Associations are dedicated to the next generation

Is the next generation eager to actively participate in professional associations and their conferences, or do all the stops need to be pulled out to inspire young professionals? Many groups are ready to roll out the red carpet, and the industry believes it will be well worth it.

What’s in it for me? Young professionals see the world differently, and what they can benefit from in life is definitely a key factor. Daily life is usually ‘on demand’, such as paying for streaming services that include their favourite shows.

Generation Z, or Gen Z, was born roughly between 1995 and 2012. Technology is the most normal thing in the world for this generation, with the Internet, social media and devices being commonplace. Their expectations are also quite high; they’ll move on when something is disappointing or doesn’t ork.

As revealed by Deloitte’s 2024 Gen Z and Millennial Survey, the vast majority of this young generation is likely to turn down assignments or employers that don’t align with their ethics or beliefs. In their view, A: speed, B: smartness and C: accessibility generally count. Preferably, everything is accessible 24/7 via a range of channels.

Imagine an organisation’s need to satisfy both its older members as well as its new ones. Ensuring growth from below is crucial to keeping associations alive in the future when experienced members have left due to retirement. Adding young people usually means bringing in fresh ideas as well as technical skills. For example, a paper is good, but shouldn’t we communicate via social media? Those are questions they’ll be asking.

 

The bar to speak to a professor at our conference is low

 

All year round

We hear this topic everywhere, and it demands attention. It’s clear that we can’t sit back and see whether the youth are prepared to strengthen the association ranks on their own. We have to come up with a strategy that includes creating awards for special talent and establishing an academy. We need to do something.

Louise Gorringe of Kenes Group started keeping track of ideas a while ago. One suggestion was to involve young members during the conference or another important event to maintain their commitment elsewhere. “Offer them opportunities to connect and contribute throughout the year: discussion forums, sitting on committees, mentor programs, events, etc.” Another tip was developing ways to help them connect with other ‘beginners’ among the participants and visitors ahead of time.

Early Career Academy

An organisation that is investing heavily in the next generation through several initiatives is the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology, which has an office in the Netherlands. “We’re very aware of it and very actively working on it,” says Eline Keijer, Manager Congresses & Meetings.

At ECNP, they’re called Early Career Scientists, or ECS. To belong to this group, you must be under 40, live in Europe, and have one of the following positions: predoctoral or doctoral student, postdoc, assistant, or a doctor in training within the first five years after obtaining the doctoral degree.

ECNP offers a range of activities for people who meet these criteria throughout the year and at the association’s annual conference, which will be held for the 38th time in October 2025, this time in Amsterdam. Some 6,000 participants from all over the world are expected to attend the event.

 

“For example, ECS members can speed date to find their ideal translational partner during the annual conference,” says Eline Keijer, Manager Congresses & Meetings at ECPN

 

“We have significantly lower registration fees for the ECS group, among others. The programme includes a number of sessions and meetings specifically aimed at this target group. For example, ECS members can speed date to find their ideal translational partner during the annual conference. Bridges are built that bring the two fields of preclinical and clinical research together to share experiences and get better acquainted. Some of the ‘matches’ visit each other for two weeks, a bit like a short internship. We’ve been holding speed dating for a few years now, and it’s very successful,” says Keijer.

ECNP recently launched the Early Career Academy, which focuses entirely on the younger group. Its goal is to facilitate sustainable engagement with ECNP and support young scientists.

There’s the opportunity to apply for a temporary position within one of the ECNP networks, to be involved in starting new podcasts, and to chair ECS sessions during the annual conference. There’s also an ECNP Rising Star Award and the Excellence Awards for ECS researchers who have submitted research that could potentially advance the science of brain diseases.

“Because we do so much for this younger generation, more ECS people come to ECNP activities every year. They are truly part of our community. And the number of initiatives keeps growing,” Keijer adds.

Networking is essential

Creating scholarships and internship programs shows an association’s dedication, as previously proven. According to a survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), 57 percent of employers have converted interns into full-time employees. Offering valuable internship experiences creates value and involvement. Networking is essential for young members to settle into the sector or industry where they plan to work. According to a study by Deloitte, live networking in order to build a network is especially important for Millennials, who were born between 1980 and 2000.

ASAS, the Assessment of Spondyloarthritis International Society, purposefully established a youth department in 2017, which is very active. The Young ASAS initiative is aimed at members aged 45 and younger, with the goal of encouraging mutual networking and motivating them to start projects together. They actively participate in setting up ASAS projects and meetings and hold their own meetings during the annual conference.

 

“Two representatives from the youth department sit on our general board, where they serve for one year,” says Désirée van der Heijde

 

“We give them active leadership roles with us, which they take on enthusiastically. It’s clear they want to be involved and work with the current leaders to gain experience so they can take over later,” says Désirée van der Heijde, founder of ASAS.

“Two representatives from the youth department sit on our general board, where they serve for one year. They hold meetings, send out newsletters to the entire association, do research, and get involved in many sections.” Young members account for one fifth of the total, which is remarkably high.

Study day prior to the conference

At EFAD, the European Federation of the Associations of Dietitians, the future generation has full attention and input. For example, the student day is always held on the day before the major biennial conference, which about 30 affiliated professional associations and 45 collaborating universities attend.

“EFAD has a very active student network that organises many events. It has a board, activities such as webinars, a newsletter, etc. Although there isn’t any major European EFAD conference in 2024, they will organise their own conference and a live event. It’s a very enthusiastic group of students and young professionals who often interact with each other,” says Wineke Remijnse, Executive Director.

 

“You notice that students simply move on because they’re already intertwined with the association,” says Wineke Remijnse

 

She sees how it’s paying off for EFAD. “You notice that students simply move on because they’re already intertwined with the association. We actively involve them in projects, such as a large subsidised project promoting healthy weight that is currently being planned. We’re deploying young professionals in their countries as local contacts where they share information and organise activities—an important position with responsibility. We ask them to come and share their experiences at our conference. They bring their enthusiasm, and that has an impact within the association.”

EFAD collaborates with approximately 45 universities that teach nutrition and dietetics. This collaboration serves as an incentive since students see how they can move in any direction within the association. “We strongly encourage contact between them and the older, more experienced members. EFAD is not hierarchical; the bar to speak to a professor at our conference is low. Everyone is open to sharing knowledge and networking. We get positive feedback from young people who have attended a conference. They say that it feels like a warm bath.”