Since late 2023, OTT has been working with European student-led think tanks for the Building for the Future initiative, a grant project funded by the Open Society Foundations. Drawing on the lessons learned from these unique organisations, we are launching the Build a Student-Led Think Tank Guide, co-created with grantees from Cycle II of the initiative. The guide is designed to help strengthen existing student-led think tanks and to support universities and youth leaders interested in establishing their own. The guide covers all aspects of leading and working in a student-led think tank—including mission and objectives, governance and leadership, funding and financial sustainability, research, and more.
Student-led think tanks are student-run organisations that research public policy issues, publish their findings, and engage in a range of activities such as hosting events and running advocacy campaigns. For example, Generation for Rights Over the World (GROW) is a student-led think tank based in France focusing on human rights public policy issues, while the Student Think Tank for Europe-Asia Relations (STEAR) aims to strengthen relations and deepen cultural ties between people living across Europe and Asia.
As a preview of what the guide covers, here are four defining aspects of student-led think tanks that set them apart from their professional counterparts:
1. Student-led think tanks as training grounds
While professional think tanks play a critical role in training early-career professionals, student-led think tanks are uniquely positioned as students are not interns or junior researchers – they lead the organisations themselves. This full ownership provides unparalleled opportunities to practice leadership, conduct research on public policy issues, and build networks. Student-led think tanks are launching pads where future policy leaders are being nurtured.
Further reading: Chapter 1: What are student-led think tanks? Mission, scope and objectives
2. Organisational Models of Student-led Think Tanks
Student-led think tanks can generally be classified into two models: those affiliated with one or more universities, and those that are independent. The guide explores the pros and cons of each.
University-affiliated think tanks benefit from access to resources and a steady recruitment pool. On the other hand, if the organisation is not affiliated with a university, it has the freedom to recruit recent graduates, and not only students. If you are a youth leader who wants to set up a student-led think tank, you can read more about the pros and cons of both models in Chapter 2 of the “Build a student-led think tank” guide.
Further reading: Chapter 2: Governance, leadership and team structure
3. Leadership Turnover and Continuity
By nature, student-led think tanks experience regular turnover in both leadership and membership. To remain effective, they require robust systems for leadership transitions and member recruitment.
For instance, Warwick Think Tank holds annual elections each March to appoint new leaders for one-year terms. They recruit new members through Instagram, society fairs, and word of mouth, offering exciting opportunities to gain skills and experience.
Further reading: Chapter 2: Governance, leadership and team structure
4. Volunteers and Financial Self-Sufficiency
Student-led think tanks are primarily made up of students and youth volunteers who contribute their time and expertise to support the organisation’s mission. This contributes significantly to the financial self-sufficiency of these organisations. They are motivated to work, even if they are unpaid, because they are able to build work experience and kickstart their careers from the networks they build, and tangible outputs they can show to prospective employers. Membership fees are also a major way that student-led think tanks are able to be financially self-sufficient. For instance, EPIS Think Tank’s significant portion of income comes from membership fees, with the rest coming from sponsors.
Further reading: Chapter 3: Funding and sustainability
Read the “Build a student-led think tank” guide to learn more about these unique organisations, the challenges they face, and how they are tackling them.
If you are a university that wants to create a student-led think tank, or a funder that wants to support student- and youth-led think tanks, please get in touch.