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This chapter defines student-led think tanks, explores what makes them unique, and outlines key questions to consider when establishing one.
Student-led think tanks are student- and youth-led organisations that perform many of the same functions as traditional think tanks, including:
- Generating ideas and creating, maintaining and opening up spaces for debate and deliberations on current affairs and policy-related issues.
- Conducting research to explore and analyse key issues and produce in-depth policy reports and concise blog posts.
- Hosting events to engage students and foster dialogue.
- Attempting to influence the policy process by raising awareness, informing and advocating/proposing solutions
- Capacity building by designing courses open to interested audiences
- Monitoring and auditing political actors, public policy or behaviour
What makes student-led think tanks unique is that they are governed, managed, and staffed by students and recent graduates. They may be affiliated with a single or multiple universities, or operate independently of any institution. There are also student-led think tanks at the secondary education level. These organisations play a vital role in training future researchers, policymakers, and policy entrepreneurs.
OTT has compiled a database of student-led think tanks.
Key questions to ask when setting up your think tank:
What is your mission?
Your mission defines your organisation’s purpose and outlines how it will contribute to achieving a broader vision. A clear mission guides your think tank’s work and helps communicate its value to stakeholders.
- Example: The Security Distillery, run by postgraduate students in security and intelligence studies, aims to distil complex security issues into digestible information.
What issues will your think tank address?
In parallel to reflecting on and defining your mission, you should work on defining the issues that your student-led think tank will focus on as it will help shape research priorities and ensure clarity in your organisation’s direction.
- Example: Epis Think Tank, a youth-led think tank based in Germany, conducts research on topics related to foreign and security policy.
What impact do you hope to achieve?
Impact can take various forms, from influencing the public agenda to shaping policy discussions.
- Example: Generation for Rights Over the World (GROW) aims to influence policy discussions in France and Europe by providing evidence-based recommendations on issues such as freedom of expression and minority rights.
“The primary driver of a student think tank is its ability to gather a wide community of enthusiastic and diverse young people, motivated towards the goal of the think tank. Additionally, individuating an important, timely, and niche topic of research or goal is a helpful element for the think tank to establish its impact.”
– Student Think Tank for Europe-Asia Relations (STEAR)
“We have been struggling to answer what success means to us because it’s hard to measure impact but also mobilise a student-led team to have a shared vision of success. But I think success would mean building a strong network and being able to influence policy.”
– Warwick Think Tank
Who are your primary audiences?
A strong student-led think tank needs an engaged audience. Identifying your primary audiences—whether students, policymakers, academics, or civil society—helps refine your outreach strategy.
- Example: Student Think Tank for Europe-Asia Relations (STEAR)’s main audiences are Asian and European students and recent graduates, civil society, and members of the general public, looking to explore the field of cross-continental collaboration and global affairs.