AIESEC was founded in 1948 to promote international exchange between student organizations. In the 1940s-1960s, exchanges grew significantly and the organization established an international secretariat. The 1970s saw over 100 traineeships realized annually in Sweden. In the 1980s, AIESEC focused on theme programs and exchanges while giving more freedom to local committees. Membership declined in the 1990s as focus shifted away from exchanges. In the 2000s, AIESEC introduced the AIESEC Experience to increase exchanges and member development. Swedish local committees fluctuated during this period, with some opening, closing, or merging due to lack of results or members.

1. Understanding our organisation
year for year before 2005

2. 1940-50’s
1948: AIESEC was founded - Build relations between student
organizations (main tools: exchange through study tours or recreational
trips)
1949 – 1958 - Focus: economics & commerce
Developments in Information Management – Matching happening at
conferences. An internship for an internship process. IStudy tour
exchanges would provide additional ways to experience other
countries.
Late 50s: Growth in exchange, there was a need for post-congress
matching

3. 1960’s
Compendium 1961: AIESEC is an independent non-political,
international student organisation, which has as its purpose, to
establish and promote close and friendly relations between members
without regard to religion or race.
Compendium 1964: AIESEC is an independent non-political, non-
profit, international student organisation, which has as its purpose, to
establish and promote close and friendly relations between members
without discrimination through international educational programmes.

4. 1940-60’s
1949 – 1961: Rotating presiding countries, which usually held the
International Congress. The president of the country would function as
“Presiding Committee President”.
1960: One person elected as General Secretary, who would report to
the NCP of the presiding country (in 60-61 it was the UK) 1961:
Set up of International AIESEC Secretariat in Geneva:
Administrative, financial and consulting role, The Secretary General
had to report to Congress, and no longer to a presiding country (that
rotating system was abolished)

5. 1970’s in Sweden
AIESEC Sweden at this time had above 100 TNs and SNs realised almost every
year. There were 7 LCs, and Uppsala, Karlstad and Linköping were the LCs that
joined this decade. Around 70 members nationally. The organisational
structure was a National Committee consisting of MCP, 1 MCVP and all LCPs.
Then the executive board (Arbetsutskottet) functioned as today’s MC and
consisted of MCP, MCVP + controllers. Quality of traineeships and increase of
external awareness were focus areas for many years. Scandinavian and Nordic
conferences were organised, and global results were around 4.000 exchanges
annually.

6. AIESEC’s Structure

7. The 1980’s
AIESEC Way, strategy & focus
What we envision: Peace and fulfilment of humankind’s potential
Our impact: Develop internationally educated management To
contribute to the development of our countries and their people with an
overriding commitment to international understanding and co-operation.

8. The 1980’s
Focus on new expansions.
2 areas of 2 year programmes: Theme Programmes and Exchanges
Exchanges were still the centre of our activities as well as the Global
theme projects. International theme for 80’s included;
• Energy
• Information Age Services:
• Tomorrow’s Economy
• The challenge of global Co-operation

9. The 1980’s
We created: The youth Action guide for sustainable development,
which lead to an increase in our focuses and The Global Theme
Programme:
• Entrepreneurship
• Corporate Responsibility
• New opportunities for global development

10. The 1980’s
A new kind of freedom was given to the members, which lead to an
increase in local activities and included the following:
• Building bridges between management, academic and student
communities
• Promotion of international understanding, goodwill and empathy for
a different management attitude, as most companies in this era had
expanded greatly their middle management and then downsized in
early 80s (causing small drop in exchanges)

11. Sweden in the 1980’s
• 82/83:
• Uppsala arranged a company fair, and Stockholm arranged a 35 year
celebration of AIESEC with 142 international guests.
• 83/84:
Örebro joined!
• 84/85:
Number of members increased, and Luleå and Växjö joined! Many LCs
arranged company fairs
• 86/87:
Almost half of the membership (around 100) went on international
meetings!
• 87/88:
11 LCs. Sundsvall joined this year! (Stockholm, Luleå, Göteborg,
Sundsvall, Umeå, Karlstad, Linköping, Uppsala, Örebro, Växjö, Lund)

12. The 1990’s
AIESEC Way, strategy & focus
AIESEC Way 1989
What we envision: Peace and fulfilment of humankind’s potential Our
impact: To contribute to the development of our countries and their
people with an overriding commitment to international understanding
and co- operation.
The way we do it: Creating opportunities for exposure and interaction
between young people of different cultures and nations Assisting
people in acquiring skills and knowledge through management
education and practical experience. Offering people the opportunity to
interact with their social and economic environment

13. The 1990’s
Throughout the decade there was major discussion in
organization on the area of focus AIESEC should have, as still
there was the choice between indirect/direct impact being made.
Social development activities were the biggest focus, what caused
decrease of focus and interest in exchange & questioning
exchange relevance and loosing one direction and unity inside
organization

14. The 1990’s
1999
What is AIESEC? AIESEC is an international, non-political, non- profit,
student-run, independent, educational foundation. It is comprised of
students and recent graduates of institutions of higher education who are
interested in economics and management. AIESEC does not discriminate
on the basis of race, colours, sex, sexual orientation, creed, Religion,
national or ethnic origin.
What we envision? Peace and Fulfilment of Humankind’s Potential. Our
impact: By developing individuals, we contribute to the development of our
communities with an overriding commitment to international co- operation
and understanding.
The way we do it: AIESEC facilitates international internship exchanges
and supporting activities that provide practical learning experiences for our
trainees and that facilitate the learning of our members and other
stakeholders.

15. Sweden in the 1990’s
• 89/90:
250 members and 11 LCs. 95% of the members change during 2 years.
• 90/91:
300 members, 11 LCs. Örebro – “Best performing LC”, Karlstad
“Upcoming LC”
• 91/92:
13 LCs, 350 members. Jönköping joined, and Stockholm split up in SU and
SSE
• 92/93:
13 LCs, 350 members
• 93/94:
12 LCs, 250 members. Luleå closed.

16. The 00’s
Global organisational focus shifted from Projects to exchange.
Result: A drop in membership, and an increased focus on member
development

17. The 00’s
The AIESEC xPerience was created:

18. AIESEC Sweden in the 00’s
• 99/00:
• To overcome the organisational problems and due to the organisational re-design some LCs became key
accounts under other LCs. This happened with Västerås who became a key account of Uppsala, Örebro to
Linköping, and Jönköping to Lund.
• 00/01:
• The active LC were Göteborg, Linköping/Örebro, Lund/Jönköping, SSE, SU and Uppsala. LC Karlstad and LC
Luleå were shut done because of the bad results (none) and lack of members. LC Kalmar and LC Gävle
asked to start new LCs, but no new LCs will be up and running until the LCs in AIESEC Sweden are strong
enough.
• 01/02:
• Around 80-120 members. Good leadership in the LCP team. By the end of the year LC Linköping and LC
Västerås were closed down because of lack of results and very low member base and continuity.
• 02/03:
• Two LCPs re-terming (SU and Umeå). LC Jönköping had a CEEDer from Romania as LCP (Mihai Mazareanu)
and he was the only member in the LC in the beginning of the term. In February the LC was shut down.
Around 60 members in the country.
• 03/04:
• Two LCPs re-terming (Uppsala and Gothenburg). All LCs becoming stronger again, in terms of leadership
and exchanges. Around 70 members. Big increase in members going on international conferences (a total
of 21 members), and also members going on CEED (3 over summer 2004).