U7+ Worldwide Student Forum 2023
Peace and Security – What commitments can students make to support
universities as engines of innovation in peace and security?
Co-hosted by U7+ Student Initiatives Chair, École Polytechnique, and the U7+ Student &Alumni Network, the third edition of the U7+ Student Forum will be opening soon.
Below is a global presentation of the Student Forum organization. Further details will beprovided during the opening ceremony.

Overview
A four-week long and one-of-a-kind program.
Events will be hosted and organized by the U7 + Alliance and U7+ Students and Alumni
Network (SAN)
Four types of events:
1. Opening and closing ceremonies
2. Expert Panel
3. Student Workshops
4. U7+ SAN events

Dates : June 16 to July 7, 2023
Application deadline : June 9, 2023
Format : online. Zoom rooms provided for all events. Moodle platform used for official
communication as well as for the posting of documents.

Number of events: 6Participants: students accepted to the forum will be divided into (ideally) 5 groups.
Groups will be organized according to regions and (ideally) have an interdisciplinary focus
on study fields.

Final output: preparation of recommendations in the form of slides to U7+ presidents
regarding collective commitments and opportunities for universities to contribute within
the G7’s peace and security agenda.

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Contact : Contact information and email u7studentforum2023@polytechnique.fr
Reachable at all times

EventsThis section is organized in a way to highlight the purpose, outcome, activity type andresources necessary for each proposed event. None of the events, unless explicitly said so,should be handled solely by one team. The U7+ SAN is there to support in any instance, be
it the provision of moderators, tech support, provision of advance material or guiding
student groups.
All events are linked to guide students to produce a final outcome
1. June 16, 13:30 CEST/12:30 GMT-Opening Ceremony (20 to 30 minutes : welcome address by Northwestern
University and École Polytechnique)-Expert Panel (60 minutes)
Objective
Organizers
TopicsActivity type

Presentation of the experts who will work with the students, and their fields ofexpertise
U7+ Alliance and U7+ Student and Alumni Network
Presentation of the different themes that will provide input for « Peace and Securityhow universities and research groups handle conflict ? »Roundtable, Q&A, discussion

2. June 23, 13:30 CEST/12:30 GMT-Mixed Workshop # 1 (90 minutes)
ObjectiveOrganizers
TopicsActivity typeDiscussion, sharing of ideas and experiences, input from experts
U7+ Alliance and U7+ Student and Alumni Network, experts
Focus on thematic areas (political, economic, social, cultural conflict)-Miscommunication leading to conflict-Rome of women in peacebuilding-Energy and food scarcity crisis leading to conflict
Roundtables in breakout rooms, guidance by experts, summary of discussions
Questions provided to students and experts in advance
Documents will be handled via Moodle

3. June 30, 13:30 CEST/12:30 GMT-Mixed Workshop # 2 (90 minutes)
ObjectiveOrganizers
TopicsDiscussion, sharing of ideas and experiences, input from experts
U7+ Alliance and U7+ Student and Alumni Network, experts
Focus on regional/continental conflict
Case studies

Activity type

Roundtables in breakout rooms, guidance by experts, summary of discussions. Laying
ground for the final output
Questions provided to students and experts in advance
Documents will be handled via Moodle

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4. July 1, 13:30 CEST/12:30 GMT ( on a Saturday to accommodate most students)-U7+ Student and Alumni Network event (90 minutes)
ObjectiveOrganizers
TopicsActivity type

Informal event to allow students to engage with other students not in their group orfrom their university. Brainstorming on the main topic of the Student Forum.
U7+ Student and Alumni Network (presentation of SAN activities)
How has conflict affected your life as a student?
-What is your University's main aspect of study regarding peace/or peace-strategy
research? What should be additionally teached/researched?
-What kind of support initiatives / programs were implemented at your university? (i.e.
Mental Health Support, Financial Support, Special Measurements for attendance),
especially in this war and conflict situation. Come up with additional proposals forthat.
-What are the most effective measures that can be implemented by the university /student organization in the context of conflict in general? What would be yoursuggestions to leadership?
Breakout rooms
Final output : 1 page A4 report. U7+ SAN will collect what each group will havediscussed. Short post/report after the event to be available for non participants to seelater

5. July 7, 13:30 CEST /12:30 GMT-Closing Ceremony (90 minutes)
Opportunity to present upcoming opportunities, network and how to stay in touch with the U7+
Student and Alumni Network.
Presentation of the final deliverable on behalf of all the participating students

We look forward to meeting you and working with you!

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