Google Student Blog: Ambassador Program

Google’s 2013 European Student Ambassador Summit in Dublin

October 2, 2013

Google Student Ambassador (GSA)video re-cap here

Why did you apply to the Google Student Ambassador Program?Tell me about the Google Student Ambassador Summit in Dublin. What was the highlight for you?What do you hope to achieve as a Google Student Ambassador? HangoutsMaps APIWhat kind of events are you organizing for your campus? MapsSearchAnything else you’d like to share? Posted by Cassiano Mecchi, University Programs Specialist

Google Student Ambassador Program: Southeast Asia launch in Yogyakarta

July 26, 2013

During the third week of June 2013, we introduced a new class of Google Student Ambassadors (GSAs) in Southeast Asia at our annual Ambassador Summit. This class of 136 outstanding students represents a diverse mix of concentrations and fields of study, representing 74 universities from the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Singapore and Pakistan -- all of whom are passionate about technology, Google, and educating their peers. Google Student Ambassadors are given the unique opportunity to serve as liaisons between Google and university for the duration of one academic year, holding workshops, trainings and events with their campus community around Google’s core products, programs and initiatives.

This year, we hosted the Ambassador Summit in Yogyakarta, a center for Javanese fine art and culture in Indonesia. The GSA Southeast Asia Summit was combined with 2 other community summits - the Google Business Groups and the Google Developer Groups. This gave the students the chance to interact with the other communities in the region, which will pave the way for more amazing events and collaboration in the coming months.
The students had three full days of trainings on Google products and tools for education, including hands-on game-show style sessions on Google Apps for Education, Google+ and YouTube, and trainings on how to host events and present with confidence -- two important responsibilities of GSAs on campus.
But the summit wasn’t all instruction! Students got to flex their creative muscle by making videos about their favorite Google Apps feature and sharing their local culture during the cultural night. Students took to the stage to perform traditional and modern dances and songs from their cultures. Notable performances included heartwarming songs by students from Vietnam and Pakistan, as well as when the audience found themselves joining the students for dancing on stage. Students even went so far as to teach the audience local languages and phrases - teaching the teachers!

Students dancing on stage during cultural night

The students shared that the summit was a tremendously valuable learning and networking experience, and the students were eager to find ways to stay in touch when it was all over. Aside from the learning experience, they were able to bond and start new friendships across the region. We look forward to the awesome and excellent initiatives our 2013 Google Students Ambassadors in Southeast Asia will bring in the coming academic year! Posted by Aileen Apolo - de Jesus, Outreach Program Manager, Southeast Asia

Google Student Ambassador Program in Latin America - 2013 Launch!

April 23, 2013

Ethan Cohen delivers an interactive training on G+

merienda

Ambassadors celebrating in the Buenos Aires office

Posted by Sarah Henderson, Student Development Programs

MENA 2012 Google Student Ambassador Program: Do Cool Things That Matter!

April 17, 2013

Cross-posted from the Google Arabia BlogGoogle Student Ambassador Programapplysuccessful eventsGoogle Map Maker

Google Student Ambassadors (GSA) in MENAMyriam FaresAULWael FakharanyMyriam Fares

Myriam Fares hosts G+ awareness event

Akram DweikatGoogle Developer Group (GDG)

Akram meets with President Obama

StartUp Weekend Nablusother eventsDeadline for registration has been extended to April 24, 2013, so apply now!2011 Google Student Ambassador Trainingblog postPosted by Rana Ahmed, University Outreach Coordinator, MENA & Rania Hadi, Outreach Manager, MENA

Become a Google Student Ambassador at your university in the Middle East and North Africa

March 21, 2013

Cross-posted from the Google Arabia Blog

Google is committed to supporting the education of future leaders and innovators in technology and business all over the world. As part of Google’s efforts to empower students in the Middle East and North Africa - and help them make the best of Google’s technologies and prepare for their future careers - we are glad to announce that the application process is now open for the Google Student Ambassador Program for the 2013-2014 academic year!

The Google Student Ambassador program is an opportunity for active students to enhance their professional development and soft skills, to meet and collaborate with some of the most interesting people in the region, and to have fun introducing Google products to their fellow students through holding events on campus.

Google Student Ambassador applicants should be pursuing a bachelor's or master's degree — all majors are welcome to apply! They should also be passionate about Google technologies and actively involved in their school communities.

We are particularly excited to be working on the Google Student Ambassador program this year - our 3rd year in MENA. The students have unrivaled passion and energy that they can’t wait to share with their colleagues - have a look here at our first GSA summit in MENA.

If you think you have what it takes to become a Google Student Ambassador, make sure to Register Now!

Posted by: Rania Hadi, Outreach Manager, MENA

Looking back on the first year of the Student Ambassador Program in Latin America

February 26, 2013

Google Student Ambassador ProgramGoogle Student Ambassador Summit

Check out more videos from our Google Student Ambassadors in Latin America here.
Posted by Sarah Henderson, University Programs

Welcoming a new generation of Google Student Ambassadors in the Middle East and North Africa

October 10, 2012

last year

how to map your countryGDGGWITCairo CitadelOld Cairo

Gizathis albumwebsitePosted by Noha Salem, Google University Programs Specialist in the Middle East & North Africa

Students in Africa put their universities on Google Maps

October 7, 2012

Cross-posted from the Google Africa Blog New to campus? Lost your way in the university? Check out the latest and detailed universities maps across sub saharan Africa .

Map of University of Ghana, Accra Google Student Ambassadors from 65 universities in 11 African countries organised mapmaker training sessions to over 2000 students in their respective universities. The students then engaged in weeklong mapping focused on campus departments, classes, lecture theatres, faculties, libraries, hostels, cafeterias and eateries, administrative buildings and much more.

Map of Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria

Google Map Maker allows you to add and update geographic information for millions of users to see in Google Maps and Google Earth. By sharing information about the places you know, like businesses in your town or places in your school campus, you can ensure that the map accurately reflects the world around you.

The Google Student Ambassador Program runs yearly and provides opportunity for students to act as liaisons between Google and their universities, enhance their professional development, leadership, and communication skills. The ambassadors learn about innovative Google products and programs, act as a campus contact for Google teams, help Google better understand each university’s culture, plan and host fun events on campus such as putting their universities on the map.

We are grateful for the dedicated efforts from our student ambassadors . More happy days as the ambassador class of 2013 continue to bring sub saharan African universities and their communities online!

Posted by Obum Ekeke, University Programs Manager, and Evans Arabu, Map Maker Community Team

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Les étudiant Africains intègrent leurs universités à Google Maps

Nouveau sur le campus ? Perdu dans les couloirs de l'université ? Consultez les dernières cartes, très détaillées, des universités d'Afrique sub-saharienne.

Les étudiants ambassadeurs de Google, issus de 65 universités de 11 pays africains, ont organisé des sessions de formation mapmaker à destination de plus de 2000 étudiants dans leur université respective. Les étudiants se sont ensuite penchés, une semaine durant, sur les plans des départements du campus, des salles de cours, des amphithéâtres, des facultés, des bibliothèques, des résidences, des cafétérias et restaurants, des bâtiments administratifs, etc.

Google Map Maker vous permet d'ajouter et de mettre à jour des informations géographiques, qui seront vues par des millions d'internautes sur Google Maps et Google Earth. En partageant des informations sur les lieux que vous connaissez, comme votre campus ou les entreprises installées dans votre ville, vous êtes certain que la carte est fidèle au monde qui vous entoure.
Le Programme des étudiants ambassadeurs de Google a lieu tous les ans et donne aux étudiants l'opportunité d'assurer la liaison entre Google et leurs universités, de parfaire leur compétences professionnelles, leur leadership et leurs techniques de communication. Les ambassadeurs se familiarisent avec les produits et les programmes innovants de Google, assurent le contact entre le campus et les équipes Google, aident Google à mieux comprendre la culture de chaque université, planifient et accueillent des événements divertissants sur le campus, comme faire figurer leurs universités sur la carte.
Nous remercions chaleureusement nos étudiants ambassadeurs de leurs efforts. Encore de bons moments en perspective avec les ambassadeurs de la promotion 2013 qui continuent à mettre en ligne les universités d'Afrique sub-saharienne et leurs communautés !

Publié par Obum Ekeke, responsable des programmes universitaires, et Evans Arabu, équipe de la communauté de Map Maker

A new class of Google Student Ambassadors hits campus

September 18, 2012

Google for Students site

Celebrating the first Google Student Ambassador Summit in Latin America

July 31, 2012

Google Student Ambassador ProgramherePosted by Sarah Henderson, Engineering University Programs Team

Celebrating the first Student Ambassador Summit for Sub-Saharan Africa

July 2, 2012

Cross-posted from the Google Africa Blog
Earlier this month we hosted 148 of the 170 university students selected as 2012-2013 Google Student Ambassadors in Nairobi, Kenya for the first-ever SSA Ambassador Summit. These students - most of whom were traveling outside their home countries for the first time - represent over 100 universities across 12 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa including Angola, Cameroon, Cote d'ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda.

Sub-Saharan Africa Google Student Ambassador Class of 2013 at the summit in Nairobi

The three day summit covered lots of ground with interactive training sessions on Google products including Google Apps for Education, Map Maker and Search for Educators. But it wasn’t all business. The students also built lasting friendships over bowling, picnicking, dancing and movie-watching. On the last day, they had the chance to showcase their wide-ranging talents at the Gala Talent Night. Here the students - clad in traditional African attire native to their respective cultures - sang, recited poetry, danced and cheered on one another.

The Google Student Ambassador program is an opportunity for students to serve as liaisons between Google and their universities. This year the program will include over 1,000 students across 65 countries globally, which represents 150% growth from last year alone. Last year’s class of SSA Ambassadors accomplished amazing things - as evidenced by one Ambassador named Biggy (read his story here). So, we can hardly imagine what’s in store for the year ahead as the program expands into new regions and new universities. We hope that bringing these outstanding students together helped them to learn more about Google’s tools and programs: they can now go back and share with their communities and peers to help bring Africa online.

Check out more photos from the summit here.

Posted by Obum Ekeke, Regional Program Manager - University Programs & Outreach, Google Sub-Saharan Africa

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L'Afrique sub-saharienne à l'honneur pour le premier sommet des Étudiants ambassadeurs
Au début du mois, nous avons accueilli à Nairobi au Kenya 148 des 170 étudiants sélectionnés dans le cadre du programme Étudiants ambassadeurs de Google à l'occasion du tout premier Sommet des ambassadeurs pour l'Afrique sub-saharienne. Ces étudiants, dont la plupart voyageaient pour la première fois en dehors de leur pays d'origine - représentaient plus de 100 universités de 12 pays d'Afrique sub-saharienne, notamment l'Angola, le Cameroun, la Côte d'Ivoire, l'Éthiopie, le Ghana, le Kenya, le Nigeria, le Rwanda, le Sénégal, l'Afrique du Sud, la Tanzanie et l'Ouganda.
Ce sommet de trois jours a permis d'aborder de nombreux thèmes à travers des sessions de formation interactives sur les produits Google, par exemple Google Apps pour l'Éducation, Map Maker et Google Search for Educators. Mais ce n'était pas là le seul intérêt de cette rencontre. Ce sommet a aussi été l'occasion pour les étudiants de tisser des liens d'amitié durables pendant les parties de bowling, les pique-niques, ou encore les soirées danse et cinéma. Le dernier jour, ils ont eu la possibilité de mettre en valeur leurs multiples talents lors de la Soirée de gala des talents. Au cours de cette soirée, les étudiants habillés dans le costume traditionnel de leur culture respective ont chanté, récité des poèmes et dansé tout en s'encourageant mutuellement.
Le Programme des Étudiants ambassadeurs de Google permet aux étudiants d'assurer un lien entre Google et leurs universités. Cette année, le programme concernera plus de 1 000 étudiants répartis dans 65 pays, soit une progression de 150 % rien que par rapport à l'année dernière. La promotion d'Ambassadeurs pour l'Afrique sub-saharienne de l'an passé a accompli des choses remarquables - comme en témoigne un Ambassadeur du nom de Biggy (pour connaître son histoire cliquez ici). Difficile donc d'imaginer ce que nous réserve l'année à venir avec un programme étendu à de nouvelles régions et à un plus grand nombre d'universités. Nous espérons que cette rencontre visant à rassembler les étudiants les plus brillants leur a permis d'en savoir plus sur les outils et les programmes développés par Google et que de retour dans leur pays, ils pourront partager leurs connaissances avec leurs communautés et leurs pairs en vue de contribuer à l'intégration de l'Afrique en ligne.
Pour plus de photos de ce sommet, cliquez ici.
Posté par Obum Ekeke, Directeur régional du programme - University Programs & Outreach, Google Afrique sub-saharienne

Think Biggy: How one Google Student Ambassador in Sub-Saharan Africa brought his community online

March 30, 2012

Introduction: Emmanuel Abiodun Adepoju, otherwise known as “Biggy” on campus, is a Google Student Ambassador from University of Ibadan in Nigeria. He is currently pursuing a B.SC in computer science. Biggy’s ability to think “big” has not only allowed him to be a successful Student Ambassador but has given him tools and resources to have a profound impact on his community.

We recently caught up with Biggy and learned more about his journey from a Google Student Ambassador to most recently being named a Google Mapping Advocate for Nigeria.

What inspired you to apply to the Google Ambassador program? Once selected as an Ambassador, what did you do? How did you help your university community? For example, the students, the faculty, the university as whole?Google Apps supporting programGoogle Apps for EducationGoogle Apps for EducationAnita Borg Memorial Scholarship

We were able to create a geographic mapping of our university online. The map was put on a Google map and now the public can access online. This map was acclaimed to be the world best practice guide of University mapping.

We were able to train more than 40 Student Mappers who are currently impacting their environment by mapping their communities.

We were able to produce a very vibrant team in the Google online marketing challenge. Our team was one of 8 universities from Sub Saharan Africa which placed in the top 100 globally.

We were able to get our fellow students to attend g|nigeria, an annual Google hosted event for developers and entrepreneurs. This year alone, more than 60 students from my university attended as a result of the awareness we created.

How did the Ambassador program give you the necessary tools to help your university?Google Map Makerg|nigeriaHow did this have an impact on your local community?MIT Accelerating Information Technology InnovationreportGoogle Map MakerpediaHow has this program impacted your life?If you are interested in learning more about Google’s Student Ambassador Program in Europe, Middle East and Africa, please visit our site for more information. You can also find more information about this program in other regions on our Google for Students page. Finally, if you are interested in learning more about how Google engages with African universities, please visit our African University Programs page.Posted by Marni Merksamer Levasseur, People Programs Specialist - Europe, Middle East and Africa

Google Student Ambassador Program in MENA

December 5, 2011

select grouplauncheduniversity programs

“First Dip” day—GSAs learned more about Google as a company. For example, how search works, how Google makes money, and Google’s efforts in the MENA region. We also went over what being a GSA is all about.

“Take a Deep Breath” day—GSAs learned about specific tools for two different tracks. We ran a search and monetization workshop for business students and a web technologies workshop for engineering and computer science students. All the GSAs also learned how to write a CV and attended an internship panel where they heard from and were able to ask questions to Google’s Egyptian interns.

“Efficient and Effective” day—Four hours of Google Apps training run by the Egyptian Google Apps partners, plus a module on leadership and effective communication skills.

“Shine Like a Star” day—How to deliver a charismatic presentation, how to talk to the media, creative thinking techniques and project, event and budget management skills. The day capped off with a simulation of an on-campus event so GSAs could get hands-on practice.

“Graduation Day”—Discussions about the value of volunteering and helping communities and colleagues. We also reviewed the best practices of internet activity, like safe browsing, cyber security and ensuring data privacy. At the end of the day, everyone graduated with honors (and a bag of Google goodies)!

Posted by Noha Salem, University Programs Specialist, MENA

Google Student Ambassador Program launched in Ghana & Nigeria

April 8, 2011

Cross-posted from the Google Africa Blog

En Français

As part of our commitment to empower the African academic community with knowledge, infrastructure and tools to help Africa’s future leaders make the most of access to information, we are delighted to have launched the Google Student Ambassador Program in Ghana and Nigeria. The program invites students enrolled in African Universities to represent Google on campus and serve a tenure of one academic year.

This year, we selected 20 Ambassadors from 5 universities in Ghana. In mid-March, we invited all new Ambassadors to our Google Ambassador Welcome Day, held in Accra. The day was a mix of fun team building activities and training on various Google products and tools. Our 2011 Ghana Ambassadors were selected from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology, University of Ghana (Legon & Business School), University of Cape Coast, Ashesi University and Central University College.

We also selected 27 Ambassadors from 8 universities in Nigeria. and a similar Welcome Day was held in Lagos to introduce Ambassadors to the program. Our Nigeria Ambassadors were selected from University of Lagos, University of Benin, University of Nigeria, Obafemi Awolowo University,University of Ibadan, Bayero University, Covenant University and Benson Idahosa University.

The new Ambassadors revealed a sound familiarity with technology, an array of vibrant personalities and ready to make significant impact in their respective campuses.

These Student Ambassadors will work closely with Google teams to organise events and help raise awareness among African Students about the opportunities and value of Google and the Internet.

To learn more about the Ambassador and other university programs, visithttp://www.google.com/africa/universityprograms/

Posted by Obum Ekeke, Talent & Outreach Programs, Sub Saharan Africa

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Lancement du programme Étudiant Ambassadeur Google au Nigéria et au Ghana

Dans le cadre de notre engagement à apporter des outils, une infrastructure et des
connaissances à la communauté universitaire africaine afin d’aider les futurs leaders de
l’Afrique à tirer le meilleur parti de l’accès à l’information, nous sommes heureux d’annoncer
le lancement de notre Programme Étudiant Ambassadeur au Nigéria et au Ghana. Ce
programme invite des étudiants inscrits dans des universités africaines à représenter Google
sur leur campus et les titularise pour une année académique.

Cette année, nous avons sélectionné 20 étudiants dans cinq universités au Ghana. Mi-
mars, nous avons reçu tous les nouveaux Ambassadeurs pour notre Journée d’accueil des
Ambassadeurs Google à Accra, qui propose un ensemble de formations sur les différents
produits et outils Google et des activités de team-building. Nos ambassadeurs ghanéens
2011 sont issus de l’Université des sciences et des technologies Kwame Nkrumah, de
l’Université du Ghana (Legon & Business School), de l’Université de Cape Coast, de l’Ashesi
University et du Central University College.

Nous avons également sélectionné 27 étudiants dans huit universités du Nigéria et
une journée d’accueil similaire a eu lieu à Lagos pour présenter le programme aux
Ambassadeurs. Nos Ambassadeurs nigériens viennent de l’Université de Lagos, l’Université
du Bénin, l’Université du Nigéria, l’Obafemi Awolowo University, l’Université d’Ibadan, la
Bayero University, la Covenant University et la Benson Idahosa University.

Les nouveaux Ambassadeurs, qui forment un groupe de personnalités dynamiques, ont
fait preuve d’une excellente connaissance de la technologie et souhaitent avoir un impact
significatif sur leurs campus.

Ils travaillent en étroite collaboration avec les équipes de Google pour organiser des
événements et contribuer à sensibiliser les étudiants africains aux opportunités et à la valeur
de Google et d’Internet.

Pour en savoir plus sur le programme Ambassadeur et d’autres projets universitaires,
consultez http://www.google.com/africa/universityprograms/

Poste par Obum Ekeke, Programmes Talent & Outreach, Afrique sub-saharienne

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