Talk:AIESEC

Should there be an "alumni" section. I think this is important, to show what some AIESECers go on to do in their lives.

Cleaned up some un-English turns of phrase. But more importantly: this needs to read more like a neutral description of AIESEC and less like its corporate statement or an advertisement. Compare with e.g. Oxfam. I hope recent edits achieve that.

What, exactly, justifies some random blogger's personal perspective on the organization for inclusion as a "Reference"? I didn't see any comments on the culture in the article, anyway. In any case, this seems like it is presenting rather a rather one-sided view of the organization. I'm not going to edit the page because I may be biased on this, but maybe a neutral observer can.

I think that something needs to be said about AIESEC culture - it's such a unique aspect of the organisation, although I'm not sure if I could write a completely NPOV version myself. --Alex Whittaker 23:59, 12 February 2006 (UTC) ---[reply]

Well, what exactly do you mean to change? If you compare it to General Electric it reads pretty much the same. History, Today, Subsidaries. And what besides history, core work and values could you put to better describe the organization in a neutral way? (Florian Schwarz, 21:35, 19 Feb 2006 (UTC))

>> Sorry Florian, but you're not exactly neutral.

http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=Florian+Schwarz+aiesec&meta=

http://64.233.179.104/search?q=cache:1h8k26ZX7P4J:ciwi.biz/hp/Florian_Schwarz/+Florian+Schwarz+aiesec&hl=en&gl=uk&ct=clnk&cd=1

AIESEC has an extremly unique culture. Its culture is what keeps students interested in it all around the world. As a student-run and not-for-profit organization, it is highly difficult to motivate students. As a result, AIESEC relies on its culture and ideals.

Microsoft keeps its employees motivated with salaries. AIESEC with its culture.

I've started adding some more content to this article, including a bit on the culture of AIESEC. If someone can point out exactly why there's an NPOV boilerplate at the top of the page then something could be done about it - I assume that someone may have taken exception to the list of core values looking like a promotion, however these are definitely taken very seriously within the organisation and belong here IMO. While I'd rather not remove the NPOV message myself (being a member means I probably am biased slightly towards the organisation) if no-one can give the specific reasons it's there then I'll remove it at some point.--Alex Whittaker 21:55, 16 April 2006 (UTC)[reply]

AIESEC member fields of study

The second sentence in the "AIESEC Today" section lists AIESEC members as current students or recent graduates interested in "economics and management." This is incorrect, as AIESEC encompasses students of all disciplines now. I myself am an engineering student, and I know many other members who are involved in other disciplines. The sentence should probably end with "who are interested in some or all of the following: developing their professional and networking skills, going abroad, making new friends from around the world..." etc. Someone who is more experienced than me (8 months) please edit that part.--Prestinian 16:24, 21 April 2006 (UTC)[reply]

I've only been in AIESEC for 8 months as well, however it's indisputable that students from other fields join AIESEC so I changed that sentence. In my experience though, many students are from those areas, although if someone more experienced wants to edit the phrase again that's OK.--Alex Whittaker 09:02, 24 April 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Criticisms

While I feel that it is ideal to include criticisms of the organization, we need to feature only documented and verifiable criticisms. This entire section needs to be rewritten with criticisms cited.

For example:

AIESEC tends to bend in whatever direction the business world does, often without due consideration on the impact and deeper meaning for the organisation itself.

Where on earth did someone come up with that?

FYI I am an alumni of this organization, so my views are those of both a former member and work exchange participant. SmartGuy 16:55, 25 April 2006 (UTC)[reply]

I agree that this article needs to be seriously reviewed. Not only for it's non-neutral POV, but also beacuse it remains very unclear what this group actually literally does.

"AIESEC corework actually consists of providing its members an integrated development experience internally known as "AIESEC Experience." It is realized by providing young people several learning and intercultural opportunities to develop their potential as individuals in order to empower them to have a positive impact on society."

What does this mean? What, specifically, is an example of a learning and intercultural opportunity that AIESEC has provided? In what specific ways can these experiences develop their potential as indviduals? I'm not arguing that the organization DOES NOT do this, but this entry does not give any specific examples of these opportunities, nor does it give us anything but vague summaries that seem very much to be a part of the AIESEC website.

I also think that the criticisms leveled against this organization deserve to be put on this page, so that we can have a fair and balanced view. I know next to nothing about this organization, and that has not been helped by this excessively vague entry. --Aylwinatrix 01:39, 13 August 2006 (UTC)[reply]

I briefly checked a few larger organization (for example, Exxon, General Electric, and Verizon) and there is not a section for criticisms. Is it wikipedia policy to list criticisms about organizations it is trying to objectively describe? How does one differentiate valid criticism from sour grapes? There are according to the article roughly 19000 people directly associated with the organization at any given moment. Chapium 22:41, 13 August 2006 (UTC)[reply]

More International AIESEC practices

I am from the US, and it is no secret that we currently do things differently from AIESEC internationally (though we are working to change that!) Since we know so little about general AIESEC actions, I'd REALLY like to see more stuff like what was put up about @XP. That was so helpful. Can someone knowledgeable please put up detailed descriptions and diagrams for @2010, Strategic Triangle, PBoXes, and the like? Then this article would really start to get rolling! Prestinian 18:03, 27 April 2006 (UTC)[reply]

ANSWER: Please, excuse me if this way of putting on a reply is somehow wrong in terms of behaving on Wikipedia, I didn't meant to do it intentionally, I'm quite new to Wiki. But if it's ok, it's cool :) What I want to say, that Wikipedia is not the place to put all the information e.g. about strategic triangle, PBoXes or whatever, as it'd completely useless and difficult to understand for non-aiesecers. For such infos, talk with Executive Board in Your Committee, or people from MC, their responsibility is to keep members informed about whole @ stuff. You can also find MANY useful information on aiesec.net, and to be honest, it should be the first tool You should use to keep Yourself up-to-date (principles: Take An Active Role, Increase Capacity, does it sounds familiar...? :> ). Greetings from LC Szczecin in Poland. Alxa, 22:38 CET, 29 April 2006

International MC Members

(Jul-12-2006) I think the section listing AIESEC International MC members by name and categorised by country, is pointless and should be removed. First, it is irrelevant to 99% of the readers of the article. Second, it is incomplete, and would be huge if it ever was completed. Make a seperate entry called "AIESEC International MC members" or lets take it out of here hey? Unless someone replies with a good reason why to keep it as it is, I will remove it in a few days (By Tom G)

Tom G I moved your comment down here and gave it a heading. Also you can sign your comments by adding for tildes "~" to the end.

I agree that the list does not really belong here. If someone can provide justification then please do so, otherwise it should go. SmartGuy 19:54, 12 July 2006 (UTC)[reply]

agree. I removed it. --203.173.248.102 06:30, 16 July 2006 (UTC)[reply]

forgot to login. The page edit and that comment was by me. --vierstein 06:31, 16 July 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Prod removed

I removed the delete tag. It doesn't seem appropriate to suddenly nominate an article for deletion after it has been on WP for the amount of years this one has. The content hasn't changed qualitatively since 2002 and a lot of work has been done by a lot of people. Do not-for-profit organizations count in the prohibition against advertising anyway? I thought a commercial product had to be involved. AIESEC is certainly a notable organization, so that shouldn't be a concern either. Richardjames444 16:58, 7 August 2006 (UTC)[reply]

I don't see that longstanding articles are exempt from prodding, nor do I see that non-profit organizations are exempt from the prohibition against advertising. At the very least, I'm tagging it for having the tone of advertising ("AIESEC looks to create tomorrow's leaders, today" -- honestly!). User:Angr 17:47, 7 August 2006 (UTC)[reply]

I don't think that longstanding article are exempt from deletion, but in my opinion at least they should be nominated for afd rather than prod'd. Since so many people have worked on the article, it seems disrespectful to me to be so unilateral, although on the other hand of course it is bold- because there are no sacred cows in Wikipedia. YOu're right that it needs a tonal adjustment in places, but perhaps no more than that. Richardjames444 18:10, 7 August 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Intranet

I'm not really sure how relevant it is to discuss various nuances about how the organization operates in a wikipedia article. I think one thing that the quote below misses is why the virtual communities exist.

Key things to keep:

 * AIESEC uses OpenACS to manage its global network of volunteers and supporters.  This is necessary becuase meeting in person is
   not always viable in an organization that is so spread out. (locations in over 90 countries)
 * AIESEC uses a searchable online database to find suitable traineeships for students within its network.
 * The purpose of sending students on traineeships is to increase interaction 
   between cultures while helping them advance their careers.

"Away from conferences, members frequently use AIESEC's extensive intranet (AIESEC.net) for communication, which is notable for being the world's largest OpenACS installation. In addition to hosting hundreds of virtual communities, suitably trained members can use the online database (known as "Insight XP") to match potential trainees with work placements all over the world. This greatly streamlines the work of exchange, since before the introduction of this system in the 1990's, members were required to meet and exchange physical forms."