By youth,
for youth

AIESEC is a global platform for young people to explore and develop their leadership potential. We are a non-political, independent, not-for-profit organization run by students and recent graduates of institutions of higher education. Its members are interested in world issues, leadership and management. AIESEC does not discriminate on the basis of ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion or national/social origin.

Since we were founded, we have engaged and developed over 1,000,000 young people who have been through an AIESEC experience. The impact of our organization can be seen through our alumni who represent business, NGO and world leaders, including one Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Martti Ahtisaari of Finland.

AIESEC (pronounced eye-sek) was originally an acronym for Association Internationale des Étudiants en Sciences Économiques et Commerciales.

AIESEC is no longer used as an acronym but simply as the name of the organization.

Members of AIESEC are known as “AIESECers.”

We are a global network of young leaders under the age of 30 who strive to better themselves and the communities around them. We are passionate about world issues, leadership development, cultural understanding and experiential learning.

The organization spans 126 countries/territories and territories and every aspect of AIESEC’s operations are managed by students and recent graduates.

We have operated in this way since our inception, making us uniquely “by young people, for young people”, for over 65 years. The global leadership teams are elected by the membership annually.

AIESEC as a global network is not a subsidiary or an entity that is dependent on any other bodies in its work, sustainability or decision-making. AIESEC chooses peace above all and therefore does not have a pre-defined or officially accepted political tendency or subscription. We are in consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), affiliated with the UN DPI, member of ICMYO, and is recognised by UNESCO.

AIESEC was founded in 1948 in 7 countries/territories in Europe by Jean Choplin (France), Bengt Sjøstrand (Sweden), and Dr. Albert Kaltenthaler (Germany).

Over 77 years later we are present in 100+ countries and territories.

Anyone who believes in the AIESEC vision, supports the mission of AIESEC, and lives by the AIESEC values is a part of the youth leadership movement, and hence is an AIESECer. They can be our partners who relate to our organizational values and vision, or it can be our parents who constantly support us to give our best to our leadership development journeys.