iconomix

Swiss National Bank

iconomix newsletter summer 2010

Through the year with iconomix

Editorial

Dear reader

There are two main milestones in the iconomix year: the iconomix event for students in spring and the iconomix symposium for teachers in autumn. Both have their own special character: the iconomix event is organised on a national scale and is multilingual, whereas the symposium is held twice – once in German-speaking and once in French-speaking Switzerland. The iconomix event welcomes a new batch of students every year, while the symposium brings together some familiar faces.

So why not go along to one of them? You’d be very welcome!

Manuel Wälti (iconomix management) and Julia Erdin (workshops and iconomix award)

iconomix event 2010

The iconomix event 2010 took place on 8 May in Berne, with around 170 participants from across the country. The authors of 42 projects were invited, together with their families, teachers and friends. The first session took the form of a discussion between the students and the members of the jury (cf. photo). In the second session, the awards were presented. The atmosphere was relaxed and the students’ performances impressive, as can be seen from this short video of the event.

Date for your diary: iconomix symposium 2010 (German-speaking Switzerland)

On Saturday, 4 September 2010, the iconomix symposium – on the subject of the economy and price stability – will take place, organised jointly by the SNB, the Berne Teacher Training College and the University of Zurich’s Institute for High School and Professional Education. The two main speakers are Aymo Brunetti, Head of the Economic Policy Directorate at the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), and Carlos Lenz, Senior Researcher at the SNB. Between the two presentations, workshops will be offered on iconomix modules dealing with current economic policy topics.

Date for your diary: iconomix symposium 2010 (French-speaking Switzerland)

The SNB, in collaboration with the Lausanne Teacher Training College, is organising the first iconomix symposium on the topic of salaries and work, with a particular focus on performance and equity. It will be held in Lausanne on 17 November 2010, from 1.30 pm to 6 pm. Pascal Couchepin, former President of the Swiss Confederation and Federal Councillor, Serge Gaillard, Head of Directorate at SECO, and Yves Flückiger of the University of Geneva have been invited as speakers. Between their presentations, you will have the opportunity to test the new iconomix resources in three concurrent workshops: (1) the newspaper ‘Salary differences’, produced in collaboration with PME Magazine and designed specifically for secondary school students; (2) Budget, designed and presented by Yvan Péguiron, Professor of economic education at the Lausanne Teacher Training College; and (3) iconomix TV, a series of illustrated films explaining the economy, produced by Mix&Remix.

Date for your diary: workshops in Lugano

Discover iconomix by coming along to two workshops being organised in Lugano during the 2010–2011 school year, in collaboration with the Swiss Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training. The first will be on 20 October 2010, and is a repeat of the workshop held on 19 October 2009 (markets and price formation/pitgame, and common pool resources/fishpond). The second will take place on 30 March 2011. It will present new content and is aimed both at teachers who have already attended the first workshop and at those who are not yet familiar with iconomix.

Date for your diary: study week on the Swiss financial centre, organised by Schweizer Jugend forscht

The study week gives interested and motivated students an insight into the world of the Swiss financial centre. Using practical examples, the young participants learn how to plan and carry out an economics project, and document the results. For five days, big names from the financial sector – including the SNB/iconomix – will be throwing open their doors and providing expert guidance to the students.

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The iconomix newsletter is published two times a year in English (four times in German and French). It provides the latest news on the iconomix teaching programme, on workshops and on the iconomix award for students.