The private for-profit IE University in Spain has turned to 16- to 18-year-olds from 11 countries for advice on the future of higher education.

The teenagers – from countries as diverse as America, Colombia, Germany, India, Peru, Romania, Slovenia, South Africa, Turkey, Wales and Zimbabwe – flew to Madrid to give their views.

IE University is owned by the business Instituto de Empresa SL, and has campuses in Segovia and Madrid.

Founded in 2009, the junior advisory board (JAB) of IE is a highly select group of pre-university students. The institution employs their insight, energy and excitement to ensure that its educational programmes remain innovative.

“This edition of JAB has focused on the importance of new communication technologies between students and university, the need for diversity in languages, and the importance of international relations and social entrepreneuralism,” said Arantza de Areilza, IE spokesperson and dean of the school of arts and humanities.

This year the meeting, which took place from 27 to 30 March, had five new members. The fact that some students have returned to IE over several years has fostered both enthusiasm and the possibility of developing more complex ideas.

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