IAPSS is the only democratic student government representing political science students at the global level recognized by the United Nations. IAPSS acknowledges many problems that political science students face around the world: affordability of education, threats to democracy, growing inequalities, climate change, lack of professional opportunities in certain areas of the world, and more. Our organization stands for all political science students and advocates for advancement of their interests. Our approach to advocacy is built upon the Advocacy Framework which was adopted as official policy by the General Assembly.
IAPSS has authored and participated in a number of advocacy campaigns, education summits, meetings at the United Nations level, and other venues of policymaking. Below are the most recent contributions of IAPSS to the global community.
Our Track Record
2020 - 2021
Collaboration with ASEF
2020
Global Student Government Initiative
2020
UN 75 Consultations
2019
UNESCO 9th Consultation of NGOs on Education 2030
2005 - 2016
UN Global Compact
Most Recent Initiatives
Collaboration with ASEF
From November 2020 to September 2021, IAPSS assisted the Asia-Europe Foundation with creating a report on risk and opportunities facing digital education in 2030 as part of the . IAPSS delegates shared student-centered perspectives with other members of the expert group assembled by ASEF to create the report. IAPSS ensured that the report advocated for accessible digital education for all students and that students be included in education decision-making and governance relating to digital education. IAPSS also made additions examining the potential benefits digital education can have for student government and extracurricular activities.
Read the ReportGlobal Student Government
In 2020, IAPSS developed an idea to create a Global Student Government (GSG) to represent all students of all subjects. This would replace the void in student representation left by the collapse of the International Union of Students and would seek to promote student democracy around the world. IAPSS pitched this idea at the spring 2020 conference of the Informal Forum of International Student Organisations, leading to the formation of a coalition of student governments and other student organizations around the world committed to making the GSG a reality.
See GSG WebsiteUNESCO Conference 2019
From December 2-5, 2019, the International Association for Political Science Students (IAPSS) attended the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) 9th Consultation of NGOs on Education 2030 in Hammamet, Tunisia. IAPSS was able to add a small but not insignificant clause to the final report in a bulleted list of recommendations related to the UN Sustainable Development Goals pertaining to education, which consists of a call to “Recognize democratic student governments as politically legitimate institutions within education systems and support the inclusion of student representation within education decision-making structures.” Given the recent trend of student government retrenchment and collapse around the world in the twenty-first century, the likely unprecedented inclusion of this clause in UNESCO’s report is a sign of hope that student representation will improve in future years.
Read the UNESCO Report
”We, as Political Science students, have much to offer each other and our fellow students in other fields. Together, we can make a brighter future for youth and students around the world not just after we graduate but also right now by contributing our unique student perspectives to education policy discourse.
Justin PatrickIAPSS President in 2020-22
