Deadline:
May 25, 2025
Program Starts: July 24, 2025
Program Ends: July 31, 2025
Location(s)
Romania
Poiana Brasov
Overview
Aspire Academy is our emblematic program. It is the only leadership and entrepreneurship academy in Romania with courses taught by top Harvard, Stanford, Wharton professors, successful regional CEOs and entrepreneurs.
Details
Dedicated to deeply-motivated and distinctive students, it is specifically designed to encourage participants to pursue their passions and create an energetic, proactive community with common interests and values.
Our eight-day program takes place every July at Hotel Sport in Poiana Brasov and is dedicated to undergraduate and postgraduate students. Each and every one of our 45 participants is an outstanding individual who is either already or well on their way to affecting change in their community and beyond.
Our academy is based on four fundamental pillars:
- Leadership – A mix of engaging case studies and interactive sessions with leaders from various professional fields
- Personal development – Communication and self-development sessions paired with self-awareness team-based projects which offer participants the opportunity to discover the factors that motivate and drive them
- Entrepreneurship – Lectures on how to build a start-up, discussions with the most successful regional entrepreneurs and a business plan competition.
- Networking with Aspire alumni – Formal and non-formal networking sessions between the participants themselves, as well as Aspire alumni.
A glimpse of the lectures and workshops led by professors from Harvard and Stanford
- Authentic Leadership Development
- Strategic planning
- Design Thinking
- Business and ethics
The program also enables the Aspire participants to engage with notable speakers across key sectors and:
- Discover how to meticulously set goals and create a plan to achieve them
- Discuss about the strengths and weaknesses of your leadership style, your professional objectives and what it means to build a successful career
- Understand entrepreneurship and the positive impact you can have in the world
In addition to lectures and workshops, participants have multiple opportunities to connect and form life-long relationships. Below are a few examples:
- Understanding the art and science of communication
- Discovering leadership through Tango
- Outdoor team-building competitions
Opportunity is About
Eligibility
Candidates should be from:
Description of Ideal Candidate
Who are we looking for?
- Undergraduate and postgraduate students, under 25 years old.
- Demonstrated leadership track: You should be genuinely committed to bringing about positive change in your community, school and respective country, be it through entrepreneurship, policy, student clubs, NGOs, sports, or others.
- Intellectual maturity and academic excellence: We are not looking for candidates with perfect scores, but for those who can prove that progress, ambition and hard-work are part of their day to day life. Candidates demonstrate a high level of intellectual curiosity, are committed to learning and discovering and show passion for a particular field.
- Emotional maturity: Candidates must be willing to connect with their peers and open up to discussions, debates, and storytelling. They must demonstrate an ability to purposefully engage with others in ways that help foster a climate of mutual understanding and support.
- Driven personality: Our students show a willingness to go outside their comfort zone, take risks and learn from them. We seek young people who have demonstrated energy and determination during both individual and group projects and assignments.
- Last but not least, it is imperative that applicants have a strong command of English, as the program is entirely English-based.
Dates
Deadline: May 25, 2025
Program starts:
July 24, 2025
Program ends:
July 31, 2025
Program Starts: July 24, 2025
Program Ends: July 31, 2025
Cost/funding for participants
What is the cost to attend if I am selected?
- Early Phase: 700 EUR
- Regular Phase: 750 EUR
- Late Phase: 800 EUR
The fee covers all program-related costs – workshops and lectures with Ivy League professors, full board (accommodation and meals), personalized materials and many more surprises. We offer full and partial scholarships for ambitious leaders for whom it would be an effort to participate (more details below).
* The full price of the Aspire Academy program is 1600 EUR/ participant, the difference being covered by our partners and supporters.
Are there any scholarships that Aspire provides?
Yes! Our application process is need-blind. We are doing our best to offer partial and full scholarships to all participants who prove a need of financial support. After you go through the application process and receive an offer to join us, you will be able to submit an application for financial support. An interview may be also held, to better understand your motivation for requesting the scholarship and adjust accordingly.
While we are trying to accommodate as many scholarship requests as possible, our external funding is limited and so is our capacity to respond positively to all such applications.
Un-save Opportunity
Internships, scholarships, student conferences and competitions.
