Nominations open for Executive Positions on Commonwealth Students Association

Nominations are now open for young leaders to be nominated for executive positions for the 2025-2028 Commonwealth Students Association (CSA).

The nomination period will close on Saturday 12 July 2025, allowing for approved candidates to start campaigning in time for the virtual election, which will take place from 11th September – 12th September.

The Commonwealth Students Association (CSA) was established in 2012 at the 18th Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers in Mauritius, where student leaders convened to discuss pressing education issues and their role in the Commonwealth education sector.

The organization’s primary objectives are to promote unity among student organizations in Commonwealth countries, safeguard the rights of Commonwealth students, and contribute actively to the development of student movements. The CSA strives to create an environment for student unions and movements to build their respective and collective capacities and to advocate for themselves freely.

The 2025 CSA elections are particularly significant, as the new cohort of leaders will promote educational opportunities for students from Commonwealth countries. The elected members will work  with governments and educational institutions to increase access to higher education and ensure that students can study in a safe and supportive environment.

Head of Social Policy Development, Layne Robinson, urged competent young leaders to get involved, he said:

“We recognise the immense talent and determination within our youth population. Young people today bring bold ideas, energy, and vision to the table. Leading in this era isn’t just a title, it’s a call to action that demands passion and persistence. The Commonwealth Secretariat recognises the role of young people as equal partners in protecting and promoting the rights and values of the Commonwealth.

 At the Commonwealth Secretariat, we don’t just acknowledge their efforts, we actively invest in youth leaders across the Commonwealth Students Association, from grassroots to global levels. Their voices shape our direction, and we work to ensure their leadership is visible, valued, and heard on the world stage.

This year, the President of the Commonwealth Students Association will be from the African region, as it is rotated among the regions in the Commonwealth every three years. However, all other roles are open to leaders throughout the regions that we serve. We look forward to seeing nominations from our next generation of CSA leaders.”

Have you got what it takes?

Guided by the CSA’s constitution and the election regulations and guidelines, the following positions are open for a three-year term between 2025-2028:

• President (open to applicants from the African region only)
• Vice President – Democracy and Participation
• Vice President – Advocacy and Partnerships
• Vice President – Communication and research
• Regional Representative – Africa
• Regional Representative – Asia
• Regional Representative – Caribbean
• Regional Representative – Europe and Canada
• Regional Representative – Pacific
• Representative- Special Interest Groups

Eligibility and nomination

To be considered, candidates should be :

• Be born between 25th June 1996 and 24th June 2007;
• Be a citizen of a Commonwealth member country;
• Have a strong commitment to Commonwealth values and the CSA’s vision and mission (See the Commonwealth Charter and the CSA Constitution for more details.);
• Have experience with student or youth-led initiatives, projects or organisations focused on human rights and democracy;
• Be available to commit 15-20 voluntary hours per week to CSA network activities;
• Be able to have connectivity etc to work remotely;
• Have leadership experience to build a diverse and effective sub-committee
• Leadership experience should be minimum regional level and a minimum of 2 years of regional experience leading youth and/or student organisations and groups

Skills Required

In addition to skills required specifically for each position, all applicants must be able to demonstrate evidence of excellent:

• Leadership skills
• Effective Communication skills
• Understanding of education policy, student needs, advocacy, equality, diversity and inclusion.
• Networking Capacity
• Time management and ability to meet deadlines under pressure
• Emotional and Cultural Intelligence
• Ability to work with a diverse team
• Ability to work remotely and across different time zones.

Apply now to join the Commonwealth Students Association

Nominations for the 2025 nominations process must be submitted via the online form on Mi-Voice.

Link: https://www.mi-nomination.com/csa

If you have any questions about the CSA elections, please contact the CSA by emailing csa@commonwealth.int