Next Netcom focus area? – Scandinavia!
5 countries, 24 millions inhabitants and just 4 AEGEE antennae. I am pretty sure to be right in saying that the total number of AEGEE people does not reach the number of members of, for example, AEGEE-Budapest alone. What is wrong?
AEGEE’s main aims are cooperation, communication, and integration amongst young people in Europe. In Scandinavia, these goals are closer to be reached than in most other countries: due to the number of exchange students and master students attracted by the high-quality free education, intercultural relations can blossom on a daily basis.
In some countries, it is possible to use “improving English skills” as an argument to convince people to take part in AEGEE activities. In Scandinavia everyone already speaks English!
In many countries University courses are organised so students have lessons for several months and exams at the end, but in Scandinavia the exams take place at the end of each course and assignments have to be delivered weekly. This leaves less chances to find the time to travel. Also, as the schedule is published rather late, it is difficult to organise a trip.
Organising an event offers challenges everywhere. However, where the cost of life is higher, challenges are multiplied. AEGEE imposes some price standards that are difficult to respect if you need to cover basic expenses. Moreover, the extras not included in the fee (like drinks) are also expensive, discouraging participants to come in the first place.
Last, but probably most important: student unions have a huge power in Scandinavia, much more than in the continental Europe. They have a whole building with offices, cafés and party rooms. Their traditions, rituals, established cooperation 
with companies go for back and have been well-established for a long time. People are committed, willing to wake up at 6 a.m. to distribute flyers in the cold and even at 2 am just to make jokes to the freshmen. If a new student is willing to be active, it is more probable that he will direct his energy to a local union.
So is there no room for AEGEE? Not necessarily… AEGEE is maybe not as organised as unions, but it offers something unique: a network all over the continent and possibilities to travel. It offers its AEGEE spirit, the chance to meet great people and, most of all, to be significant in Europe! Scandinavian time is now!
Written by Martina Zanero, AEGEE -Torino
Photographs by Stephanie Müller, AEGEE-Heidelberg