SPE YP BEYOND THE BORDERS

Beyond the Borders (BtB) is a common initiative of Young Professionals across borders and SPE Sections born in 2018 as a collaboration between 3 countries (SPE France, Italy, and Romania) with other countries joining them later.

BtB is a series of coordinated international 3-day events by YPs for YPs, designed with a healthy mix of:

  • Coordination among Sections to ensure coherence, consistency, and complementary themes, activities, and quality;
  • Autonomy of Sections to ensure local adaptation and control, and ease of implementation.

The Mission and Key Attributes are Networking and Development opportunities by YPs for YPs.

Key attributes:

  • Smaller, more personal size of the event – max. 25 participants;
  • Group activities and interaction at its core (field trips, debate sessions, case studies);
  • Mutually-driven collaborative environment by hosts and participants with feedback.

Format:

  • 2-3 days event near the weekend;
  • Program based on 2 pillars: Networking and YPs development;
  • Technical + social activities to balance soft and hard skill development.

Financing

  • Financial fair-share between hosting sections and participants to support and reinforce the commitment to the program.

 

The key elements and minimum proposed program for each event are:

Kick-off and Icebreaking

(introduction to program and activities)

Technical development

(field trip, workshop, professional presentation, and knowledge-sharing)

Cultural or social event

(SPE cares, networking dinner, socializing activity)

Soft skill development

(debate, round table, case study, lecture, workshop)

Number of participants:

  • Minimum 12 spots for international participants per event, ideally at least 15-16;
  • Ratio between local YPs and international YPs should ideally be 50/50 maximum;

Spots from Hosting sections:

  • 2 spots are guaranteed for each hosting section in the next BtB events over a 2-year cycle.

Spots from All sections:

  • Representatives of participating sections are chosen by each section;
  • Max 1-2 spots per section first (i.e. until a certain deadline, if not met, more people can register).

The main message here is Fairness!

The BtB program already has a lengthy history and stood the test of time:

1st Edition (2018): 3 Sections (SPE Italy, France, and Romania), 3 Cities, 3 Themes: Meet peers from other sections in fascinating locations, learn together, and share great memories.

 

 

2nd Edition (2019-2020): More sections showed interest in the program and joined it. Even though the pandemic situation made things less simple, BtB continued in a virtual environment.

 

 

The Online Era (2021): the program continued online until the end of the pandemic.

 

 

3rd Edition (2022-2023): the calendar is yet again populated with new editions in person. BtB witnessed an increase in popularity with sections eager to join it and crossed borders outside Europe.

BtB Committee 2023 - 2024:

Contact:

LinkeIn Page

spe.beyondtheborders@gmail.com