ICOY Forum
A day of ideas around one theme.
A Forum brings the formats of ICOY together in one place. Talks open up a theme, Circles debate its hardest questions, Labs turn ideas into skills, and a closing session pulls the threads together.
What it is
An ICOY Forum is a programme of three to eight sessions on a single theme, held over half a day or a full day. It typically combines Sparks talks, Circles discussions and Labs workshops, sometimes running side by side, followed by a closing plenary where each session reports back.
A Forum is the closest an ICOY Regionals event comes to the annual International Conference on Youth. It needs a larger team, a suitable venue and careful planning, so it suits hosts who have organised events before, or institutions with the staff and space to support it.
Why it matters
A single theme explored from several angles produces more than any one session could: different people meet, ideas from a talk get tested in a discussion, and participants leave with both understanding and skills. A well-run Forum can become an annual fixture in its community.
How an ICOY Forum event runs
A typical running order. Adapt the timings to your event; keep the shape.
- 9:30 to 10:15
Registration and opening
Registration, welcome, and an introduction to the theme and the day.
- 10:15 to 11:15
Opening talks
Three or four Sparks talks that set out the theme from different angles.
- 11:30 to 13:00
Circles
Parallel roundtables, each on one question raised by the theme.
- 14:00 to 15:30
Labs
Workshops that turn the theme into practical skills.
- 15:45 to 16:30
Closing plenary
A report back from each Circle and Lab, an open floor, and the conclusions of the day.
What it covers
A Forum needs a theme broad enough to fill a day and specific enough that every session connects to it. Plan the sessions so they build on each other, and leave enough breaks for conversation.
Example themes
- The Future of Learning
- Cities We Want
- Youth and Climate Adaptation
- Work in the Age of AI
- Health beyond Hospitals
- Democracy at 18
Who does what
Programme lead
Owns the theme and the running order, and makes sure every session connects.
Session leads and moderators
One per session, responsible for its speakers, timing and notes.
Speaker liaison
Invites speakers, collects releases, and arranges travel where needed.
Operations team
Venue, registration desk, catering, sound, recording, volunteers, and a safeguarding lead for school events.
What makes a great Forum event
Do
- A theme that holds the whole day together
- A closing plenary that draws out conclusions
- Generous breaks so people can meet
- A note-taker in every session for the summary
- A run-through with the whole team the day before
Avoid
- More sessions than the team can run well
- Parallel sessions with no clear reason to choose
- Sponsor-led sessions or sponsor speakers (not allowed)
- Letting the timetable overrun
- Treating the Forum as a first event with no experienced team
Who hosts it
Universities and larger schools, established student organisations, and community hosts who have already run a Circles, Sparks or Labs event. When you apply for a Forum, ICOY may ask about your team and past events.
Any of the three licence types can host an ICOY Forum event. Licences are free and each covers one event, named after the programme and your community, for example ICOY Forum@YourSchool. Every event must follow the ICOY Regionals guidelines, including the speaker, sponsorship and content rules.
After the event
Send the feedback link and write one summary for the whole Forum within 7 days, with key points from each session. Submit recorded talks for the ICOY YouTube channel, and download certificates for speakers, team and attendees.
Upcoming ICOY Forum events
All Forum events →The other programmes
Host an ICOY Forum event
Licences are free. Read the guidelines, choose your community name, and apply.