Why start a Chapter?
Make a lasting difference at your university
The biggest reward of starting an oikos Chapter is making a difference towards sustainable economics and management at your university. Creating a permanent group ensures that others will continue to push for change even after you have left the university- an essential strategy for lasting change.
Meet like-minded students
Through participating in international projects such as the Spring and Autumn Meetings and Student Reporters projects, you will meet students and alumni who inspire you and help shape your ideas. Interaction continues online on our internal network, www.oikos-international.ning.com
Gain access to project and Chapter support
oikos develops students as changemakers, through training programmes including the Project Leadership Programme, the oikos Winter School and the Alumni Mentoring Programme. We also have unique opportunities such as reporting from reknowned conferences. Additionally, as an oikos Chapter you will have your own website, email addresses etc.
"My personal motivation to start a local chapter at CEU was to apply my academic knowledge into activities. I believe that academic knowledge is the stepping stone to make changes but application creates changes. With the belief I initiated Oikos budapest."
Humaira Malik, founder oikos Budapest
How to start a Chapter
Step 1: Apply to become an oikos Chapter in Accession
Your application should include:
- a list of team members
- CVs and letters of motivation for the future members of the board (including an endorsement to the oikos Vision, Mission and Activities)
- a letter of recommendation from a local professor who will chair your Advisory Council
- a roadmap about your chapter's strategy and activities planned for the upcoming years
- an English translation of your Chapter statutes- your Chapter should be established as a legal entity. This means that you will have to write down statutes that are in accordance with the constitution of oikos International. [cf. oikos Chapter Statutes] The name of your new group consists of the word “oikos” and the name of the town where your local chapter is founded. This name convention ensures that Chapters are recognised as part of the international organisation oikos. Include your oikos logo in marketing material, publications and on your website etc.
To apply for the Chapter in accession status, send your application to president@oikosinternational.org. If the oikos Exective Board decides you qualify to become a Chapter in accession, then your group receives the oikos Chapter in accession logo.
Step 2: Be elected as a full oikos Chapter
If you have done all the steps above and submitted the necessary documents, then the oikos Executive Board will nominate you to be elected as an official oikos Chapter at the next Legislative Meeting of oikos International. If two-thirds of the Chapters vote yes, we will be very glad to welcome you as a full member of the organisation!