EVS Studenten Symposium 2009

After two successful events, this year the Evert Vermeer Stichting (EVS) again organizes the EVS Student Symposium. The Student Symposium 2009 will take place on Saturday the 28th of November at the University of Amsterdam and offers a broad program for 250 students and Young Professionals from different study disciplines. The central theme of the day is: The Financial Crisis and Developing Countries. Money Makes the World Go Round?.

The consequences of the financial crisis for the Netherlands and other Western countries have been widely debated in the media. On the other hand, the negative implications for developing countries have not received much attention, while it is the poorest countries that are hit hardest by the global downturn.

The financial crisis has far-reaching consequences for people in many parts of the developing world. Skyrocketing unemployment rates, a decrease in remittances and high food-prices are just a few examples that come to mind. How does the crisis affect the feasibility of the Millennium Development Goals? Is it still possible to make progress in such times of economic crisis? And what can Dutch politicians do in order to mitigate the negative effects of the financial crisis for developing countries? These and other questions will be discussed during this year’s Symposium.

Subscribe to one of the master classes (English or Dutch) and work hand in hand with various experts from business and NGOs, politicians and scientists to advice Dutch politicians on how to mitigate the negative impact of this Western crisis on developing countries. Present your recommendations, convince a panel of experts and win a visit to the Dutch parliament to present all the recommendations to the Minister for Development Cooperation! Interested?

PROGRAMME

Plenary opening

This year the Student Symposium will be opened with a speech by Ewoud Goudswaard, Managing Director of the ASN Bank. During his career, Goudswaard has worked for several financial institutions (e.g. the Dutch NMB and ING Bank). In 2001 Goudswaard became Director of the ASN Bank. Founded in 1960, the ASN Bank was established on the principle that a bank could be both socially responsible and financially successful. Nowadays, the ASN Bank is the most sustainable bank of the Netherlands, having continually strengthened its commitment to human rights and sustainability. In addition, its corporate mission statement strongly emphasises the importance and opportunities of economic development that respects our environment, nature, vulnerable populations and future generations. Ewoud Goudswaard will kick-off the EVS Student Symposium by expressing his view on the impact of the financial crisis on developing countries and the current challenges that financial institutions and Western politics face to mitigate the negative effects of this Western crisis on the World’s poor.

Master classes

After the plenary opening, you can pick one out of twelve master classes, focusing on a specific consequence of the financial crisis for developing countries. In a group of 20 students, under the guidance of various experts from business and NGOs, politicians and scientists, you will deepen your knowledge of the topic and work towards concrete policy recommendations for Dutch politicians. Register to the master class of your choice!

Presentation of policy recommendations

At the end of the day, all the policy recommendations will be presented in a plenary session to a panel, consisting of Dutch MP Mei Li Vos (PvdA), Jeroen Blüm (Shell Foundation) and Piet van Ommeren (Head of Communication & Lobby ICCO).

The 'winning group' will get the opportunity to visit the Dutch parliament and present all the findings of the Symposium to the Minister for Development Cooperation!

The EVS Student Symposium is organised by the Evert Vermeer Stichting (EVS):

The EVS is a political NGO that – besides the permanent political Fair Politics campaign in The Hague, Brussels and other European capitals - organises big public events on development issues, such as the yearly Africa Day and the EVS Student Symposium.

With the EVS Student Symposium 2009, the EVS calls attention to the consequences of the current financial crisis for developing countries. Together with students from various academic disciplines and experts, the EVS will examine the role that Dutch politics can play in reducing the negative impact of the crisis on the livelihoods of people in the developing world. The EVS Student Symposium is meant for students and Young Professionals (max. 35 years old).

The Financial Crisis and Developing Countries Money Makes the World Go Round?

PROGRAMME

Plenary opening

Master classes

Presentation of policy recommendations

The Financial Crisis and Developing Countries
Money Makes the World Go Round?