What is it?
Student societies cover a whole range of areas, from bridge club, the armed forces to pizza and wine appreciation as well as yoga or Swahili. The chance that your university will have something that interests you is high and, if it doesn't, you can start one.
Economics societies allow a platform not only for discussion and debate but also to apply what you have learnt whilst meeting many different people who all share your passion.
Societies will include a range of things, from social events to talks and speakers as well as visits to places of economic interest. Joining your university's society is highly recommended. If there isn't one, why not start one?
All universities have slightly different methods of beginning a society so check with them. However, most of them include confirming what your society wishes to do and achieve, confirming you have x amount of people willing to join (usually around 20) as well as stating your board members (secretary, treasurer etc) and financial needs. It doesn't take much and soon you could have a range of activities planned, from a trip to the Treasury to a speaker from a blue chip firm.
Still not sure what it involves?
Running a society can be made easier by setting up groups on social networking sites (such as Facebook and the very popular GroupSpaces). Also, speak to your university; you may be able to have a page on your Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) as this everyone in your university has access to this.
An economics society doesn't have to be full of economists, inviting other disciplines to join, such as politics and business, will bring different aspects and viewpoints to a debate.
The ones we already know about
If you want to add your society to this growing list, please email Eoghan at eoghan.beamish.09@bristol.ac.uk
No Economics Society and you don't want to start your own?
Every year, Warwick University runs an Economics Summit. This is a weekend where students come to listen to high profile speakers on a range of topics, aiming to ‘inspire students to shape tomorrow's world'.
In its previous incarnations, The Summit has welcomed such distinguished speakers as Professor John F. Nash Jr (Nobel Laureate 1994), John Kay (leading UK economist and Financial Times Columnist), Johannes Linn (former World Bank Vice President), Dr. Kandeh Yumkella (Director General of UNIDO), Clive Crook (Then Deputy Editor of The Economist), Tim Harford (UK Economist, author and Financial Times columnist), Vince Cable (Lib.Dem. Treasury Spokesman), Sadeq Sayeed (CEO of Nomura for EMEA) and Ewald Nowotny (Governor of the Austrian Central Bank).