IE University’s CIVICA Ambassadors: Fostering Connections and Driving Positive Changes

IE University’s alliance with CIVICA encourages innovation and collaboration, uniting students and faculty from the ten leading social science universities in Europe in a shared mission to advance knowledge and foster growth. A pivotal aspect of this alliance lies within IE University's dedicated CIVICA Ambassadors, Matilde Romagnoli and Alfredo Echeverria. The student ambassadors from every CIVICA member school play a crucial role in representing each of their institutions as well as sharing collective initiatives and ideas. Alongside reflections from last year's ambassador, Ida Nydelius, their stories offer a deep look into the significance and impact of the CIVICA alliance.

Matilde Romagnoli, a second-year student in Law and International Relations, shared her journey at IE University and the opportunities she has had to promote CIVICA initiatives and foster relationships within the alliance. "This year I had the great pleasure to become a CIVICA ambassador for IE University," she said. From attending the CIVICA Student forum in Warsaw to visiting Sciences Po in Paris, Matilde Romagnoli’s involvement has been both broad and impactful. She and fellow ambassador, Alfredo Echeverria, have focused their efforts on three pillars: education, community development, and external relations, working on projects like a mentorship program and a shared publication platform for students. "CIVICA offers so many opportunities withing IE University...it's a great opportunity also for master students, PhD, and faculty," Alfredo Echeverria emphasized, highlighting the alliance's potential for cross-university research and networking.

Alfredo Echeverria, from Costa Rica and studying International Relations in the historical campus of IE University in the UNESCO city of Segovia, shared his experiences. "Some of the opportunities I have been able to experience thanks to CIVICA have been multiple," he noted, with a trip to Sciences Po Institute in Paris marking a highlight of his ambassadorship. Alfredo's focus on creating a network of leaders and mentors aims to support students across disciplines, enhancing both academic and professional development. "We get to work hands-on and have connections that will take you places," he shared, underlining the value of CIVICA's networking opportunities.

Reflecting on the previous year, Ida Nydelius, a fifth-year Politics, Philosophy, Law, and Economics + Law student, recounted her role in raising awareness of CIVICA within IE University. Her initiative, Green Civica, aimed at advocating for greener initiatives across universities, showcases the kind of impactful projects that can emerge from this collaboration. Her initiative greatly reflects on one of the main pillars of IE University: sustainability. IE University is one of the first carbon-neutral universities in Europe.

“The CIVICA alliance aligns with IE University's mission and values in numerous ways. Primarily, it promotes a global perspective, inclusiveness, and diversity, which are central to IE University's ethos”, emphasized Ida Nydelius. Alfredo Echeverria added, "This collaboration solidifies IE University’s name and involvement in projects within the EU to give IE University a voice to promote change. What we need to do is strengthen our community and help each other out, within and externally to the university”.