2011 Archive

Student unrest in an era of economic crisis

Mon 09 Jan 2012

BRUSSELS - (Editorial Allan Pall, Chairperson ESU, in University World News) In a year that was marked by the euro crisis, and bailouts not only of banks but also entire sovereign countries, it is not surprising that higher education in Europe has taken quite a battering. Despite widespread agreement that higher education is a public good first and foremost, and thus a public responsibility, current trends paint an interesting picture, to say the least.

 
"Don't count your chickens before they are hatched" - Merry Christmas from ESU!

Wed 21 Dec 2011

If we were to sum up the last year, one could say that 2011 has been all about not counting the chickens before they are hatched. But, it has been a revolutionary year for sure. The European Students' Union has been working hard throughout the whole year, but many of our projects and activities have been about preparing for the future, 2012.

 
ESU: “Belarus is not eligible to become Bologna country”

Wed 14 Dec 2011

BRUSSELS – The European Students Union thinks that Belarus should not be invited to become a member of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) during the Bucharest Ministerial Meeting in April 2012. Allan Päll, Chair of ESU said: “Even though Belarus might fulfill formal criteria to join the EHEA, it should not become part of it as there is no such thing as academic freedom in Belarus.” Belarus has applied to become EHEA member on 30 November 2011.

 
“Economic crisis used as an excuse to reduce financing of higher education”

Tue 29 Nov 2011

LIVERPOOL - Students all over Europe are getting ready to fight back against higher education budget cuts. From 24 to 27 November the FINST Consultations Seminar took place in Liverpool which aimed to enable participants to look at financing of higher education from different perspectives. The students concluded that governments have been using the current financial crises across Europe as an excuse to reduce financing of higher education.

 
“Increasing tuition fees could lead to an exodus of Europe’s young people”

Mon 28 Nov 2011

SOFIA – Around 150 student representatives from 45 National Unions of Students all over Europe discussed ongoing developments in higher education from 10-12 November in Sofia during the 61st Board Meeting of the European Students’ Union (ESU). They formulated common statements on budget cuts and other law proposals from European governments which are bound to harm higher education. These statements can be read here: http://www.esu-online.org/documents/motions/.

 
ESU urges EU ministers to free up money for education

Mon 28 Nov 2011

BRUSSELS – Strong commitments to increase public funding of higher education. This is what the European Students’ Union (ESU) wants the EU education ministers to come up with during the debate about financing of education that they will hold at the Education Youth and Sport Council (EYSC) on 28 and 29 November. ESU urges the ministers to free up money for higher education and for EU-wide student mobility instead of cutting down the budgets, which is currently the case in many EU countries.

 
National Union of Students (NUS UK) launches new project

Thu 24 Nov 2011

LONDON - The National Union of Students (NUS UK) has launched a new project called I Am The Change to encourage and support you to campaign for positive change at your college or university.

 
Students formulate common answers to education budget cuts

Fri 25 Nov 2011

LIVERPOOL – Who should pay for higher education? The students themselves, the state or should companies contribute as well? These questions will be answered at the ‘Financing the Students’ Future’ conference from the European Students’ Union (ESU) which takes place from 24 to 26 November in Liverpool.

 
ESU: “EU loans will not lead to more mobility for poor students”

Wed 23 Nov 2011

BRUSSELS – The European Students’ Union (ESU) is pleased to see that the European Commission’s budget proposal ‘Erasmus for all’, published on 23 November, acknowledges the added value of learning mobility and internationalisation of higher education. However, ESU urges for more relevant budgetary commitments as it deems this is crucial to achieve opportunities for student mobility for all.

 
ESU worried about education budgets cuts on International Students’ Day

Thu 17 Nov 2011

BRUSSELS - On International Students’ Day, the European Students’ Union is sending out a warning to all national and global leaders to stop cutting down on higher education. ESU’s Chairperson, Allan Päll said: “All over the world, we see that governments are spending less and less on higher education. This must come to an end. If we continue on this path, then soon only students from well-off families will be able to go to university. This will be devastating for societies in the long run.”

 
Massive student protests in Ireland against dramatic budget cuts

Wed 16 Nov 2011

Irish student protests 2010

DUBLIN – An estimated 50,000 Irish students hit the streets of Dublin on 16 November in an attempt to avert a dramatic increase of their tuition fees. The Irish government is expected to announce an increase in their budget plans, on 7 December. Tuition fees in Ireland currently stand at 2,000 euro. Chairperson of the European Students’ Union (ESU) Allan Päll said: “We strongly oppose this development which runs across students all over the European continent. Reduced public financing will

 
ESU: “Higher tuition fees will lead to more inequality in Europe”

Tue 08 Nov 2011

SOFIA – “We are standing side by side with the students in Europe who are currently facing dramatic budget cuts.” Chairperson of the European Students’ Union, Allan Päll said this ahead of the 61st Board Meeting of ESU which takes place from 10-12 November in Sofia, Bulgaria. He continued: “Students in Latvia, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Ireland and the UK - to name but a few - are confronted with a government that is cutting down on higher education. This should stop otherwise the long-ter

 
ESU urges Romanian ministry to act on student rights issues

Wed 02 Nov 2011

BUCHAREST – The European Students’ Union (ESU) calls upon the Romanian Ministry of Education to stop postponing the adoption of the much debated Student Statute. Allan Päll, ESU Chairperson said: “Since the Romanian students issued their proposal, their ministry has been reluctant to discuss the Statute. They should make an effort to get this statute adopted before the end of the year as it is of tremendous importance for the students and for the credibility of Romanian higher education system.”

 
Budapest plans on forcing state funded students to stay in Hungary

Thu 03 Nov 2011

BUDAPEST – The European Students’ Union (ESU) is deeply concerned about the new law proposal from the Hungarian government to force young graduates to work in Hungary from 7 up to 20 years after their graduation. This would apply to all students who receive funding from the state. If they would decide to go and work abroad, they would have to pay all costs of their studies back. According to ESU this could be a violation of EU law and it asks the European Commission to start a profound investiga

 
Financing project 'FINST' entering next phase

Tue 25 Oct 2011

LIVERPOOL - ESU’s project Financing the Students' Future (FINST) is set to address issues that students are facing with financing and tuition fees. This is done by increasing the knowledge of how different financing systems and current changes affect students

and by increasing the capacity of national unions of students and student representatives.

 
150 student representatives gather in Sofia to discuss hot education topics

Sat 05 Nov 2011

SOFIA – The European Students’ Union (ESU) will hold its 61st Board Meeting from10-12 November in Sofia, Bulgaria. Around 150 student representatives from all over Europe will discuss ongoing issues in higher education and will formulate common statements. Pressing issue on the agenda is the EU loan scheme, part of the EU’s proposals of the Modernisation Agenda.

 
Chilean student leaders ask for European support

Tue 18 Oct 2011

PARIS – Representatives of the national Chilean student body CONFECH are travelling through Europe this week seeking international support for their ongoing fight for reforms in the Chilean national education system. Karina Ufert, vice-chairperson of the European Students’ Union (ESU) will meet representatives of CONFECH at a conference of UNEF (*) in Paris on 18 October to support their cause.

 
ESU publishes full reaction to Commission's Modernisation Agenda

Wed 12 Oct 2011

BRUSSELS - The European Students' Union (ESU) has published its full reaction to the European Commission's Modernisation Agenda for Higher Education on 12 October. In ESU's press release on the modernisation agenda, published on 20 September, ESU Chairperson, Allan Päll, said: “The EU’s Executive has failed to send out a clear message about government investments into higher education. We furthermore do not agree on their objective to promote mobility mainly through loans and private contributio

 
Students discuss political situation in the Middle East

Mon 03 Oct 2011

JERUSALEM – Students from all around the world met in Jerusalem for a 6 day program in September to discuss the political situation in the Middle East. Karl Agius and Taina Mosiander from the Social Affairs Committee of the European Students’ Union were present together with other students and youth from Belgium, South Africa, Norway, Germany and Greece.

 
EP and EU Council at loggerheads over 2012 budget for education

Mon 03 Oct 2011

BRUSSELS – The EU Council and European Parliament (EP) are about to clash over the 2012 budget for education. While the EP’s Education and Culture Committee will ask for an increase at its meeting on 4 October, the Council is looking to cut 60 million euro from the EU’s Life Long Learning (LLP) budget. The European Students’ Union (ESU) is calling upon both institutions to maintain the current budget and to increase the long term LLP budget in the Multiannual Financial Framework.

 
 
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