Each Bahá'í student group should meet at the beginning of the year to determine their goals and objectives. These include a number of different areas from proclamation and teaching to deepening and Bahá'í scholarship. Service projects and networking with like-minded student groups are also possibilities. Much of the society's work at present will involve simply acquainting students with a very basic impression of the Faith - the effect of this proclamation should not be under-estimated. It wins friends for the Faith, brings individuals closer to the Cause, and raises the awareness of the generality of humanity about the Bahá'ís.
Consolidation is also an important aspect of Bahá'í Society activity. Society meetings can serve as an arena for Bahá'í students to become better teachers and scholars of the Cause. The Universal House of Justice called the Bahá'í youth in Europe "to deepen your understanding of the Teachings of the Cause so that you will be able to apply them to the problems of individuals and society, and explain them to your peers in ways which they will understand and welcome" (4 July 1983). The Bahá'í Society is an opportunity for Bahá'í students to become "well-equipped intellectually", to "correlate its [the Faith's] beliefs with the current thoughts and problems of the people of the world", and to learn to present these "intelligently and enticingly" to others. For instance some Bahá'í students may wish to correlate their field of study to the Faith, and present their findings at a Society meeting. The Society also provides an occasion to discuss "the grave problems of the day" in a consultative spirit. This, in itself, may be a new and rewarding experience for students.
It is not only students who are being introduced to the Faith at universities but as the Universal House of Justice states, in a letter written on their behalf, "The way is open for Bahá'ís to acquaint many of the future leaders of mankind. . ." (11 January 1981, emphasis added). Many of these students will become influential individuals who may be able, directly and indirectly, to serve the Bahá'í community in the future in a whole variety of ways. The effect of these friends of the Faith can be significant. This is particularly the case for students from developing countries who, by virtue of their Western education, often become very prominent in their own countries on their return. Their contact with the Bahá'í may inspire them to serve humanity in many different ways, incorporating Bahá'í principles into their professional lives.
Some Society meetings can provide appropriate moments to invite and meet leaders of thought, academics and prominent people. Some of them can be asked to speak at seminars organised by the Society. The experience of certain adult Bahá'ís in the community and Bahá'í institutions may be valuable in organising a successful seminar.
What aspects of the Bahá'í Faith should be presented to our student peers? The Universal House of Justice indicates that university students should become acquainted with the "history, the tenets, and the society-building power of the Faith" (11 January 1981). This is also stressed in a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi where, "The capacity of His [Bahá'u'lláh's] projected world order to re-create society" (3 July 1949) is specified as a theme which should be presented to intelligent people. What is this society-building power of the World Order of Bahá'u'lláh? This question merits the attention and study of all Bahá'í Societies.
Bahá'í Societies are also a unique forum for the practical demonstration of many Bahá'í principles such as consultative decision-making, diversity of action, tolerance, moral rectitude and freedom from prejudice. The very conduct of the Society affords Bahá'í students the opportunity to demonstrate to their peers and a sceptical world the way in which the teachings of the Faith find practical expression. The Universal House of Justice exhorts the Bahá'í youth of the world saying: