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Every oikee's user guide to our virtual oikos community infrastructure
Welcome to the new home of the oikos community!
We invite you to our new shared space - for all oikees, chapters, representatives, friends, and whoever wants to engage and participate in our international community and events.
Discover all the different elements in this short user guide and reach out to us through Whatsapp community if you have any question :)
International Chat - WhatsappThe oikos Community Calendar is a Google Calendar containing all the oikos International and chapters' events, which are accessible to all oikees. Get access here!
The oikos Virtual Office is a Zoom Account that is always open, mostly used by oikos International, but can always be used by all chapters. Hop on!
Carrying oikos name is a sign to the world — you're a part of a movement. That also comes with responsibility — to represent, embody the values and spread the word. You'll learn more as you go, but here is a good starting point:
The meaning of the word oikos highlights how we perceive our purpose in the world: oikos has multiple meanings which connect tightly to the core of sustainability and how our society works. Most of us are familiar with the prefix “ecos.” It sums up images of Earth, and forms the basis of words such as ecology, economics and ecosystem. They all share the same Greek root, ecos, derived from “oikos,” meaning “house or household’. The ancient Greek word oikos refers to three related but distinct concepts: the family, the family's property, and the house - in our words: home.
It is key to stay in close touch with our community — and to support each chapter individually, listening and responding to their local needs. Thus, we invite chapters twice a year for 1-on-1 check-ins with one of our board members. The 1 hour calls listen into the future projects, perspectives and needs of our community and help us to sharpen our international initiatives.
Chapter check-ins occur biannualy. Feel free to reach out to oikos International to schedule a call, or oikos board member will reach out to you!
Buffer is a free tool that allows you to manage all your social media accounts on the same platform. There are many tools similar to Buffer but at oikos we like Buffer best because it’s free! :)
It is really simple to use and has two main advantages:
It allows you to prepare your social media posts, schedule them in advance, all in one place and save you time instead of going separately on each platform.
You can share it within your chapter to collaborate on posts or get feedback.
Successes and Highlights
Challenges and Lowlights
Goals and Future Ambitions
Needs and Questions (how can oikos International or oikos community support you?)
You can link your Canva account with Buffer, which allows you to quickly create new or edit existing visually appealing posts through Canva, without leaving the page.
Explore further on the following link: https://buffer.com/
Wide ocean of collaboration in our landscape requires a platform(s) to hold the space all together.
This section will guide you through variety of tools that will serve your needs for co-creative, hands-on and collaborative efforts!
Google Workspace (Gmail, GDrive, Google Calendar, Google Docs, Slides, Sheets, Forms)
Zoom
Miro board
oikos is a community of student change agents that is working towards transforming management & economics education for sustainability. We are over 20 local groups, the so-called chapters, driving change in more than 16 countries worldwide with around 1000 active oikees every year.
An oikos chapter is a local, self-organised group of students that comes together to organise sustainability initiatives and change their own education at their local campus. oikos chapters can look very different as they emerge from the individual university context. They differ in size, organisational structure, formal conditions and their focus topics.
Find the list of chapters and their contacts.
oikos International, the umbrella organization, brings all of our members together. We are organized as a student-led nonprofit association that supports and fosters the network. Our initiatives focus on empowering student change agents in their leadership development and change initiatives for transforming their own education, providing platforms for the community to come and grow together, and representing the network in the international spaces of business and higher education transformation.
Keep yourself updated! !
... bring your chapter to the next level!
This section includes a number of interviews with fellow oikees from around the world. They share their best practices on several topics that are relevant for any chapter at almost any stage.
The interviews have been conducted in August/September 2023.
Do you want to share your best practices via an interview or in written? Reach out to [email protected] and we'll try to find a way of incorporating your learnings into the toolbox!
Your virtual space to host events and meet as a chapter and community!
The oikos Community Zoom is a Zoom Account that can be used by all chapters to host their external events (discussions, welcome sessions to new oikees, legislative meetings etc.) with up to 100 members.
This Community Zoom needs to be . Please read carefully the instructions following the form link and be aware that the processing of your request might take up to 5 days.
Navigate Google Workspace like a pro!
Every oikos Chapter gets access to the Google Workspace. Google Workspace (formerly known as Google Apps and GSuite) is a collection of productivity and collaboration tools, software and products offered and marketed by Google. The main applications that are relevant and useful for oikos Community in the Google workspace toolkit are:
Gmail
oiToolbox with best practices
Consulting and mentoring
Connection with international community
Main recommendations for motivation & engagement:
Social activities (that are even open for friends of members)
Partners network
Alumni network
IT support
Additionally, our oikos International Zoom Account, oikos Virtual Office (VO), is always at your disposal and can be used by all oikos chapters to host their internal meetings, peer to peer sessions or 1:1 exchanges. You will most likely find many oikees already mingling in different 'Breakout Rooms' around the Office.
Contact IT team via this form in case you have any questions or hiccups on the way!
RECRUIT oikees
ENGAGE & MOTIVATE
organize HANDOVERS
STRUCTURE & GOVERN a chapter
manage PROJECTS & EVENTS
work with the UNIVERSITY
level up MARKETING
do FUNDRAISING
collaborate with PARTNERS
manage ALUMNI
Google Calendar
Google Docs
Google Slides
Google Sheets
Google Forms
In the short Google Workspace Guide attached bellow, you will find ALL of the basic info you need to get started with your Google Workspace experience and become a pro.
Contact IT team via this form in case you have any questions or hiccups on the way!
Events and activities of ALL chapters that are open to the whole oikos community or, at least a specific region
Events hosted by oikos International (e.g. webinars, international initiatives, onsite community meetings and conferences)
Make sure to feature your bigger events in the calendar so that the whole community can stay up to date with your projects and engage! How? Just follow the instructions below:
It’s simple: Everyone! Invite [email protected] to the guest list of your event. We will accept the invitation if the event is a match and it will show up in our calendar.
If you wish to use the oikos International zoom account, request it in advance via this form. Once you have the confirmation from our side, the event will automatically show in the community calendar, where you can make adjustments.
When creating an event on Google Calendar, select your time slot and a pop up window will appear.
Add all email addresses of the people you want to invite, including [email protected]. This way, the event will later pop up in the community calendar!
Indicate the location of your event in the field called “location”. You might want to include further details in the details part. If your event will be hosted online, add the link or specify where people will find it. If there is a link for applications, put the link in the description field!
Event description template
Event: What’s the topic & agenda? In a few sentences, summarize your event. Add the link to your Facebook/LinkedIn event, your website, the application form or any further information
Audience: Who is invited to attend? Is it a closed audience or open to anyone? Any targeted audience (e.g. oikos Community, program participants, alumni etc.). If the event is closed, tell participants about where they can find the zoom link.
Type: Is the event a stand-alone event or is it part of a series?
Contact IT team via this form in case you have any questions or hiccups on the way!
Team building activities
Special programs for chapter members (e.g. chapter LEAP)
Be adaptive to and consider the motivators of members e.g. special interests in a topic/project, meeting new people
Consider exam periods, plan accordingly and leave people space during this stressful time
As chapters, you have access to many different offers and a great community. At the same time, you also commit to certain responsibilities.
Attending our Legislative Meetings twice a year (April & October for approx. 3h on a weekend). At least one chapter representative should join
Being responsive to oikos International and in regular exchange with us (e.g. email, Whatsapp chat, chapter check-ins)
Using
Engaging and interacting with other oikos chapters where it makes sense to you, so we keep up a vibrant community
COMING SOON!
Get crazily creative with this great online tool!
Miro is an online whiteboard collaboration tool that we use a lot for project work and collaborative online meetings. Here you can find our own Miro video tutorial (20 min) created by our IT Manager and dive deeper into how you can leverage this tool for creative online spaces.
Our new community exchange for all members, alumni and friends.
Because we believe that real transformation happens through relationships. This community is about sharing, supporting, and growing together. Whether you're celebrating a win, looking for resources, or just want to say hi — this space is yours!
Introduce you to the rest of the international community
Keep you up to date on events and programs by oikos International, its chapters, and wider network
Give you the space to exchange ideas with other chapters
Joining is very easy - click the following link on your laptop, tablet or phone. And share it with others in your chapter!
We currently have four channels dedicated to different themes and purposes:
Stay in the loop with official updates, key events, and important announcements from 🌍 oikos International. This is a read-only space managed by the oikos team to keep you informed and connected. 🧭🗞️
This is your cozy corner for fun and informal conversations! 😄👋 Lighthearted chats, memes, songs, travel plans, personal updates, and just having fun with fellow oikees. Let’s keep it light, kind, and full of good vibes. ✨🧃🐣
Let’s embrace each other's strengths and the power of community. 🌱 This is a space to practice the gift economy — where giving and receiving are acts of care.
💬 Share what you need – be it support, advice, or resources. 🙌 Share what you offer – skills, help, tools, or good vibes.
Let’s learn to ask for help and give back when we can. Together, we’ve got this. 🤝✨
Have an idea for a new channel? It's a space for co-creation! Share your proposal in Community Chat!
Jump onto Community Chat 💬 channel
Say hi! 👋
Tell us who you are, place/home, chapter, your passions and add your most-used emoji!
To make sure that we all feel comfortable and safe in the Whatsapp community, there are a few rules we'd like to invite you to follow:
✨ A bit of magic & project inspiration for all oikos Chapters worldwide! ✨
This section aims to bring inspiration and empowerment to the oikos Chapters worldwide and encourage cross-chapter collaboration! Let us share a bit of magic with each other and enjoy the beauty and impact of our initiatives globally!
Explore & Read just a fraction of incredible projects happening on the ground within the oikos community that will inspire your next initiative, they include:
Share: to enter YOUR project that will inspire oikos Chapters worldwide:
Dive into the magic of Canva and the opportunities you have with the premium access.
Canva is an easy to use online platform for creating a wide variety of content. Through Canva you can create and edit images, videos, presentations and documents quickly and without much prior knowledge or experience.
Canva is free to use with an option for a Pro account which gives you access to many advanced features. oikos International can provide your chapter with an account that is a part of the ‘oikos Community’ team on Canva which gives you access to all its premium features.
Follow our Social Media and get inspired by the oikos monthly Newsletter!
As previously mentioned, Canva is free to use and you may have already had the chance to work with it for your chapter’s needs. In that case you can use that same account for your chapter as part of ‘oikos Community’ team on Canva and use the premium features, while also having access to earlier designs you created on the same account. Otherwise you can select an email address that your chapter members have access to and create a shared Canva account for your chapter on the ‘oikos Community’ team, through which you’ll be able to also access the premium features.
After you’ve decided which email address/account you’d like to access the Canva Pro, reach out to our communications team at [email protected], and they’ll set you up, providing further support if needed.
oikos Brand kit - the brand kit for oikos and it’s initiatives is available to you as part of the ‘oikos Community’ Canva Team. When editing your designs, you can always find it on the left side of your screen in the ‘Brand Kit’ tab.
oikos Templates - there’s a set of pre-made templates based on the oikos branding that you can use to create visuals you need or use it a inspiration for your own design. These templates are especially useful if you have little experience with working with visuals or simply need to create content in a short snippet of time.
Canva Pro Templates - Canva offers thousands of unique templates for all kinds of designs, which you can access for free with your chapter’s shared Canva Pro account.
Know you aspect ratios - for the best experience both online and offline, make sure that you’re using the right formats.
The most widely used format on the internet is 16:9 which fits the most social media and websites, and all-in-all you can almost never go wrong with it. The ideal dimensions for 16:9 aspect ratio in our experience is 1920x1080.
An important exception you’ll find are Instagram posts, which are recommended in 1:1 aspect ratio, in 1080x1080 dimensions.
If you’re creating stories, reels, TikToks or Shorts you’ll want to use 9:16 aspect ratio. Don’t forget that Canva Pro covers most if not all pre-made aspect ratios which you can easily find when creating your design.
Host your own chapter space, if you wish
Offer and receive support from our community
Our special corner for oikos Alumni! This space is created to reconnect with fellow alumni, share life updates, exciting opportunities, reflections, or simply pop in to say hi. Whether you graduated last year or a decade ago, your journey and wisdom are always welcome here. 🌱
How to engage: 👋 Introduce yourself when you join – where you were active, what you’re up to now: ✨ Share inspiring updates, opportunities, and experiences post-oikos 🤝 Offer your support, mentorship, or collaboration to active oikees 💬 Ask questions, reconnect, and enjoy the global oikos spirit
Let this space be warm, welcoming, and easygoing. No pressure, just presence 🤗
No hate, spam or disrespect
We co-create a safe and welcoming space for all
Breaking this code may lead to removal by moderators (oikos International team)
Please make a copy of the template before you start writing about your inspiring project by:
Clicking the link below
Clicking "File" in the top menu > clicking "Make a copy"
It will automatically open another tab/window in your browser with the copy of the template
Rename your copy (it will be automatically be saved within the "Project Inspiration!" folder in the oiToolbox GDrive)
And just start sharing a bit of magic that you experienced through a local project with the rest of the world! 💫
oikos Hong Kong, 2021
oikos Barcelona, 2022
oikos Graz, 2022
oikos Graz, 2022
oikos Warsaw, 2022
oikos Barcelona, 2023
oikos Barcelona, 2023
oikos Berlin, 2023
oikos Graz, 2023
oikos St. Andrews, 2023
oikos Warsaw, 2023
“Considering your audience, what information do you want to share and the best way to share it to ensure that the message is understood and, most importantly, inspire action?” - Maxime
☁️ Take a minute to think about what personally touches you and moves you to take action? ☁️
Now next time you write a communication piece for your chapter, think about the following questions:
What do you want a person to feel when they read/see the post (e.g. excitement, reflection, urgency)?
What key information do I want them to remember (e.g. statement, number)?
What action do I want them to take (e.g. : register for an event or just share it in their story)?
Some rules for... getting views and retaining attention on your video content:
Shorter is better! Here again you want to make sure information is concise and your video gives either interesting information in the first seconds, or teases the user to stay a little longer to listen to the whole video.
Check your quality! You want to upload high quality content - check it beforehand to avoid any glitchy part of the video - low audio quality, bad lighting etc. Take advantage of the built-in app editor to cut some parts and enhance your video!
Put yourself out there! You might feel a little shy to go on camera but it is important to feel confident, speak in a clear voice and allow your facial expressions to also be part of the story.
Be authentic! You want to appear natural and speak with words that resonate to you, authenticity is more important than a perfect diction or pronunciation.
Use subtitles! Be inclusive to the deaf community but also to non-native English speakers that might understand better written English. TikTok has its own auto-captions for example, but you could also use free apps like CapCut.
Make a nice snippet! If a user visits your profile you want them to be able to easily identify what the video is about - add a bit of text and a pic in a nice frame.
oikos content inspiration:
Testimonies: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CuABFK3tdcJ/
Team presentation: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CqTGMHcpEaS/
Climate change reporting: https://www.instagram.com/reel/ChudYXYLbqT/
Be bold. Play. You are welcome.😉
This is a short, practical companion for oikos chapters navigating leadership transition. It is not a bureaucratic checklist. It is a continuity tool.
It helps outgoing teams pass on clarity, relationships, and momentum — and helps incoming teams step in with confidence instead of confusion.
At its core, this guide supports chapters in thinking beyond a single term and beyond a single team.
Because oikos is not a collection of isolated student groups. It is an ecosystem.
An ecosystem only works when:
Knowledge flows across generations
Whether you are stepping out or stepping in, you are part of something bigger than your term.
Your decisions shape:
How stable your chapter feels next year
Handover isn’t one day. It’s a process. Here’s the simple flow:
Begin the handover conversation at least a month before semester end
Elect or appoint the next core team
Reflect on what worked and what didn't
Constitution and other legal documents
Role descriptions (even bullet points are fine!)
Calendar of events & key dates
Make sure to have access to your (every chapter has at least 2 emails: info & president)
Submit new President contact info to oikos International
Share a short action plan for your next 6 months (for feedback and alignment)
Handover should never be a once-a-year panic. You can make transitions smoother by designing for continuity all year round.
Use shared drives and folders from day one – no personal emails or private docs
Keep a running log of key decisions, ideas, and updates (Google Docs, etc.)
Store all logins in a shared password manager
Keep it short!
The next challenge might be to keep your post short and sweet!
An impactful social media post shouldn’t be lengthy. Most people won’t take the time to read all of it. If there is a lot of information either break it into several posts or make sure to highlight the important information at the top and/or on the first tile if it is a multi-visual post.
Master the latest trends: videos
Platforms are getting overflowed with video-content. We entered a new era where videos are what is being pushed not only by video platforms like TikTok.
Creating videos can seem like a lot of work but there are a lot of different apps nowadays that could help you to easily edit your videos (CapCut or directly on TikTok or Instagram).
Keep the timing in mind
Not all social media posts are the same, nor the audience who sees them. There are various factors at play here, but the simplest one you can control is WHEN you post! We observed that late afternoons and early evenings during the working days are the most active times for engaging our audience. However, keep in mind that our experience is based on a truly global audience that oikos International reaches, which plays a great role. For your chapter the optimal time may differ, which is why we would invite you to experiment and see what works best for you.
Initiatives outlive individual leaders
Local action connects to global direction
When transitions are messy, momentum is lost. Partnerships fade. Energy resets to zero.
This guide exists to protect continuity — so that projects, partnerships, and bold ideas can transcend one academic year and contribute to long-term systemic impact.
Whether initiatives continue or disappear
How aligned your chapter stays with the broader oikos movement
Leadership in oikos is not just about running events well. It is about stewarding something that existed before you, and will exist after you.
Schedule 2-3 joint team meetings (new & old teams)
Let new leads shadow ongoing tasks
Introduce successors to key partners and allies
Use informal Q&A sessions and dedicated co-working time
Set up a simple ongoing chat for questions
Outgoing leads act as gentle mentors for 2–3 months (and/or join advisory board)
Outgoing President introduces new President to oikos International
Recommended: Agree on boundaries (support ≠ control)
Important logins (use a shared password manager if possible)
Partner, sponsor, university, and alumni contacts
Successes & failures: What worked? What flopped?
What we wish we knew when we started
What kept us motivated (and what burned us out)
Our chapter culture: what’s sacred, what’s flexible
Request to join relevant WhatsApp groups
Organize your chapter workspace like someone else will use it tomorrow
Regularly involve new members in tasks so they learn by doing
Document your experiments – successes and flops
Encourage monthly reflections or casual team notes
Celebrate learning, not just polished results
learn how to lead and run your oikos chapter and beyond!
Across the world, oikos chapters are doing inspiring work: organizing events, starting conversations, and bringing new ideas into their universities. But we also know something else.
Many initiatives remain short-term. Ideas start with energy, but disappear when boards change. Impact often stays at the level of awareness rather than lasting change.
And yet the potential of this community is far greater.
oikos is not just an organization. It’s a movement. A movement of youth leaders working to transform business and economics starting with education.
If we want that transformation to happen, we need to move beyond isolated activities and start building long-term, coordinated impact. That is why we created the Chapter Accelerator.
Through this program we want to:
• Guide chapters toward the work that creates real change • Equip you with tools to build stronger teams, strategies, and initiatives • Connect you to the global movement, so chapters and individuals can learn from each other and grow together
Because meaningful change does not happen through one-off events. It happens when a community learns, aligns, and builds together.
And that’s what the Chapter Accelerator is here for.
this is the place where you show your true leadership
strengthen your leadership skills | build resilient, high-impact chapters | connect local action to global movement
Have you ever stopped to ask yourself what impact really means, and what it could look like at your own oikos chapter?
In our first session, we’ll explore how, with the strength of our community and the right mindset, we can become real drivers of change in business and economics - not someday, but starting exactly where we are.
Guests:
- investor, columnist, researcher, entrepreneur, lecturer and adjunct professor bringing new paradigms and a regenerative transition to business and governments.
How well do you really know your chapter’s story? Are you drawing from the strength of those who built it before you?
Together, we’ll reflect on the stories, projects, wins, and lessons that shaped your chapter, looking for a deeper purpose and understanding. Besides, we will explore how reconnecting with alumni can spark fresh inspiration, shared learning, and a stronger impact for the future.
Guests:
- co-president of , alumni of oikos Istanbul.
Are you trying to create an impact on your own? Have you ever spotted the real power of collaboration?
In this session, we’ll step beyond the boundaries of our chapters to explore the wider ecosystem around us - universities, NGOs, companies, public institutions - and discover how intentional collaboration can expand our influence and open entirely new possibilities.
Guests: TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON...
Do you really know what strengths already exist in your chapter? Are you using them to their full potential?
In this session, we’ll take a closer look at the skills, experiences, partnerships, and resources within your team. Together, we’ll map what you already have and uncover opportunities that might still be hidden - so you can build on your chapter’s real strengths and make future projects easier to sustain.
Guests: TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON...
When was the last time your chapter openly talked about something that didn’t go as planned?
This session is all about normalizing failure and learning from it. Together, we’ll share challenges, reflect on what didn’t work, and rethink how we might approach things differently next time, turning flops into valuable lessons for the future.
Guests: TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON...
What really makes a chapter thrive - the projects, or the people behind them?
In this session, we’ll explore how your team works: roles, structures, and the culture you create together. We’ll reflect on how to support each other, grow as a team, and build a chapter where people feel motivated, connected, and excited to stay involved.
Guests: TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON...
After all the reflections so far, where does your chapter actually stand?
In this session, we’ll connect the dots from everything we’ve explored: past projects, resources, challenges, your ecosystem, and team dynamics. Together, we’ll take an honest look at what you really have, what you want to build on, and what makes sense moving forward - so your next steps are grounded in reality, not just ambition.
Guests: TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON...
What does the impact actually mean for your chapter?
In this session, we’ll explore how impact is created, measured, and communicated. Together, we’ll define what impact looks like for you, who you want to reach, and how you can track and share the change you’re creating - making your work clearer, more intentional, and easier to grow over time.
Guests: TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON...
You already have the ideas, the motivation, and the vision? Great! But how do you turn all of that into a clear plan?
In this session, we’ll work on building a chapter strategy that actually connects your activities with the impact you want to create. Together, we’ll break big ambitions into achievable small steps, so your chapter can move from ideas to actions that truly make a difference
Guests: TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON...
Looking back at the journey - what has your chapter discovered, built, or changed along the way?
In our final session, we’ll reflect on the learnings from the program, celebrate achievements, and capture the progress chapters have made. It’s a moment to appreciate the growth, share stories, and leave with the energy and clarity to continue creating impact in your chapter.
Guests: TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON...
Chapter Accelerator is designed for active oikos chapters and all oikos chapter members. But everyone is welcome, if you find the session interesting!
The program is designed with oikos chapters and their members in mind, but the sessions are open for everyone who are interested and want to learn more on the topics of the sessions.
The program is free of charge and is built through contributions of oikos International volunteers. We welcome donations to support our work:
We know how life of an oikee and a student looks like, therefore we made the program flexible. The sessions build onto one another to create an impactful learning experience, but they can also be attended separately without feeling like you can’t follow! Join any time, enroll now!
Main recommendations for structuring & governing your chapter:
Have clear roles & responsibilities e.g. by having core departments with heads/board members
Examples for departments/sub-teams within your chapter:
Legal (e.g. for contracts, drafting by-laws)
Human Resources (e.g. for member recruiting and team buildings)
Marketing (e.g. for social media and on-campus marketing)
Digital/IT (e.g. for handling the website)
Projects (e.g. managing/coordinating projects of the chapter)
Other: Consulting (for consulting projects with businesses), Change (for change initiaitves together with the university)
