In Mexico, the most "prestigious" institution is the Instituto Tecnologico
y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey. It is a consistent practice at
this institution that students, each year, will organize and conduct a
conference. The conference typically involves speakers from all over the
world. The students are given suggestions as to possible speakers and
topics, but all choices and decisions are made by the students. They
start organizing the activity at least six months before it is to take
place. When the conference is held, the students meet the speakers at the
airport, take them to the hotels, orient them to the local scence, etc.
During the conference the students introduce the speakers and question
them after they speak. They also corral the speakers individually and
raise all kinds of questions. Everyone I know who has been a speaker at
one of these events has been delighted with what goes on, and with the
extent of the student experience. Not only does it develop knowledge, but
perhaps more importantly, it develops breadth, personal confidence,
maturity, etc.
Unfortunately I don't know of any speaker who has ever transported this
model to his own institution. This may say more about the institutions
than about the speakers.
JOHN WARFIELD
Jwarfiel@osf1.gmu.edu