Events

The IEA has a substantial events programme, hosting over 100 events a year. Students and teachers are very welcome to attend all our public events, but the IEA also holds special events designed specifically for students and teachers, normally held in Westminster. These events are intended to introduce students to the ideas at the heart of the IEA’s mission, to increase their understanding of them, and to encourage intellectual debate and discussion in a friendly and welcoming environment. There are a range of events for different kinds of audience and participants, e.g. for people at different stages of their academic careers.

Many of the events are based upon or make use of the IEA’s own publications programme. Others involve the use of outside readings and material. Some are filmed and this often generates material that is available on our website. As well as featuring IEA staff, events often involve lectures, presentations and discussion by leading scholars and figures from the worlds of economics, politics and the media.

The highlights of our annual student events programme include:

Freedom Week (11th - 15th July 2011) –  a week-long academic seminar held every year in July at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge for undergraduate and postgraduate students. Sponsored by the IEA and the Adam Smith Institute (applictaions close on the 15th May 2011).

UK Freedom Forum (1st - 3rd April 2011) - a larger event for students from Sixth Form upwards with a mixture of lectures, workshops, and discussion groups held at a venue outside London over several days. The first such event is planned for the Spring of 2011.

Limited bursaries for students and teachers are available to allow them to attend our annual State of the Economy Conference (February) free of charge. We also often have bursaries available for postgraduate university students and higher education lecturers for our other industry conferences. If you are interested in finding out more information about bursaries, please contact Steve Davies.

Latest news:

The IEA is delighted to announce the results of the 2011 round of the annual essay competition for the Dorian Fisher Memorial Prize. The judges awarded the first prize to Madeline O'Riordan of Westminster School while the three runners up awards went to William Nott (Abingdon School), Michael Schneerson (Merchant Taylors) and Francesca Bastianello (Westminster). 

The prize for the highest number of entries went to Queen Elizabeth Boys School, Barnet. The judges also noted the quality of the work of a number of other entrants, including but not limited to Jonathan Bradshaw (Queen Elizabeth Barnet), Mayank Banerjee (Dame Allan's School Newcastle upon Tyne), Jack Egan (Sutton Grammar School), Alex Gough (Newcastle Under Lyme School), James Harris (Merchant Taylors), Hannah Dewhirst (Judd School, Tonbridge), Mindy Zhang (St Bees), Dennis Aven (St George's Weybridge), Julie Tang (Westminster), Alexander Stephens (Berkhamstead), and Philippa Inwood (Newcastle Under Lyme School). The prize winners and some twenty four others who placed highly will be personally invited along with their teachers and parents to a day event to be held at the IEA in late October, at which the prizes will be given out. 

Dr Steve Davies, the IEA's Education Director, said "The quality of the entries for this year's competition was higher than ever and the work of the students showed real originality and command of the subject. We have adjusted the format of the competition this year and I think that this has been very successful in encouraging a more considered and independent approach from the entrants. The third question, asking for suggestions as to how the A level syllabus might be improved, provoked some very interesting and thoughtful responses. I congratulate all of the participants and particularly the prizewinners and those who were 'placed'. They and their teachers should be very proud of their efforts. I will write personally to the prizewinners and others to congratulate them and invite them to the awards event".