A year ago, I encountered CIVICA for the first time. I had been a student at the Stockholm School of Economics for less than a month and was just starting to find my way around campus when I saw a poster about a CIVICA info session. Curious about what it was, I went to the session. In addition to free pizza, I was met by two enthusiastic faculty members holding a presentation on the CIVICA Engage Track and how being a student at SSE (or any of the other member schools) means you are also a student at CIVICA – the European University of Social Sciences.
Right away, I felt this was something I would like to engage further in. Unfortunately, the Engage Track was only open for second-year students, but when speaking to Patsy and Joanna (the wonderful aforementioned faculty members), I was told that applications for the role of CIVICA Ambassador were open for all students. After sending in my application and going for an interview, it was with great joy I received an email telling me I had been selected as one of two CIVICA Ambassadors at SSE.
What followed was a year full of activities of all kind. I attended an Ambassador meet-up at the SGH Warsaw School of Economics, helped gather a cross-university team for a Student Engagement Fund application, ran onto the stage during a lecture to tell other students about the Engage Track, hosted a high school class, and much more. If I were to single out one thing that really stuck with me, it would have to be the Ambassador meet-up. After an early flight to Poland, I found myself in a room with Ambassadors from all ten CIVICA member-universities. We then shared two days of getting to know each other, discussing joint projects, and exploring Warsaw – all of this while most of my peers were home studying (which is also great of course).
With my time as CIVICA Ambassador coming to an end, I think what I will bring with me can be summarised in two key points: the addition of a European perspective to both my academic and everyday life and all the amazing people I have met along the way. And if that's not enough, you also get the perk of your peers, some of whom you might never have met before, asking "Aren't you that guy from CIVICA?". All jokes aside, applying to become CIVICA Ambassador is definitely one of the best decisions I made during my first school year and one I would do again.
So don't hesitate to apply – because the step from asking yourself "What is CIVICA?" to becoming the next Ambassador is smaller than you might think.
Thinking about becoming a CIVICA Ambassador and representing your university? Now is your chance, check out how to apply through your CIVICA university.