, researcher, or in any other capacity?

• Do you want to meet and collaborate with other ESD youth leaders from around the world?

• Do you have success stories or innovative initiatives to share, and wish to contribute to the global conversation on ESD?

• Do you want to add your voice to youth recommendations to be presented at the World Conference on ESD?

 If you answer YES to these questions, you may be interested in taking part in the UNESCO ESD Youth Conference in Japan!

 When is the application deadline?
Please read the information on the following pages and send in your application by 1 June 2014 to join. 

What kind of application process is involved?

 The application form is composed of 6 main questions and an optional video submission. Along with the usual required generic data.

 How to apply?
Applicants must submit the following documents to be considered:

 1) Application form 
Please complete the Application Form in English. The document file must be saved in Microsoft Word format with filename “LAST NAME_First Name_Country Name.docx” (in this format).

 Download Application Form at:
http://www.unesco.org/new/en/youthconference

 2) Recommendation letter
: A letter from a head or officer of an ESD/youth-related organization or institution stating the applicant’s engagement and relevant competency in ESD. The letter must be written in  English and include contact information of the signatory (in any format, no longer than one page).

Please submit your application by email to esd2014@goipeace.or.jp
with the subject line “LAST NAME_First Name_Country Name.docx” (in this format).

 Note: Please send only one email with both documents attached. Do not send your application more than once.

What is the UNESCO ESD Youth Conference about?
The UNESCO ESD Youth Conference will bring together 50 young ESD leaders from around the world in Okayama City, Japan on 7 November 2014. 
 
As a Youth Conference participant you will have an opportunity to exchange your ideas and experiences with peers. You will be able to discuss innovative approaches to ESD and ways to promote young people’s contribution and further involvement in the global ESD movement. And you will help elaborate commitments to future ESD actions. 

Conference participants will also be involved in developing recommendations for the UNESCO World Conference on ESD, which will take place in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan from 10-12 November 2014. All Youth Conference participants will be invited to take part in the World Conference.

The Youth Conference is being organized by UNESCO, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan (MEXT), the Japanese National Commission for UNESCO, the City of Okayama and The Goi Peace Foundation.

Please see the Application Guidelines for the UNESCO ESD Youth Conference for further information, including timelines and selection criteria. 

If you have questions about the application procedure, please contact:
esd2014@goipeace.or.jp

If you are interested in searching for other scholarships, study opportunities and student experiences in other countries, don’t forget to join and follow our ESE blog.
You can also find more information on our facebook community page. We hope that the information here can benefit students from developing countries.
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UN Conference on Small Island Developing States


2014 | The International Year of Small Island Developing States
UN Conference on Small Island Developing States

Apia Samoa 1-4 September | 2014



2014 is the International Year of Small Island Developing States. The symbolic appreciation celebrates the contributions that this group of countries has made to the world. Small island developing states are home to vibrant and distinct cultures, diversity and heritage.

 The event also acknowledges that the people of Small Island Developing States are also at the forefront of efforts to addressing pressing global issues through ingenuity, innovation and use of traditional knowledge.

 The challenges facing the small island developing States are challenges that confront us all, and they are determined to work with all countries to find solutions that will ensure a brighter future for generations to come.

 The Year will also help raise awareness of the UN Conference on Small Island Developing States, which will be held in September in Apia, Samoa, and will focus on building partnerships for sustainable development.




The Third International Conference on Small Island Developing States

The Conference will be held from 1 to 4 September 2014 in Apia, Samoa, to be preceded by activities related to the conference from 28 to 30 August 2014, also in Apia, Samoa. It will focus the world’s attention on a group of countries that remain a special case for sustainable development in view of their unique and particular vulnerabilities.



The overarching theme of the Third International Conference on Small Island Developing States is "The sustainable development of small island developing States through genuine and durable partnerships".



The Conference will seek to achieve the following objectives:

  1. assess the progress to date and the remaining gaps in the implementation;
  1. seek a renewed political commitment by focusing on practical and pragmatic actions for further implementation;
  1. identify new and emerging challenges and opportunities for the sustainable development of SIDS and means of addressing them; and
  1. identify priorities for the sustainable development of SIDS to be considered in the elaboration of the post-2015 UN development agenda.

The United Nations General Assembly resolution called for "a concise, focused, forward-looking and action-oriented political document.".




Youth Forum:

Stay tuned for further information about the Youth Forum at the SIDS Conference on the 28th of August. At this stage the committee are still working on the conference. You can find some information about the Youth Forum for the SIDs Conference through this link. 

http://www.sids2014.org/index.php?menu=1568



At this stage the Conference and committee are relatively closed and difficult to reach. Perhaps due to a heavy workload they do not have a general inquiries or ‘contact us’ section on their website. Equal Student Exchange (ESE) has made efforts to contact them to ask about Youth participation in the youth forum. Stay tuned to this space for more information as it comes in. 


For more information visit:

General information about SIDS

http://www.sidsnet.org/


The year of Small Island Developing States

http://www.un.org/en/events/islands2014/#&panel1-1 


A United Nations Sustainable Development Journal - SIDS

http://www.sidsnet.org/news/united-nations-sustainable-development-journal-sids
If you are interested in searching for other scholarships, study opportunities and student experiences in other countries, don’t forget to join and follow our ESE blog.
You can also find more information on our facebook community page. We hope that the information here can benefit students from developing countries.  


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"Equal Student Exchange" (ESE) - non-profit/grassroots community, is a student network made up of students who want to help make international student exchange a more equal process. We hope to do this by assisting students from developing countries gain access to information and opportunities about studying/vocational experience overseas. Our audience is primarily students who want to study/travel overseas. The information we provide may include advice about: *International Universities, *Costs and fees (travel/living/study), *Procedures for obtaining Visas, *Possible support through scholarships and grants, *General tourism information, *Other study overseas opportunities Programs and conferences overseas. *international conferences Benefits and Opportunities: This is an opportunity to bring local and international students together, make new friends and give students from developing countries the same opportunities that are enjoyed by students from advanced developed countries. The group also encourages international students to contribute back to the university and community which is hosting them.