European Students' Union News

Winner Student Peace Prize honored with ceremony on 18 February

Mon, 28 Mar 2011 11:18:00 +0100

OSLO - Croatian student Duško Kostic, the winner of the Student Peace Prize 2011, will be honored with a ceremony on 18 February in Trondheim, Norway. According to the Chairperson of the European Students Union, Bert Vandenkendelaere: “Kostic and his work highlight two important issues. The first is that education is crucial for groups who are trying to overcome discrimination and social exclusion. The second is the extraordinary role that students can play in changing their societies.”

ESU targets lack of student involvement with quality assurance project 'QUEST'

Mon, 28 Mar 2011 11:19:00 +0100

BRUSSELS - At the moment, there are several policy instruments in place that support improvements of the quality of higher education on an ongoing basis. However, according to the European Students Union, there is still a clear lack of true student involvement in this area. The recently started ESU project dubbed 'QUEST' intends to change this.

Evolving Diversity: an overview of equitable access to HE in Europe

Mon, 28 Mar 2011 11:29:00 +0100

The EQUNET project in which ESU has been involved has delivered its first report that gives a comparison of the state of equity in access to Higher Education in the EU27 + EEA countries, and of the evolution of the concept and the actual state of diversity in Europe’s Higher Education institutions today.

EC in Favour of Tuition Fees

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 10:00:00 +0100

On September the 8th, the European Commission released a paper entitled “Efficiency and Equity in European Education and Training systems” . In this communication the European Commission openly supports tuition fees, but backs up its’ suggestions with flawed arguments and unsubstantiated claims.

Bologna-Lisbon Training

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 10:14:00 +0100

From 23rd - 26th of September, ESIB held a Bologna-Lisbon training in Ljubljana hosted by the Student Union of Slovenia (SSU). With close to 80 participants and 14 trainers, the event was an important landmark in educating people as to the realities and issues surrounding both the Bologna Process and the Lisbon Strategy.

Welcome to the new ESIB Website

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 10:17:00 +0100

Dear Friends, Welcome to the new ESIB website! An ever growing organisation like ESIB – the representative body of 45 national unions of students in Europe - needs a flexible and dynamic website that can services its communication requirements. Thus, we aim to have an up-to-date website that will bring you the latest news, policies and information on the European Student Movement and the European Higher Education arena.

External Dimension Update

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 10:31:00 +0100

The debate on the "external dimension" of the Bologna Process continues to be an interesting one. Indeed, it sometimes seems as if this topic includes everything from European identity to support services in higher education institutions. Recently, ESIB participated in the last of three seminars on this topic, hosted by the Nordic governments in Oslo, Norway.

ESIB candidate becomes the head of the YFJ

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 10:34:00 +0100

Last weekend 2 ESIB representatives attended the General Assembly of the EuropeanYouth Forum, which was held on the 9-12 November in Vilnius , Lithuania. Besides adoption of the Strategic Priorities for the European-wide youth organization until 2012 and adoption of a Plan of Work and budget for 2007-2008, the Assembly elected new leadership of the organisation for the term of the following two years.

International Students' Day 2006

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 10:42:00 +0100

International Student Day. You react - What? When? Why? This is an important day for everyone. Some spend it celebrating, remembering the good old days of being a student; others celebrate the chance of having this status today. This day exists to unite many people, not just current students, around the idea of striving for change and progress, the idea of being active and caring for society, of feeling and expressing solidarity with other people, nations and parts of the world who face the coll

What are the NUSes plotting for ISD?

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 10:59:00 +0100

17 November 2006 in Europe - International Students' Day: Find out what the National Unions are plotting!

EP Approves Bolkestein

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 11:04:00 +0100

Last Wednesday, the European Commission passed the services directive with an overwhelming majority in favour. After a year of campaigning by ESIB and other educational NGOs, education has been predominantly left out of the directive.

BM51 Paris - Work in Progress

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 11:12:00 +0100

The 51st ESIB Board Meeting is underway. 120 participants have gathered in Paris until the 3rd of December, to attend the seminar and Board Meeting organized by L’UNEF . Tuesday and Wednesday see ESIB hold a seminar on the “Social Dimension in Action”.

European National Unions of Students Gathering in Paris

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 11:20:00 +0100

ESIB’s 51st Board Meeting took place in Paris, from November 30th – December 2nd and welcomed 120 members representing 43 national unions.

New Bologna countries' ministers met in Strasbourg

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 11:23:00 +0100

Ministers of Education from Armenia, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine met on 12-13 December 2006 at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg to discuss the state of implementation of Bologna reforms and upcoming challenges in their countries. The four countries and Azerbaijan, which unfortunately could not be present, are those countries who joined the Bologna Process most recently in 2005 in Bergen (Norway). ESIB participated in the conference as observing organisation.

Solemn Vigil for the Abolition of Tuition Fees

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 11:25:00 +0100

ESIB's member union, ÖH – The National Union of Students in Austria, is currently holding a solemn vigil in front of the Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPÖ) headquarters. ÖH has been protesting there since December 11 in order to put pressure on those who are currently holding negotiations to form the future government and to remind them of one of their main topics during their recent election campagin: The abolition of tuition fees.

Student Persecution in Belarus Persists

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 11:29:00 +0100

On the 22nd of December, Belarusian Students gathered in the BSA (the National Belarusian Student Union and member of ESIB) offices in order to celebrate Christmas. At around 11pm, as the party was coming to an end, militia, special troops and several civilians crashed the party armed with video cameras and asked all present to disconnect their mobile phones. No search warrant was provided despite repeated requests from the students.

Absurd proposal on tuition fees in Austria

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 13:02:00 +0100

Tuition fees will stay, but those students who do 60 hours or more of social work per semester will get their money back. This is the newest - and so far most absurd - outcome of the discussion about tuition fees, which are an issue in the negotiations towards a new government in Austria. Fees were introduced in 2001, accompanied with heavy critique from ESIB member, the Austrian National Union of Students (ÖH).

Student Peace Prize 2007

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 13:06:00 +0100

The Student Peace Prize 2007 is awarded to the Burmese student activist, teacher and human rights activist Charm Tong. The Student Peace Prize is awarded every second year on behalf of all students in Norway to a student or a student organisation that has done important work for human rights, democracy, peace and student rights.

EQF Stakeholder Project launched

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 13:18:00 +0100

On 11 and 12 January 2007, the first meetings of the Project Partners and the Advisory Board of the EQF Stakeholder Project were held in ESIB's Brussels office. The partners and the Advisory Board discussed the national dialogues on the stakeholders' experiences with the implementation of the European Qualifications Framework for Lifelong Learning (EQF-LLL) in the 5 countries participating in the project. Throughout this year, the 5 national project partners will organise stakeholder meetings t

Student Persecution in Belarus - Students expelled

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 13:25:00 +0100

Brussels (ESIB), January 24, 2007 - ESIB – the National of Students in Europe has been receiving alarming news proving that student persecution in Belarus still persists. On 27th of December Nadzeya Mantsevich, who represented the Belarusian student movement during the ESIB Board Meeting in Belgrade (May 2006), was expelled from her university – the Belarusian State Pedagogical University. The formal reason given by authorities was "systematic breaching of discipline and university rules"

EI/ESIB seminar on mobility of students and staff

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 13:27:00 +0100

The 4th official Bologna Seminar, focusing on the mobility of staff and students, will be held in London on the 8th-9th February this year. This event is co-organised with Education International (EI) and outlines ESIB’s good cooperation with this important organisation representing teachers and education workers worldwide. During the Bergen Summit in May 2005, Education Ministers stressed the importance of mobility, and in the Communiqué, this is mentioned as one of the three main priorities f

10 Years of Student Protests in Serbia

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 13:32:00 +0100

When can one say that a country is in crisis? The answer is clear: when students start street protests. This winter was the tenth anniversary of famous Serbian student protests 1996/97. It was famous by its energy and uncompromising decisiveness of hundreds of thousands of young people who swore to win the fight for justice and political responsibility, in time of overall regression of Serbian society.

Norwegian Unions Protest against new Pension Scheme

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 13:35:00 +0100

ESIB’s Norwegian members have taken to the streets regarding the pension system in Norway today. The government recently proposed that the citizens will receive a pension calculated according to the income amassed during their working lives. Under this new system, students will not receive pension points for the duration of their studies, meaning that those following a longer course of study will automatically be disadvantaged.

VVS Demands Hearing in Parliament

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 13:38:00 +0100

Friday 02/02/2007: VVS, the national union of students in Flanders, handed over a petition with 18 000 signatures to the Flemish parliament. With this petition, VVS demands a hearing in the commission of education. The minister of education of Flanders is planning a new decree on the financing of higher education institutions.

Swiss Members in Solidarity with their Austrian Neighbours

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 13:43:00 +0100

On Monday this week, The new Austrian federal chancellor Dr. Alfred Gusenbauer gave a speech on innovation and employment at the Swiss Federal Institut of Technology Zurich ETH. ESIB member, VSS-UNES-USU mobilised for a solidarity action with Austrian students who have been demonstrating against tuition fees and Gusenbauer's broken promises for weeks.

Online Erasmus Student Community

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 13:47:00 +0100

More than 1.5 million students have benefitted from the Erasmus program but, sadly, these students often lose touch with each other.

The EHEA: Attractive at what Cost?

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 13:51:00 +0100

From 11th-13th April, ESIB members will assemble in Malta for a student conference on the attractiveness of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) and the external dimension of the Bologna Process. This conference is the closing symposium in a series of conferences dealing with the Bologna Process and Lisbon Agenda as we move closer to 2010.

Malta Conference

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 13:58:00 +0100

The conference will take place over 3 days between the 11th and 13th April at the Radisson Bay Point Hotel, St Julian’s, Malta. The arrival day is the 10th and the departure day is the 14th. The airport is the Malta International Airport in Luqa. Each delegate will be picked up from the airport.

ESIB releases the Berlin Declaration

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 14:04:00 +0100

Between the 16th and 19th March 2007, 140 student representatives from 40 countries gathered in Berlin to discuss their demands to the Ministers ahead of the upcoming London Ministerial Summit. The discussions at this - the 13th European Students Convention, led to the recognition that the Bologna Process has triggered some of the largest and most crucial reforms of higher education policy in Europe.

Open Letter from Georgian Member

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 14:08:00 +0100

Dear Friends, Today Georgia and Georgian Students need your help and Support as never before. You all should know about the situation and relationship that Georgia has with its Neighbor country Russian Federation. The Situation is very dangerous and tense.

Fighting Discrimination in Higher Education

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 14:11:00 +0100

May 6th-9th, London: ESIB will be holding a seminar on discrimination in Higher Education. ESIB’s third conference of the year focuses on a theme which is broader than just the scope of our curricula and higher education. Thanks to the Council of Europe's All Different All Equal campaign, we have the opportunity to discuss discrimination and how to continue fighting it as student unions. It is a great opportunity to organise a seminar on such an important topic, a fundamental building block of t

Bologna With Student Eyes

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 14:14:00 +0100

15th May: ESIB releases its third survey on how the Bologna Process is implemented around Europe. Covering 36 European countries, the report analyses how the commitments made in the Bologna Process are implemented in practice at national level. The authors deduce that many reforms are carried out only superficially: For example the European credit and transfer system ECTS should facilitate mobility and put the learner in the center, but countries are not implementing it properly. It is shown tha

ESIB becomes ESU

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 14:17:00 +0100

May 2007: This year, ESIB- The National Unions of Students in Europe celebrates its' 25th year of representing students across Europe. In honour of this landmark, it was decided that some major changes were needed. ESIB was founded in 1982, initially as WESIB – the Western European Students' Information Bureau – soon to drop the Western in search of a more inclusive European platform.

ESU makes a Stand

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 14:22:00 +0100

17th & 18th May: The Higher Education Ministerial Summit on the Bologna Process, held once every two years, was hosted by the London Ministry. ESU, a member of the Bologna Follow-Up Group, was an active participant in the debates surrounding the implementation of the Bologna Process leading up to this summit.

AEGEE and ESU form friendship

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 14:33:00 +0100

31st May: This morning, AEGEE and ESU signed an agreement which aims to build closer ties between the two organisations. AEGEE is a student organisation with antennae all over Europe, aimed to promote a Europe without prejudices. The two organisations have already cooperated on several instances in the past, which has now resulted in the joint statement.

Remember Tiananmen Square

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 14:38:00 +0100

June the 4th: thousands of students across the globe took the time to remember those who paid the ultimate price in their struggle for basic freedoms on this day in 1989. One million unarmed students took to the streets in the name of democracy, asking for an end to corruption, more jobs and basic human rights.

5th EI World Congress

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 14:40:00 +0100

July 2007: “Educators joining together for quality education and social justice:” This is the theme that will unite more than 1,500 teacher leaders from around the world who will come to Berlin 22-26 July 2007 for the 5th World Congress of Education International (EI).

Repression in Belarus Gathers Pace

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 14:43:00 +0100

June 13th: Recently, more than ten students were summoned to the Public Prosecution Office where they were informed that data on their activity on behalf of the unregistered Belarusian’s Student Association was recorded by their offices. They were warned that if theu did not cease all activity, criminal cases would be opened against them.

Members Sign Partnership Agreement

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 14:45:00 +0100

June 2007: At the 52nd ESU Board Meeting in London the Student Union of Serbia (SUS) and the National Union of Students' Representatives of Lithuania (LSAS), singed a bilateral agreement, in the hope that joining forces will allow them to work better.

Good News Regarding Visas

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 14:58:00 +0100

June 2007: Last week, The Ukraine and the EU signed an agreement aiming to facilitate visa obtention. Under the new agreement, a decision on whether or not to issue a visa will have to be taken, as a rule, within 10 days and the documents that need to be presented have been simplified.

Romanian Students Protest for Freedom of Expression

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 15:01:00 +0100

Dear Friends, We would like to tell you about a grave act that has occurred in one of the largest Universities of Romania. During the recent audit carried out by the National Quality Assurance Agency of Romania – ARACIS at the Polytechnic University of Bucharest, the Evaluation committee organised a meeting with University students, in order to receive their input on the study conditions at the University.

Belarusian Student in Court

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 15:04:00 +0100

July 2nd:On the 16th May, Yuras Aleinik, a student at the Management Academy of the President of the Republic of Belarus was informed that he was to be expelled from his university. The background of the expulsion appears to be politically motivated. Exceptionally, Yuras decided to fight for his rights in the court.

ESU Seminar Draws to a Close

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 15:08:00 +0100

As ESU's Seminar on Discrimination in Higher Education drew to an close it was generally acknowledged by chairs and participants alike to have been highly successful.

Report on EI World Congress

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 15:10:00 +0100

July 22th-26th: Education International Congress: Over 1,600 representatives of Education Internationals’ member organisations were in attendance at the 5th World Congress held in the Estrel Convention Centre. The elected representatives and staff responsible for Higher Education within Education International reported on the work of the previous 3 years and present current issues.

Serbia too Highly Rewarded?

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 15:12:00 +0100

July 5th 2007: At the ministerial summit of Higher Education of European countries held in London in May, Serbia was awarded a grade 4 in the field of implementation of reforms in the Higher Education area. This means that Serbia is amingst a group of countries with the best reforms in Higher Education. In Bergen 2005 the situation was different. Indeed, Serbia came after Albania and Bosnia & Herzegovina as the worst graded country.

Globalisation & Higher Education

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 15:17:00 +0100

The Organisation for Economic Co - Operation and Development (OECD) has published a new paper: "Globalisation and Higher Education" (Education Working paper No. 8). This publication explores the issues for national policy and for individual institutions.

Private Financing Increases Funding Stake

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 15:22:00 +0100

The Institute for Higher Education Policy’s (IHEP) - www.ihep.org/gcpf/ - Global Center on Private Financing of Higher Education (GCPF) released a report that explores the growing importance of private capital to nations where governments seek additional resources to share the rising costs per student and increasing enrolment rates.

Higher Education Reforms in Turkey

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 15:24:00 +0100

The new elected Prime Minister of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, recently announced dramatic changes in HE reforms of Turkey. The changes include the abolishment of the current Higher Education Board (YÖK) System. The duties of YÖK will be overtaken by the Inter-University Coordination Board (ÜAK). Their plans of the new HE Board are to work on programs to coordinate between the Universities. With the new system, the rectors of the Universities will be elected by the University Senates.

Conference on Mobility - Where are we Going?

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 15:27:00 +0100

ESU Member, POFEN (the Pancyprian Federation of Student Unions), is organising a conference on mobility for ESU members. This will take place in Limassol, Cyprus, from the 27th till the 30th of September this year. The conference will open in Nicosia in a session with the Ministry of Education and the President of the Cypriot Parliament.

ESU Reacts to the OECD's Report

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 15:35:00 +0100

19th September 2007: The OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) today released it’s yearly « Education at a Glance » report.

New Visa Agreements for Balkan Countries

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 15:39:00 +0100

18th September 2007: The European Union has signed agreements with five Balkan countries which will make it easier for citizens of these countries to obtain EU visas, in particular students, journalists and business travelers. The concerned countries, Albania, Bosnia, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia had issued complaints that the visa rules were constraining them into a ghetto at the heart of Europe.

Call for Tender: Development of a logo and a website

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 15:51:00 +0100

The E4 Group (ENQA, EUA, EURASHE and ESU) invites interested parties to file a tender for the development of a logo, document templates and a website for the European Quality Assurance Register in Higher Education (EQAR). The tender shall be based on the terms of reference below and provide a detailed outline of the services offered, a breakdown of the total costs, references to third-party software, products or services the tenderer intends to use and references to similar services provided by

20% of students mobile by 2020

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 15:54:00 +0100

October 4th-5th: The closing conference of the 20th Anniversary of the Erasmus mobility programme celebrations was an overriding success. Close to a thousand participants were brought together for a final conference including discussions on the history and the past of the event. Jacques Delors (President of the Commission in 1987) recorded a video message for the gathered participants and many key people took to the microphone.

Birthday Wishes from EUA

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 15:56:00 +0100

Happy birthday ESU! Several name changes and 25 years of age have made you and your members a strong voice for students in Europe. Student involvement has never been so widely and generally accepted as it is today. So, although much remains to be done, it is fair to say that the European model of student involvement in higher education policy development and institutional governance at every level is something quite exceptional and an important element in the specific European dimension of hig

Birthday Wishes from EI

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 16:01:00 +0100

From Stockholm ……to Lisbon Once upon a time a few pioneers gathered in Stokholm in 1982 to establish WESIB , an information sharing organisation and did not probably imagine that they were founding a European student trade union movement , now the umbrella organisation of 47 national unions of students from 36 countries representing over 10 million students. Last May when ESIB became the European Student Union (ESU) EI welcomes this name change , signifying the work of ESU as a union, highl

Birthday Wishes from the European Commission

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 16:11:00 +0100

On behalf of the European Commission, I would like to express my congratulations to the European Students' Union on its 25th anniversary. As you know, the EU is also celebrating an anniversary of its own-its 50th. There is a similarity in our histories: when seven national unions of students decided in 1982 to set up the West European Student Information Bureau an end to the Cold War was not in sight and you had to start setting up the core of a European body that was, for the time being, restr

ESC14 Report

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 16:17:00 +0100

The 14th European Student Convention was a resounding success. Over a hundred participants descended on Lisbon for four days in order to discus the Lisbon Agenda from the perspective of European Students. Workshop topics included Employability in Relation to Social Cohesion, Financial Sustainability of HE, The Student Contribution towards the Lisbon goals, The role of HE in creating and environmentally sustainable society and HE and regional development.

Amidane's Story

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 16:22:00 +0100

ESU was delighted to welcome a student activist from the Western Sahara to our 14th European Student Convention. It was fascinating for our representatives to hear her story and understand the consequences student activism can have in some corners of the earth. Rabab told a rapt audience of her experiences -

Technical Difficulties

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 16:23:00 +0100

Dear Visitor, ESU would like to inform you that, due to no fault of our own, we have been experiencing technical difficulties with regards to our mailserver.

Manufacturing Higher Education in Romania

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 16:52:00 +0100

Romanian Higher Education is often a field of great contradictions and high volatility as government after government completes a never ending cycle of reforms and amendments on present laws. Of course, not all of these reforms plump to the interests of students, but most are beneficial to overall quality and to student welfare.

What is happening in France?

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 17:00:00 +0100

November 23rd 2007: Dear Friends, As some of you may have heard, there are currently a number of strikes and protests in France. In the next few days, UNEF will release an international Newsletter which will serve to inform all Higher Education actors, and especially student unions, of what is going on.

ESU Opens the Door to the Ukrainian Student Movement

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 17:02:00 +0100

December 4th 2007: Decisions of the 53rd European Students Union (ESU) Board Meeting concerning the Ukrainian student movement marked a very important step in the history of both the Ukrainian student movement and ESU. The history of contact and cooperation between Ukrainian students and ESU goes back to 2002. During the evaluation of the Ukrainian students movement since this time, it became quite clear to ESU, that there were two national unions of students in Ukraine that could potentially be

ESU Welcomes new Israeli Member

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 17:04:00 +0100

December 10th 2007: ESU and all its' members would like to extend a warm welcome to our new Israeli member, NUIS (The National Union of Israeli Students). The ESU board granted NUIS membership at the 53rd Board meeting held in Vilnius last week. NUIS is not the only national student union in Israel, but is by all accounts the largest, representing around 250 000 students who are members of NUIS's member unions.

Barcelona Conference sets the scene for Quality Assurance Recognition

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 17:23:00 +0100

December 12th 2007: Held in Barcelona over two days, the European Consortium for Accreditation (ECA) conference bought together representatives of governments, institutions, students, employers, recognition authorities, and other European and international quality assurance agencies.

Wind of Change in Belarus

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 17:27:00 +0100

The rules for entering higher education in Belarus are going to be changed soon. The attitude of the Belarusian state to higher education is also changing. The ministry in charge has already warned that there are too many specialists with higher education diplomas and a lack of labor force at the same time. What are the steps to be taken by the state to solve the problem?

Please Give us 10 Minutes of Your Time

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 17:30:00 +0100

February 4th: The European Universities Association (EUA) has launched a new project to explore the state of Master’s programmes as the Bologna Process moves forward. EUA would particularly like to find out about students’ perceptions of “new” master programmes in the current Bologna period.

Erasmus Mundus Master courses to be evaluated in 2008

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 17:32:00 +0100

20th February: The European Commission is undertaking a project in 2008 of assessing the quality of 6 Erasmus Mundus master courses in order to establish good practice for the development of future programs.

Denmark against tuition fees in Erasmus Mundus

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 17:36:00 +0100

February 13th: Erasmus Mundus has been established in 2003 to enhance international cooperation and mobility not only within the EU, but also beyond. As such it is building on the experiences made with the EU mobility schemes ERASMUS and TEMPUS. Elements of the Erasmus Mundus program include the support of integrated master courses, scholarships for third—country nationals (i.e. students with citizenship outside the EU and candidate countries, EEA and EFTA), scholarships for EU students and

Lisbon Training in Budapest

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 17:38:00 +0100

4th March: ESU unions from the Baltics and South Eastern Europe converged upon Budapest this past weekend for the second in ESU’s series of three regional trainings on the Lisbon Agenda.

The European Quality Assurance Register is born

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 17:46:00 +0100

4th March: The European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education (EQAR) was officially launched in Brussels today in a move designed to improve the quality of European higher education and to promote greater student mobility.

Launch of the Learnovation Stakeholders' Roundtable

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 17:48:00 +0100

5th March: More than 40 key EU and national lifelong stakeholders gathered at the European Commission to discuss a new vision of innovation in learning, that embeds ICT for learning as well as lifelong learning in a comprehensive and future-oriented perspective, and to share ideas and proposals on how to bring the Learnovation initiative forward.

European Students for Democracy

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 17:50:00 +0100

April 21st: In march this year, The European Students' Union (ESU) and the Slovenian Student Union (SSU) organised the 15th European Student Convention in Ljubljana, Slovenia.. The topic was: Students for Democracy. The Slovenian presidency of the European Union supported the convention as a part of the agenda of the Slovenian presidency of the European Union. The convention will be co-organized by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology of the Republic of Slovenia.

A New ESU Generation Takes the Floor

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 17:53:00 +0100

May 10th: ESU is currently hosting its' 54th Board Meeting, along with Slovak member SRVS. Gathered in Brusno, Central Slovakia, 140 reprsentatives from ESUs member unions, are discussing the last six months of ESU work and deciding on the future courses of action. Of note, are the numerous elections which have taken place yesterday and today. The current volunteers end their mandate in July and will not be replaced post for post since ESU passed a new set of structures at its' last board meetin

ESU calls for a European integration of the Republic of Serbia

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 17:55:00 +0100

May 11th: At it’s 54th Board Meeting, ESU accepted an external motion calling for the integration of the Republic of Serbia into the European Union. A Serbia within the EU will lead to major improvements for Serbia's students such as stronger mobility, an improved quality of academia and equal treatment of other EU students whilst studying abroad.

Commission's Proposal On Erasmus Mundus not up to Scratch

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 17:58:00 +0100

May 15th: Erasmus Mundus is a cooperation and mobility program for European higher education. The official aim of the program is to enhance the quality of European higher education by fostering co-operation with third countries in order to improve the development of human resources and to promote dialogue and understanding between peoples and cultures. The program should promote Europe as a centre of excellence in these third countries and thus enhance the attractiveness. The European Commission

The Future of Education and Training Through Student Eyes

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 18:05:00 +0100

May 19th: ESU RELEASES ITS' POSITION ON THE PREPARATION OF AN UPDATED STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK FOR EUROPEAN CO OPERATION IN EDUCATION AND TRAINING With this contribution to the preparation of an updated strategic framework for European co operation in education and training, the European Students’ Union, representing 11 millions of students in Europe, shares its vision on the future priorities for Higher Education policies after 2010. We will focus on the three strategic goals closely linked to th

Tuition Fees Rejected in Denmark

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 09:13:00 +0100

May 23rd: As the battle against tuition fees continues across Europe, ESU’s Danish member, DSF, had good news to share. DSF has long demanded that the education system remain free for all and that the law on Higher Education be overviewed in order to ensure there are no barriers such as tuition fees. As many of their European colleagues, they believe that in order to create a knowledge society independent of individual social inheritance, then the educational system must remain free of charge.

ESU Assesses Student Movement in Armenia

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 09:20:00 +0100

The European Students’ Union was invited by the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in the European office in Yerevan (OSCE) to conduct a study visit of the Armenian students’ movement. This took place from the 8th-14th June. Our mandate was to assess the strengths and weaknesses of student councils in particular, within the general framework of the Armenian higher education sector. In this capacity, the study visit team carried out interviews with the main actors in the higher education s

ESU has Launched the Student Trainers’ Pool

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 09:22:00 +0100

In July ESU has launched the student trainers’ pool consisting of 13 young people, among them alumni of ESU and the national unions of students and ESU elected representatives, all experienced in trainings and higher education policy.

Join The ESU Team in Brussels! (Call for Information and Communication Officer)

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 09:34:00 +0100

ESU is looking for a recently graduated, creative team player to fill the position of Information and Communication Officer (ICO) at its headquarters in Brussels, Belgium.

EQAR open for Applications

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 09:41:00 +0100

ESU is a member of the E4 group, which was mandated by the ministers in London to set up a Quality Assurance Register.

ESU Reacts to Situation in Georgia

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 09:46:00 +0100

PRESS RELEASE ESU REACTS TO SITUATION TO GEORGIA RELEASE DATE: AUGUST 19th, 2008

ESU bringing Armenia in from the cold

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 09:56:00 +0100

ESU is continuing to strengthen its links further east in Europe with a second visit to Armenia to assess the student movement on the ground and the key challenges which it is currently facing. After a successful research visit to the capital, Yerevan, in June this year, ESU representatives returned from 18th-21st September to conduct a follow-up session with Armenian students. Having gathered comprehensive baseline information in June, the purpose of this visit was for ESU to present its repo

ESU marks International Student's Day

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 10:03:00 +0100

ESU is standing shoulder-to-shoulder with students and student organisations around the globe to mark International Student's Day today, 17th November, commemorated for the last 67 years in honour of the more than 1200 students who died as a result of a Nazi assault on Prague University in 1939.

Calling for an end to education chaos in Malta

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 10:07:00 +0100

ESU is lending its voice to Maltese NUS, KSU's call for an end to the chaos currently gripping the Maltese higher education system due to a long-running dispute between teacher unions and the Maltese Government.

Czechs at the helm!

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 10:12:00 +0100

The Czechs are at the helm! This month has seen Prime Minister M. Topolánek and co. take over the Presidency of the EU from the French under the banner of a ‘Europe without barriers’. At a meeting in Prague on 6th January, the Prime Minister and his deputy launched the official work programme for the next six months, highlighting their priorities as the three ‘E’s’: Economy, Energy and Europe in the world. While it is sad, but unsurprising, that education is not one of the three priority ‘E

Assessing 6 months of HE under the French

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 10:15:00 +0100

Six months of the French Presidency drew to a close at the end of December, and with it a very hectic period of meetings and conferences for ESU staff. But what was the outcome of all this frenetic activity in terms of higher education policy at the European level? Were there some real achievements, or rather a lot of talk and little action? There are a lot of positives to be drawn from the French tenure at the top of the EU. Firstly, ESU would like to express it sincere gratitude for the

Latvian Government goes hardline on HE and students

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 10:18:00 +0100

As starts to the New Year go, this was not what the students of Latvia had in mind. The Government of Latvia heralded 2009 with a swift cut in the higher education and student support budget. Both the magnitude and manner of doing so have been outrageous. The student response, on the other hand, has been modest. The anatomy of the situation is as follows: In the middle of December, the Latvian Parliament held an all-night session producing a plan and law to enable huge cuts in the country’s

Students call for global ombudsperson for student rights

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 10:28:00 +0100

They came from Australia, Africa, North America, Asia and Europe. For the first time in five years, 17 organisations representing students across the globe came together in Paris last week at an official preparatory conference for the UNESCO World Conference on Higher Education (WCHE), scheduled for July 2009. The conclusion of the meeting: student rights are violated all across the globe, and student bodies now want UNESCO to set up a global ombuds office that deals with breaches of student r

ESU reacts to the Commission's education and training strategic framework

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 10:36:00 +0100

It is designed to set the tone for cooperation on education policy across all 27 Member States for the decade ahead. And last week, ESU had the opportunity to comment on the European Commission's updated strategic framework for European cooperation on education and training at an annual stakeholder forum event in Brussels.

Reaching out to the Sahrawi people: Student Peace Prize for Human Rights Activist

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 10:42:00 +0100

It's a long-disputed, largely neglected and forgotten corner of North Africa. But finally, Western Sahara has something to celebrate with the announcement that one of its citizens, Rabab Amidane, is this year's winner of the Student Peace Prize 2009. Amidane was awarded the Prize for her work on human rights, students' rights and peace in the controversial territory. Western Sahara was a Spanish colony up until 1975, when the Spainish withdrew. Morocco invaded the same year and has occupied

ESU contributing to educational empowerment in Kazakhstan

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 10:51:00 +0100

ESU has been continuing to help the reform of educational systems and to empower student around the globe with a visit to the Central Asian country of Kazakhstan in early February by Vice-Chair, Anita Lice. Organised by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan in co-operation with the Magna Charta Observatory, the event was a response to Kazakh requests for assistance to join the Process. Such is the level of enthusiasm that even without being an official part of th

Bologna to 2020: Call for Education Ministers to move from aspiration to action

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 11:05:00 +0100

ESU has kickstarted its campaign of work leading up the Ministerial Conference of the Bologna Process in April by launching its student declaration towards this crucial meeting. Gathering in Prague last week (15-19th February), more than 100 national student representatives from over 30 countries came together to analyse the progress made on Bologna over the last 10 years, and to formulate a common voice towards the shape the Process should take in the next decade to 2020.

ESU launches its equity training

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 11:07:00 +0100

ESU is embarking on a series of equity training sessions for member unions, as part of a major project to increase awareness of, and action on, equity issues within the context of higher education. Taking place in the Romanian city of Timisoara from 6-8th March, the training will provide 50-60 representatives from ESU’s member NUSes in the south and east of Europe with high quality professional training to enable them to both achieve greater equity and to combat discrimination more effectivel

Tunisian students hunger strike over education rights

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 11:09:00 +0100

Studying is a right for all. As is freedom of expression. And yet, five students in Tunisia are staring death in the face in protest at having these basic rights denied.

This month, it's all about Bologna...

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 11:19:00 +0100

The crucial month for higher education policy is here. For anyone interested in Europe's educational future, this is the time to get involved.

Launching an Education Manifesto for the European Parliament

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 11:27:00 +0100

ESU is delighted to be launching its Education Manifesto for the European Parliament elections which are taking place across the 27 Member States from 4-7th June.

Bologna With Student Eyes is here!

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 11:36:00 +0100

The fourth Bologna With Student Eyes report from The European Students' Union has arrived!

Rankings? No thanks!

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 11:38:00 +0100

The vast majority of national student unions in Europe do not want to see a European system of university rankings or classification, nor do such proposals work in the best interests of European students. This was the strong message in a new statement issued this by ESU on the ‘transparency tools’ currently being touted as a quality-enhancement and choice tool at European level. With the European Commission having launched a call to tender for a ‘feasibility study’ into how Europe could follow

Students celebrate victory in Bologna Process negotiationsStudents celebrate victory in Bologna Proc

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 11:41:00 +0100

Students from across 46 European countries can look forward to a better educational future after Ministers made a major shift in emphasis in the Bologna Process reform programme. The Leuven Communiqué, agreed yesterday by the Education Ministers from all 46 members meeting in Belgium, is being acknowledged by national unions of students from across the continent as marking the start of a much more student-centred focus for the Bologna reform agenda, the most comprehensive transformation of hig

A changing of the guard at ESU

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 11:45:00 +0100

All good things must come to an end, and for many of the members of ESU’s elected team 2008-2009, next month will see their mandate draw to a close as a new team gears up to steer the organisation into the first half of 2010. The ESU 2009-10 team was elected at the 56th Board Meeting which took place in Brussels at the end of April. A number of motivated student representatives were elected by official representatives from ESU’s 47 member unions who gathered to vote in the public figures of

Taking the initiative on youth health

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 11:47:00 +0100

The European Commission has just launched a new Youth Health Initiative (YHI) project designed to encourage young people to become active partners in promoting their health. ESU is a partner in the project, and you can visit the newly created website here.

Fill in and win! ESN Survey 2009

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 11:50:00 +0100

A new student survey, the ESNSurvey 2009: Information for Exchange has just been launched, offering you the chance to help improve information provision for fellow students. Organised by the Erasmus Student Network (ESN), the survey is open for contributions until the end of July 2009.

Join ESU as our new Executive Assistant!

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 11:56:00 +0100

ESU is looking for a team player to fill the position of the Executive Assistant (EA) at its headquarters in Brussels, Belgium.

Iranian students must be allowed the right to peaceful protest

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 13:02:00 +0100

Following recent developments in the aftermath of the Iranian presidential elections on June 12, ESU is deeply concerned about the situation for students in the country

The World Conference on Higher Education is Here

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 13:10:00 +0100

Students are about to take centre stage at the 2009 World Conference on Higher Education organised by UNESCO in Paris from 5-8 July. For only the second time, political leaders, academics and higher education stakeholders will join together with student representatives from across the globe to discuss and debate the future of higher education, and place it firmly on an international level.

ESU at the WCHE: Public funding of higher education has never been more crucial

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 13:13:00 +0100

Education ministers must join with students, academics and education stakeholders in securing increased public financing for higher education. This is the strong message made by ESU Chairperson, Ligia Deca, in a speech to a high-level international audience in Paris. In a time of economic crisis, greater public investment is urgently needed as a key part of the solution and to enable higher education to fulfil its pivotal role in society, she added.

Students make their mark on the WCHE

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 13:16:00 +0100

‘At no time in history has it been more important to invest in higher education.’ This was the strong and unequivocal message emanating from global higher education leaders at the UNESCO World Conference held in Paris earlier this month. In a clear illustration of the strength of the student voice, this statement is just one of a series of major step forwards made by the conference as a result of the work of ESU and student platforms across the world. The communiqué, issued by UNESCO as the

ESU condemns arrest of Zimbabwean student leader

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 13:22:00 +0100

The European Students’ Union (ESU) is concerned about the constant pressure and abuses that ZINASU student representatives are experiencing, culminating with the arrest of Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) President, Clever Bere, and 13 other student activists. "ESU strongly condemns the current policy of intimidation and its related practices of the authorities in Zimbabwe, as well as their further continuation", says ESU chairperson Ligia Deca.

Deca calls for better links between education and research

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 13:26:00 +0100

"All students should learn to do research and the best way to learn to research is by doing it", says ESU Chairperson Ligia Deca. At a Swedish EU presidency conference on research, innovation and education, Deca spoke of the need for increased focus on the primary innovators – namely students, professors and researchers.

Experts assess ESU student report

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 13:29:00 +0100

Higher Education experts will meet in Brussels on Monday to discuss and assess ESU's Bologna With Student Eyes 2009 report. The report, which strongly criticises large parts of the Bologna Process reform of European Higher Education, was published in April this year.

Mobility highlighted at ESU Stakeholders' Forum

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 13:37:00 +0100

"We need to improve not only the number of students going abroad, but also the quality of the education", says Erasmus Student Network President Marketa Tokova. She was one of the higher education experts present at the Stakeholders' Forum organised by ESU on Monday this week.

Council of Europe debates the future of human rights and democracy in Europe

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 13:40:00 +0100

As part of their 60th anniversary celebrations, the Council of Europe (CoE) is organising a conference on the future for human rights and democracy on the continent. "The role of the Council of Europe is essential", says ESU chairperson Ligia Deca.

ESU reaction to Education at a Glance

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 13:46:00 +0100

The European Students’ Union agrees with the OECD’s recommendations for increased public education funding in the time of economic crisis. ”Now is the time for governments to invest”, says ESU chairperson Ligia Deca in a reaction to the OECD’s Education at a Glance 2009 (EAG) report.

Students go to Stockholm to discuss social dimension reality check

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 13:49:00 +0100

ESU’s upcoming convention "Social Dimension - The Lost Dimension?" will focus on the social dimension of higher education. The social dimension has been one of the most neglected priorities within the Bologna Process in the past 10 years, even though almost all the communiqués from the education ministers make a strong case for inserting it as a high priority on the agendas of national authorities in Europe.

Students, staff and universities join forces in mobility efforts

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 13:58:00 +0100

After education ministers adopted a goal of 20 per cent mobile students by 2020, European higher education actors are now discussing definitions of student mobility. Representatives of students, staff and universities have come up with concrete advice to the European education ministries that will meet in Stockholm in September.

EQAR seeks new director

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 14:07:00 +0100

The European Quality Assurance Register (EQAR), created in 2008 as a tool to provide clear and reliable information on Quality Assurance Agencies operating in Europe, is looking for a new director.

Student activism a "preview of life as an active citizen"

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 14:12:00 +0100

"The student life is a unique opportunity to build a personality as an active citizen", says Ligia Deca, Chairperson of ESU. This week, Deca spoke at a Minneapolis conference about education for personal and social responsbility.

Danish students furious at university budget cut proposals

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 14:18:00 +0100

"Four hours of lectures a week is not quality education. It's an insult ", says Nils Wiese, vice president of the Danish national student union. On Tuesday, October 6, thousands of students gather in the cities of Copenhagen, Aarhus, Viborg, Odense og Sønderborg, to protest against budget cuts in Danish schools and higher education institutions.

ESU supports proposal for European database on reliable higher education institutions

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 14:37:00 +0100

“We welcome the EU Commission’s proposal for a European database on HEI’s, as an essential step towards providing more information for students who wish to be mobile. The efforts in the transparency field should be be focused on this initiative rather than on the EU ranking feasibility study”, says Ligia Deca, ESU chairperson.

Norwegian students protest against government work programme

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 14:39:00 +0100

"During the election campaign, all parties said they wanted to increase the study support coverage from 10 to 11 months. Now that the negotiations for the work programme for the next four years are finished, they didn't fulfill this promise. The government has betrayed the students", say the two Norwegian national unions of students, NSU and StL.

Democracy conference marks International Students’ Day

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 14:46:00 +0100

70 years after Nazis stormed the University of Prague and executed nine student leaders, students are still facing various forms of oppression around the world. On November 16-18, ESU and OBESSU will mark the International Students' Day with a conference on students’ role in democracy in the past and today.

European students debated crisis impact on higher education

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 14:54:00 +0100

Students from across Europe gathered in Stockholm last weekend to discuss the social dimension in higher education. ESU also presented the result from a survey on the impact of the economic crisis on higher education.

Advice for the new academic year

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 14:57:00 +0100

ESU Chairperson Ligia Deca spoke of student-centred learning, critical thinking and quality assurance at the opening of the academic year at the University of Luxembourg this week. She believes that student-centred learning is the new mode of seeing the role of higher education institutions.

Austrian students protest against fees and access restrictions

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 15:06:00 +0100

For more than a week, Austrian students have occupied several universities and gathered in thousands to protest against tuition fees and limitations on access, and to fight for better public funding for higher education.

Student participation improves the culture of dialogue

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 15:11:00 +0100

At the annual conference of the International Association of Universities this week, ESU called for efforts to create a more diverse student body. Andrea Blättler from ESU's Executive Committee spoke of student participation as one of the vital factors for those who want to establish an intercultural dialogue inside HEIs.

International Students' Day celebrated in Europe

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 15:23:00 +0100

"The student movement's legitimacy is due to its historical heritage, but also due to its natural position to be a cradle of thought and of fresh ideas, with a strong idealistic base", says Ligia Deca, Chairperson of the European Students' Union. On November 17, students across Europe celebrate the International Students' Day, and commemorate the victims after the Nazi storming of the University of Prague in 1939.

ESU debates doctoral students, equity and education

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 15:29:00 +0100

This week, the European Students' Union organises its 57th Board Meeting and seminar. The seminar is titled “The link between Higher Education and Research, Equity and Doctoral Students". During the BM, ESU's members will elect new ESU representatives and discuss a lifelong learning policy paper, and a task force will discuss a long-term strategy and vision for ESU.

ESU publishes Equity Handbook

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 15:40:00 +0100

The handbook provides content overview of international higher education policy processes, and also contains information about particular issues such as underrepresented groups and obstacles for those who want to enter higher education. The Equity Handbook is developed by ESU's Social Affairs Committee.

Student-centred learning is ESU's main priority in 2010

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 15:43:00 +0100

"European students want a more holistic approach to learning. We should look beyond teaching methods and stress aspects such as financial and logistical support", says Ligia Deca, Chairperson of the European Students' Union. At the 57th Board Meeting in Krakow, ESU adopted a plan of work titled "Towards True Student-Centred Learning".

ESU welcomes new members and representatives

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 08:33:00 +0100

ESU welcomes the Luxembourg University Students (LUS) as a full member. As new associate members, ESU welcomes the International Students of History Association (ISHA) and the Association of Nordic and Pol-Balt Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Student Organizations (ANSO).

Cease funding cuts on higher education

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 08:39:00 +0100

The government of Latvia is planning to reduce funding for higher education in 2010 by 51 per cent compared to the funding available a year ago – in December 2008. "These plans will seriously limit access to Higher Education and hinder economical, social and intellectual development of Latvia", says Ligia Deca, Chairperson of ESU.

Student message to Copenhagen climate conference

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 08:42:00 +0100

The European Students' Union calls on governments to encourage climate studies and give the opportunity to every citizen to learn more about the challenges our next generations will have to face. Every study programme should have a perspective on environmental issues. Higher education institutions should be incentivised to provide access to those study programmes and encourage sustainable projects proposed by the students. These are some of the points adopted in a statement by the members of

ESU supports Iranian students' struggle

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 08:46:00 +0100

"Over 90 students including top student leaders have been arrested over the past three weeks. Many are held incommunicado, facing charges of threatening national security. These students are mainly concerned about enjoying their fundamental rights and academic freedom, " says ESU Executive Committee member Bert Vandenkendelaere. December 7 is the National Student Day in Iran.

ESU enters operational relations with UNESCO

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 08:52:00 +0100

The European Students’ Union and UNESCO have a long history of partnership and cooperation, with landmarks such as the 1998 and 2009 World Conferences on Higher Education. In this sense, entering an official partnership status seems like a logical step and following its request, ESU has been granted the “operations” relations status with UNESCO.

Tallinn students protest against tripled transportation costs

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 08:54:00 +0100

From January 1, the city government will introduce a system where students who haven't registered as a citizen of Tallinn will loose their student discount opportunities in public transportation.

Video interview with ESU chairperson

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 08:58:00 +0100

In an interview with the Global University Network for Innovation, ESU Chairperson Ligia Deca speaks about student participation in development of higher education, soft skills learning, and ESU impact on education debates. See the video here, or read an excerpt of the interview.

ESU team 2010

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 09:02:00 +0100

The elected representatives of the European Students' Union met in Leuven, Belgium, on January 8-10 to discuss and plan ESU's work in 2010. More than half of the current ESU team were elected at the Board Meeting in November last year, and have just started their mandate.

ESU calls for boycott of Iran

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 09:04:00 +0100

Urgent request to save those recently arrested and sentenced to death in Iran

ESU reaction to the European Commission's EU 2020 strategy proposal

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 09:10:00 +0100

The European Students’ Union welcomes the due attention given to education in the European Commission’s working document ahead of the drafting of the “EU 2020” strategy. ESU is, however, concerned that the document will fail to capture the essence of the strategy unless specific targets are drafted.

Global student movement sets priorities for future work

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 09:22:00 +0100

Fight against WTO and GATS influence over higher education will be one of the priorities for the global student movement in the coming years. This has been agreed by regional European, Asian, African, Arab, North American and Australian student umbrella organisations.

Call for tenders: printing of ESU publication

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 09:27:00 +0100

ESU is about to publish a publication titled "Bologna at the Finish Line", which is part of the project "Enhancing the Student Contribution to the Bologna Implementation" (ESCBI). The book aims at providing an overview of the ten years of the Bologna Process, and to give the students' view on the success and failures of the reform. The project is funded by the European Commission's Lifelong Learning Programme. We are hereby asking for offers from companies who can do the printing for us.

Recognition is one of the two main mobility obstacles

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 09:31:00 +0100

In a speech at a conference about the Erasmus exchange programme and troubles with recognition of studies, ESU Chairperson Ligia Deca presented ways to improve the recognition of higher education in Europe.

Reaction to European Citizen's Initiative Green Paper

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 09:34:00 +0100

One of the features of European Union's newly ratified Lisbon Treaty is the possibility for a so-called citizens initiative. ESU sees such initiatives as an opportunity for the still fledgling pan-European civil society to take a more active part in shaping the future of the continent.

Opposition to weakening of student services in Ireland

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 09:38:00 +0100

ESU and the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) disagree with the Irish Universities Associations' assertion that the definition of student services should be extended to core academic services, allowing universities to move funding from the former to the latter.

Protests against Iranian regime

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 09:41:00 +0100

Today, February 11, students in Europe and other parts of the world are protesting against the Iranian government's mistreatment of Iran's students and other citizens. You can read more about the locations of the protests here.

Unrest as Bologna Process reaches its 10th anniversary

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 09:43:00 +0100

"Students across Europe have protested against the implementation of the Bologna Process. The education ministers of Europe should acknowledge the protests and follow up by giving students better possibilities for deciding on the present and future of their own education", says Ligia Deca, ESU Chairperson. Just before the Bologna Anniversary Ministerial Conference in Vienna/Budapest, ESU is organising a European Student Summit in Vienna.

European students summit underway in Vienna

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 09:45:00 +0100

The members of the European Students' Union are meeting in Vienna to discuss the Bologna and Lisbon processes, and to prepare for the 10th anniversary Bologna conference of the European education ministers.

ESU releases Bologna Process documentary film

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 09:52:00 +0100

You can now watch the Faces of Bologna documentary film on esu-online.org. In the film, students from various countries tell about their experience with the Bologna Process and how it has shaped their higher education.

Bologna at the Finish Line publication out now

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 10:06:00 +0100

At the third day of the European Student Summit in Vienna, ESU presented its account of ten years of the Bologna Process. The publication is titled Bologna at the Finish Line. You can download the publication here.

Education ministers commit to improve opportunities in higher education

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 10:19:00 +0100

While countries are still struggling to get out of the economic crisis, European education ministers have underlined that higher education is a public responsibility. “It is positive that they also specify underrepresented groups as a priority when trying to provide more equal opportunities in higher education”, says Ligia Deca, ESU Chairperson in a reaction to the Vienna/Budapest declaration following the 7th Bologna Process ministerial conference.

EU 2020 strategy without education targets is unthinkable

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 10:21:00 +0100

"We already thought the European Commission's proposed target of 40% higher education graduates was low. If Germany and other countries want to scrap this target, Europe can stop pretending that it wants knowledge and skills to be a key element of the European society and economy", said Ligia Deca, Chairperson of the European Students' Union.

Belgian students take to the streets to demand study cost reduction

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 10:25:00 +0100

"Everybody knows that the cost of studying is too high for most students. It is time for the government to honour their promises to reduce the costs, says Nic Görtz, secretary general of FEF, the Federation of Francophone students in Belgium.

Youth demand education and poverty targets back in EU 2020 strategy

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 10:30:00 +0100

European youth and student organisations are concerned after poverty and education targets seem to have been dropped from the European Union's discussion on the 'Europe 2020 Strategy for sustainable growth and jobs' and urge EU leaders to include these targets back when the European Council meets again to discuss the Strategy in June.

ESU nominates imprisoned Iranian activist for Student Peace Prize

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 10:35:00 +0100

”Bahare Hedayat’s extraordinary courage and her persistent defense of students’ right to freedom of speech and expression are the reasons we are nominating her for the Student Peace Prize 2011”, says Ligia Deca, Chairperson of the European Students’ Union.

Concerns about funding cuts bring students and teachers together

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 10:39:00 +0100

The European Students' Union and Education International have signed an agreement, and will work together against tuition fees and increased trade in educational services.

Finnish students demonstrate to keep education tuition-free

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 10:42:00 +0100

The National Union of University Students in Finland (SYL) and the Union of Students in Finnish Universities of Applied Sciences (SAMOK) are arranging a mass demonstration for tuition-free higher education on April 21.

Students debate financing of higher education

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 10:44:00 +0100

Is higher education financing a looming disaster? Student representatives from across Europe are asking this question and debating models for higher education financing at a seminar in Madrid on May 3-5.

New ESU Chairperson wants to reverse EU view on higher education

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 10:46:00 +0100

Bert Vandenkendelaere from Belgium has been elected as the new Chairperson of the European Students’ Union. ”I want to reverse the European Union’s tendency towards seeing higher education as a tradable service and as a means to solely forward the EU’s economic ambitions”, says Vandenkendelaere.

ESU members elect new representatives

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 10:50:00 +0100

At the Board Meeting 58 in Madrid, the members of ESU elected new representatives to the Executive Committee, the Academic Affairs Committee, the Student Union Development Committee, and the Commission for Internal Audit.

ESU demands education targets back in EU 2020 strategy

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 10:53:00 +0100

ESU demands that the proposed benchmark on raising the level of tertiary education to 40% is adopted in the EU 2020 strategy. On June 17, European heads of state meet to adopt a new European strategy for growth and jobs.

Staff and students agree higher education should centre more on students

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 10:58:00 +0100

European higher education staff and students' unions have expressed agreement that higher education should move further towards the needs of the student. This is a key finding from the survey by the European Students' Union (ESU) and the staff union Education International (EI).

Suspension of EU funds might hinder Erasmus exchange

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 11:00:00 +0100

The European Students’ Union (ESU) is concerned about the suspension by the European Commission of the funding for the Lifelong Learning and Youth in Action Programmes in Malta.

ESU reinforces education message before EU 2020 summit

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 11:02:00 +0100

ESU have handed over 22 signed EU 2020 policy statements from ESU member unions to representatives from the cabinet of Herman Van Rompuy, The EU Council President. - We all agree that education is interlinked with the flagship initiatives of the EU 2020 strategy. You cannot have initiatives on innovation and research without having a good education policy to support these, says ESU Chairperson-elect Bert Vandenkendelaere.

European Council adopts education targets in EU 2020 strategy

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 11:09:00 +0100

The European Council has adopted the so-called EU 2020 strategy for economic growth. After pressure from ESU and other organisations, the strategy includes a target to increase the share of 30-34 year olds having completed tertiary or equivalent education to at least 40 per cent. "This is very good news both for Europe in general and for those who want to realise their potential through higher education in particular", says ESU Chairperson, Bert Vandenkendelaere.

Use the next year to improve education mobility

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 11:11:00 +0100

The United Nation's International Year of Youth started today, on the International Day of Youth (August 12). "Students and youth in general are a crucial part of every community and deserve an investment into their personal learning paths to become active citizens. In particular, we hope to see better possibilities for people to move freely between education systems, in order to shift towards a real open-border Europe", says ESU Chairperson Bert Vandenkendelaere.

Call for ESU web site developer

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 11:15:00 +0100

The European Students’ Union (ESU) is considering renewing its web site, and is issuing a call for a company to perform the upgrade.

ESU publishes activity report for 2009

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 11:20:00 +0100

It was a very hectic but successful year, says Bert Vandenkendelaere, who was a member of the Executive Committee last year. He took over as Chairperson of ESU in the academic year of 2010-2011, after Ligia Deca's two terms as Chairperson from 2008 to 2010.

Bologna reform too slow in first semester of the European Higher Education Area

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 11:22:00 +0100

At the dawn of the first semester of the so-called European Higher Education Area (EHEA), not much has changed. ”Problems with getting studies recognised across borders or receiving a diploma supplement free of charge in an international language are not yet solved. These are basic issues, but for students, the problems impact the capacity to function in a unified European Higher Education Area”, says Robert Santa, member of the Executive Committee of the European Students’ Union.

OECD report: Fees do not encourage students to complete their studies quickly

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 11:24:00 +0100

Tuition fees do not make students more eager to or capable of completing higher education. This is the finding of the latest Education at a Glance report by the OECD. ”It is high time that universities, so-called experts and others stop using this argument for justifying student fees”, says Bert Vandenkendelaere, Chairperson of the European Students’ Union.

EU Council budget cut proposals threaten Commission’s student exchange ambitions

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 11:28:00 +0100

“National governments must bear the main responsibility for increased student exchange numbers”, says ESU Chairperson Bert Vandenkendelaere in a reaction to today’s presentation of the Youth on the Move Communication from the European Commission.

Full ESU reaction to Youth on the Move Communication

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 11:31:00 +0100

Download the full ESU reaction to the European Commisson's Youth on the Move Communication here.

ESU and EI launch toolkit for student-centred learning

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 11:33:00 +0100

In addition to ESU and EI, Flemish Education Minister Pascal Smet will be at the launch, which takes place at the Museum 'M' in the Belgian city of Leuven, on 14 October. A press conference starts at 20:00 at the same place.

Austrian students protest against budget cuts

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 11:35:00 +0100

Almost a year ago, Austrian students occupied the Audimax, the largest lecture hall of the University of Vienna, to protest against their studying conditions. The Austrian students protests led to a lot of different actions in the student movement across Europe. Austrian students are now again taking to the streets.

Call for Communications Manager

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 11:40:00 +0100

The European Students’ Union is looking for a creative and dynamic team player to fill the position of Communications Manager (CM) at its headquarters in Brussels, Belgium.

ESU hosts seminar "Quality assurance - the ultimate tool?"

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 11:44:00 +0100

Quality Assurance has been revered as one of the most successful actions incorporated into the Bologna Process that set to transform higher education in Europe. Work on quality assurance lies in the need to build trust between different educational systems and units so as to ultimately foster mobility and mutual recognition.

Financing of higher education is main priority for ESU in 2011

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 11:47:00 +0100

ESU will work to reverse the severe cuts in higher education budgets across Europe.

International Students’ Day 2010

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 11:49:00 +0100

“The fight for students’ rights in Europe today is less about life and death than it was at the first International Students’ Day in 1941. The battlefield has changed but it is still about the right of students to speak out and the right to education,” says ESU Chairperson Bert Vandenkendelaere.

ESU: Create EU support structure to help increase higher education participation

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 11:53:00 +0100

Following the Education, Youth, Culture and Sports (EYCS) Council meeting on November 18-19, ESU reiterates its request that the European Union develop a structure to support higher participation rates in higher education in Europe.

Obstructing the right to peaceful protest in Romania

Tue, 05 Apr 2011 08:48:00 +0100

The right to peaceful protest is a given in Europe. Or certainly, so you would think.

Iranian students facing a tide of repression and human rights abuses

Tue, 05 Apr 2011 08:49:00 +0100

ESU has been alarmed to learn of the situation facing students in Iran, who are battling against a tide of repression and human rights abuses, according to Amnesty International among others.

Join ESU team in Brussels! Call for Financial Officer

Tue, 05 Apr 2011 08:53:00 +0100

ESU is looking for a team player to fill the position of the Financial Officer (FO) at its headquarters in Brussels, Belgium

Bologna process given extra time to study

Tue, 05 Apr 2011 08:59:00 +0100

The process was to end next year but ministers believe it still has a contribution to make.

Iranian students must be allowed the right to peaceful protest

Tue, 05 Apr 2011 09:01:00 +0100

Following recent developments in the aftermath of the Iranian presidential elections on June 12, ESU is deeply concerned about the situation for students in the country.

Global student movement sets priorities for future work

Tue, 05 Apr 2011 09:06:00 +0100

Student reaction to the EU Commission’s EU 2020 strategy proposal

Tue, 05 Apr 2011 09:10:00 +0100

The European Students’ Union welcomes the due attention given to education in the European Commission’s working document ahead of the drafting of the “EU 2020” strategy.

ESU calls for UN special human rights rapporteur for Iran

Tue, 05 Apr 2011 09:14:00 +0100

"The situation for students and other citizens who wish to voice their dissent against the government in Iran is unbearable. The United Nations must do what it can to shed light on the human rights violations in Iran", says Ligia Deca, Chairperson of the European Students' Union (ESU).

European Students' Union and the International Student Identity Card (ISIC) join forces

Tue, 05 Apr 2011 09:16:00 +0100

The European Students' Union (ESU) and the International Student Identity Card (ISIC) Association have agreed to work together to support students throughout Europe. As part of a memorandum of understanding, ISIC has agreed to assist ESU in promoting the interests of students, and its work to support national unions of students throughout Europe.

EU Commission's education ambitions spell 'failure' for a Europe of knowledge

Tue, 05 Apr 2011 09:19:00 +0100

The European Commission's goal of 40 per cent tertiary education graduates is a problem rather than an ambition, says Ligia Deca, Chairperson of the European Students' Union. On March 3, the Commission released a Communication to the European Council on a strategy for EU towards 2020.

Bologna Process misused to fit short-term national agendas

Tue, 05 Apr 2011 09:22:00 +0100

"The Bologna Process has been misinterpreted, misused and twisted to fit the short-term political goals of the governments. It is sometimes impossible to recognise the goals of the process: better social conditions for students, better recognition of foreign degrees and better possibilities to study abroad", said Ligia Deca, Chairperson of ESU.

European student unions ask education ministers for a new focus on Bologna reform

Tue, 05 Apr 2011 09:26:00 +0100

Student representatives from across Europe are currently meeting in Vienna to discuss the impact of the Bologna Process on higher education in Europe. On March 9, they adopted a declaration to the Bologna Ministerial Anniversary Conference in Budapest/Vienna, where European education ministers will meet tomorrow and Friday this week to celebrate 10 years of the process.

Youth demand education and poverty targets back in EU 2020 strategy

Tue, 05 Apr 2011 09:30:00 +0100

ESU nominates imprisoned Iranian activist for Student Peace Prize

Tue, 05 Apr 2011 09:35:00 +0100

New ESU Chairperson wants to reverse EU view on higher education

Tue, 05 Apr 2011 09:37:00 +0100

Bologna reform too slow in first semester of the European Higher Education Area

Tue, 05 Apr 2011 09:40:00 +0100

OECD report: Fees do not encourage students to complete their studies quickly

Tue, 05 Apr 2011 09:43:00 +0100

EU Council budget cut proposals threaten Commission’s student exchange ambitions

Tue, 05 Apr 2011 09:47:00 +0100

European Students' Union makes higher education financing main priority in 2011

Tue, 05 Apr 2011 09:50:00 +0100

Next year, ESU will work to reverse the severe cuts in higher education budgets across Europe.

Roma becomes first European to win Student Peace Prize

Tue, 05 Apr 2011 09:54:00 +0100

The Student Peace Prize 2011 is awarded to the 36-year-old teacher education student Duško Kostic, for his efforts to improve conditions for the Roma in Croatia.

ESU condemns arrests of Belarusian students

Tue, 05 Apr 2011 09:57:00 +0100

MINSK – Eighteen Belarusian students have been jailed following violently repressed protests against the 19 December Presidential elections. The arrests even continued over Christmas. The European Students’ Union (ESU) strongly condemns these recent developments in Belarus and has –together with its 45 member unions- sent out urgent letters for aid to international and EU policy makers.

ESU supports demonstration against ongoing arrests in Belarus

Tue, 05 Apr 2011 10:00:00 +0100

BRUSSELS – The European Students' Union (ESU) will join young Belarusians living in Brussels and their non-profit organisation Office for a Democracy in Belarus for a demonstration against the precarious situation in Belarus, on 12 January at 12.30 in front of the European Parliament building in Brussels. Hearings of the European Parliament will take place on this issue at the same time.

Massive numbers of Dutch students and professors hit the streets

Tue, 05 Apr 2011 10:03:00 +0100

THE HAGUE - Hundreds of professors and an estimated 10 to 20 thousand students will participate in a huge demonstration in The Hague this Friday. The demonstration is targeted against the planned higher education budget cuts in the Netherlands. The European Students Union (ESU) highly supports this demonstration which is organised by its two Dutch members: ISO and the LSVb.

Northern European countries unite in battle against Belarus

Tue, 05 Apr 2011 10:05:00 +0100

OSLO – In response to letters from the European Students’ Union (ESU), the Norwegian ministry of Education has issued a joint statement with ten other Northern European countries in which they express their common concern about the violation of academic freedom in Belarus.

ESU urges EU Council to invest more in higher education

Tue, 05 Apr 2011 10:08:00 +0100

BRUSSELS – The European Students’ Union (ESU) calls upon the EU heads of state and government, meeting in Brussels on 4 February, to make decent investments in the access to higher education if they want to make the innovation and research part of the EU2020 Strategy work. According to ESU, the students of today are the ones that will have to bring excellence in research and innovation in the future.

ESU: "EU2020 will fail unless more efforts are made”

Tue, 05 Apr 2011 10:12:00 +0100

BRUSSELS – EU education ministers, meeting on 14 February in Brussels, have to increase pressure on their home governments to create more ambitious educations targets otherwise the education benchmarks of the Europe 2020 Strategy will not be met, according to the European Students’ Union (ESU).

European students call for more student participation in governance

Tue, 05 Apr 2011 10:14:00 +0100

BUDAPEST – During the 21st European Students' Convention (ESC), taking place in Budapest from 15-18 February, national unions of students from 38 European countries will address the worrying signs that students’ participation in governance is increasingly under threat.

ESC: “True students’ participation still non-existent in Europe”

Tue, 05 Apr 2011 10:18:00 +0100

BUDAPEST - "Higher Education is a public good and should therefore remain a public responsibility.” This is the main message of the Budapest Declaration, adopted at the 21st European Students’ Convention (ESC) on 18 February in Budapest.

Berlusconi-Gelmini «Reform» of Education in Italy: European Student Networks protest in Brussels

Tue, 05 Apr 2011 10:23:00 +0100

ESU and OBESSU (The Organising Bureau of European School Student Unions) organised a symbolic action today in Brussels in order to express their full support to the Italian movement of protestation against the educational reform and to their Member Organisations: Unione Degli Universitari (UDU) and Unione Degli Studenti (UDS). Together with ESU and OBESSU, the protest gathered representatives from Confederazione Generale Italiana del Lavoro (CGIL, Italy), members of the Fédération des Etudiants

ESU welcomes a new ICO!

Tue, 05 Apr 2011 10:27:00 +0100

The ESU Secretariat has been bolstered this week with the arrival of a new ICO (Information and Communications Officer), Frances Aldson. After a brief insight into ESU and the world of higher education at the European level at the 'Let's Go' conference in Lille last week, Frances officially joined the team on Tuesday (14th October).

Erasmus Mundus New Proposal - ESU Reaction 15 05 2008

Tue, 05 Apr 2011 10:30:00 +0100

At the recent 54th Board Meeting of the European Students’ Union held at beginning of May in Slovakia, delegates of the national unions of students in Europe raised concerns about the European Commissions’ proposal for the continuation of the Erasmus Mundus programme. This proposal does not focus enough on student needs and we, the students of Europe, ask for European Parliamentarians to seriously consider amending their proposal.

Ljubljana Declaration March 2008

Tue, 05 Apr 2011 10:33:00 +0100

100 Students from 39 European countries gathered at the European Student Convention in Ljubljana from the 13th -17th March in order to formulate the European Students’ contribution to the development of student democracy

EQAR Launch - European Quality Assurance in the Spotlight

Tue, 05 Apr 2011 10:36:00 +0100

On March 4th, ESU chairperson, Koen Geven, put pen to paper and signed the European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education (EQAR) statutes. Together with three other leading European stakeholder organisations, ESU is proud to announce this important step towards heightened European cooperation in quality assurance.

ESU’s Board gives green light to 11 external motions

Thu, 12 May 2011 14:10:00 +0100

TALLINN – During the 60th Board Meeting of the European Students’ Union (ESU) in Tallinn, several external motions on burning issues in higher education were adopted by the representatives from national students’ unions from all over Europe. The delegates furthermore criticised the slow progress of the Bologna Process in a statement adopted during the event which took place from 5 to 7 May. They also elected their Executive Committee (EC) for the upcoming year. ESU is the umbrella organisation o

ESU calls for equality on day against homophobia

Tue, 17 May 2011 09:06:00 +0100

BRUSSELS – The International day Against Homophobia, which took place on 17 May, highlighted the fact that Europe is still divided as to accepting LGBTQ students (1) as an integrated part of European society. The European Students’ Union (ESU) thinks that efforts at making this division less obvious should be maintained or initiated where they do not yet exist as ESU strongly supports equal opportunities for all, regardless of their sexual orientation.

Students keen on renewed commitment to Bologna Process

Tue, 17 May 2011 09:36:00 +0100

BRUSSELS – The European Students Union (ESU), representing 45 national unions of students from 38 European countries, sees an “increasing lack of commitment to fulfilling even the simplest Bologna goals” and asks for minimum standards to be met in order to have a truly comparable and flexible education system across Europe.

ESU: “Crucial elements missing in Recommendation on mobility"

Thu, 19 May 2011 09:07:00 +0100

BRUSSELS – The EU Education, Youth and Sports Council hopes to reach political agreement on a Council Recommendation dubbed ‘Promoting the learning mobility of young people’, at their meeting on 20 May in Brussels. However, according to the European Students’ Union (ESU) some crucial elements are absent in the final document which most likely will get the green light from the EU education ministers. The text forms part of the EU’s Youth on the Move initiative.

ESU publishes Activity Report 2010

Thu, 26 May 2011 10:40:00 +0100

BRUSSELS - ESU has published its Activity Report for 2010. The full colour report with all the ins and outs of ESU's activities in 2010, can be downloaded here: http://www.esu-online.org/news/article/6165/474/.

Exchange opportunity: 10 days in London on financing of Higher Education

Fri, 27 May 2011 16:01:00 +0100

BRUSSELS - Would you like to experience ten days in London at one of the largest students' unions in the world? You are invited to apply before 24 June to take part in the first of three student representatives exchange programmes. The exchange is part of ESU's project on Financing the Students' Future (FinSt), funded by the European Commission Lifelong Learning Programme.

Bologna Process in Turkey yet to become reality

Mon, 30 May 2011 09:06:00 +0100

ISTANBUL – Although significant changes have already taken place or are on their way, a lot remains to be done concerning Bologna Process reforms in Turkey. In recent years, Turkey has seen a rapid expansion of number of students and a doubling in the number of higher education institutions. This has had a big influence on the situation of the higher education system in Turkey today. The fast increase of students has also given a boost to the implementation of the Bologna Process.

European Parliament wants investments in higher education to be priority

Mon, 30 May 2011 10:57:00 +0100

BRUSSELS - On 12 May 2011, the European Parliament adopted its report on the Europe 2020 flagship initiative Youth on the Move. Many of the European Students’ Union’s suggested additional priorities were adopted in the report which was warmly welcomed by ESU. The report calls upon member states and the European Commission to give priority to financing of higher education, and stresses that no more cuts should be done in education budgets.

“Disciplines with less short term financial potential should not be neglected”

Mon, 30 May 2011 13:38:00 +0100

BRUSSELS – The European Students’ Union (ESU) has published its response to the consultation of the European Commission’s Green Paper dubbed From Challenges to Opportunities: Towards a Common Strategic Framework for EU Research and Innovation funding, on 27 May. The Green Paper proposes major changes to EU research and innovation funding to make participation easier, increase scientific and economic impact and provide better value for money.

ESU welcomes record number Erasmus but does not declare victory

Tue, 07 Jun 2011 16:00:00 +0100

BRUSSELS – The European Students Union (ESU) hails the new record number of Erasmus grants received, but it is not entirely satisfied yet. "The numbers might look good, and we need this surge of available grants, but let's also invest in the quality and size of the grants in the next multi-annual financial framework for the Erasmus program so it becomes one of all European citizens and not only the elite." said Bert Vandenkendelaere, Chairperson of ESU, in reaction to the report from the Europea

ESU: “International community should react stronger on murders in Iraq"

Fri, 10 Jun 2011 13:08:00 +0100

TEHERAN – The European Students’ Union (ESU) strongly condemns the attacks, and the subsequent death of 35 people, on the Iranian refugee Camp Ashraf in Iraq, on 8 April. ESU furthermore slams the slow and lax responses on this massacre from the international community. Bert Vandenkendelaere, ESU’s Chairperson: “Hardly any pressure has been put on Iran and Iraq to make an end to the brutal killing and the political repressions. We cannot just stand here and do nothing.” The Iranian regime is hol

ESU agrees with EUA on shallowness of university rankings

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 10:21:00 +0100

BRUSSELS - The European Students Union (ESU) is pleased to see that the first review of major international university rankings from the European University Association (EUA), published on 17 June in Brussels, finally confirms what university rankings really are: shallow and useless.

"The biggest problem is that education is being seen as a tradable good"

Wed, 22 Jun 2011 10:21:00 +0100

INTERVIEW - Bert Vandenkendelaere, who has been the Chairperson of the European Students’ Union (ESU) since 2010, is handling over the helm of ESU to Allan Päll on 1 July. He thinks that in the past years ESU has grown a lot. Not necessarily in membership, but in professionalism and reputation. According to him, the large differences between European countries in looking at education as a public or a private good will create more barriers to mobility of students and to

Possible cooperation looming between ESU and NUS-Russia

Wed, 22 Jun 2011 10:49:00 +0100

SINT PETERSBURG - The final conference of the Erasmus Mundus WISHES project took place in Sint Petersburg (Russia) on 17 and 18 May. The conference served as a platform for international officers of higher education institutions out of 10 different countries to network and gain more insight in the Russian higher education system. The European Students’ Union (ESU) was invited to contribute.

SiS-Catalyst project wants access to education for all

Thu, 23 Jun 2011 10:56:00 +0100

AMSTERDAM – Widening of access to education was the main topic of the second major SIS-Catalyst project meeting on 17 and 18 June in Amsterdam. In particular, the inclusion of children from social disadvantaged families was debated during the meeting. The European Students’ Union (ESU) participates in this project as it thinks that no group in society should be left out of education.

Päll and his team are ready to get to work

Mon, 27 Jun 2011 09:29:00 +0100

PRAGUE -The ancient capital of the Czech Republic has formed the background of the handover between the old and newly elected representatives of the European Students’ Union (ESU) from 23 to 26 June. During the event various trainings have been given on the political context where ESU is functioning in: the developments in the Bologna Process, the European Union’s 2020 strategy and the global tendencies in higher education. Furthermore a lot of experience and knowledge were exchanged between the

ESU wants significant increase in EU budget for higher education

Wed, 29 Jun 2011 08:52:00 +0100

BRUSSELS – The European Students’ Union (ESU) is calling for a significant increase in the next EU long-term budget (2014-2020) for education, research and social policies. Allan Päll, ESU Chairperson-elect said: “Without substantial investments in education, research and social policies, the EU can forget about a blooming Union with a smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. Member states and the European Parliament should keep this in mind while they discuss the Commission’s proposals.”

ESU expects Poland to make headway on higher education

Thu, 30 Jun 2011 09:28:00 +0100

BRUSSELS - On 1 July, the Polish will take over the rotating EU Presidency from Hungary. Although Warsaw is faced with several severe challenges such as the ongoing problems in the Eurozone, the European Students’ Union (ESU) is expecting a lot of work from the former communist state in the field of higher education. Allan Päll, ESU Chairperson-elect said: “Important discussions on the budget for higher education will be held under the Polish EU Presidency but as well on the Modernisation Agenda

New ESU Executive Committee takes office 1 July

Fri, 01 Jul 2011 09:30:00 +0100

BRUSSELS – Allan Päll (25) from Estonia has started on 1 July as the new Chairperson of the European Students’ Union (ESU). Päll: “My biggest priority during my one-year mandate will be the issue of funding in higher education. We will support our members in their fight for maintaining and increasing investment in higher education.” He added: “Secondly, as the interest in finishing the Bologna Process goals is visibly diminishing, I will push for turning this trend around.”

ESU: “Radical re-allocation of EU funds is needed"

Wed, 13 Jul 2011 08:56:00 +0100

BRUSSELS – The European Students’ Union (ESU) fears that the recently proposed EU long-term budget (2014-2020) will be insufficient to cover for the expectations raised by the EU member states in their Europe 2020 Strategy. Allan Päll, ESU Chairperson said: “Although there is certain progress reflected in the proposals, the overall investment level into higher education is not proportional. If the EU wants to succeed with the Europe 2020 strategy a clear and radical re-allocation of EU funds tow

ESU: “BFUG mobility strategy still lacks clear emphasis”

Thu, 25 Aug 2011 13:24:00 +0100

BERLIN - The Bologna Follow Up Group on Mobility met on 24 August in Berlin to finalise the draft proposal of mobility strategy that will be adopted by ministers at the BFUG ministerial conference in 2012 in Bucharest. The European Students’ Union (ESU) welcomes the extensive and comprehensive strategy proposal that the draft paper of the BFUG brings to the debates on future development of student mobility in Europe. However, ESU acknowledges the paper still lacks clear emphasis on the purpose a

Kurdistan: Rapid expansion has led to shortage of university places

Fri, 26 Aug 2011 09:59:00 +0100

ARBIL - An ESU delegation consisiting out of four people visited the Kurdistan Region in Iraq from 20 to 23 of August to meet with the Kurdistan Student Union (KSU) and learn about the situation of students and higher education in the region. Higher education has expanded majorly in this region in the last decades, which has led to a massive shortage of places at universities, leaving 7000 people waiting to enter university.

Polish EU Presidency looking to expand Erasmus to non-EU students

Tue, 30 Aug 2011 14:31:00 +0100

LAZY – The future outlook of the European Students’ Union (ESU) is the main topic of discussion for 120 students’ representatives from all over Europe who meet in Lazy, Poland, for the 22nd European Students’ Convention from 30 August till 3 September. The plan from the current Polish EU Presidency to open up the Erasmus scheme to non-EU countries is also high on the agenda.

European students stand up for Israeli counterparts

Mon, 05 Sep 2011 12:21:00 +0100

LAZY – The European Students’ Union (ESU) backs the massive protests in cities all across Israel which took place on Saturday night, 3 September. Allan Päll, ESU Chairperson, said: “The Israeli government should listen to its people. It is clear that they are strongly affected by the ongoing budget cuts. Too many times, funding for the weakest in society, including students, has seen a decrease.”

ESU: “Success of higher education should not only be measured by private returns”

Wed, 14 Sep 2011 09:18:00 +0100

BRUSSELS – The European Students’ Union (ESU) is cautious towards the OECD report Education at a Glance 2011. One of the main conclusions of the report states that people with university degrees have suffered far fewer job losses during the global economic crisis. Allan Päll, ESU Chairperson, said: “Although this shows how important increased and effective investment into higher education is for societies and individuals, we do not think that the success of higher education institutions should o

ESU: “Equality in higher education needs urgent attention”

Mon, 19 Sep 2011 11:41:00 +0100

BRUSSELS – The European Students’ Union (ESU) joins sides with the EURYDICE report on the Modernisation of Higher Education in Europe which says that the social dimension of higher education needs ‘urgent attention’. Allan Päll, ESU Chairperson, said: “Countries need to make more investments into widening access and increasing student success in higher education in order to make progress towards the 40% education attainment benchmark for 2020.”

EU’s plans for modernising Higher Education horrify European students

Tue, 20 Sep 2011 14:32:00 +0100

BRUSSELS – The European Students’ Union (ESU) is utterly disappointed that the European Commission’s Modernisation Agenda, published 20 September, for Higher Education promotes student debt. Allan Päll, ESU Chairperson, 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 contributions.”

Budget deficit in Cyprus leads to meltdown of student grants

Mon, 26 Sep 2011 13:22:00 +0100

NICOSIA – Attempts from the Cypriot government to cut its budget deficit will lead to lower student grants. The European Students’ Union (ESU) is deeply concerned about the government decision to cut the social transfers by 10 per cent in order to save 200 million euro. ESU strongly supports the protests on 27 September from POFEN, representative body of Cypriot students, against this development.

ESU calls for Erasmus scheme to go East

Wed, 28 Sep 2011 08:33:00 +0100

BIALYSTOK – The European Students’ Union (ESU) strongly supports the Polish EU Presidency in its quest for a widening of the popular Erasmus scheme. Speaking at the ministerial meeting ‘Go East, Erasmus!’ from the Polish EU Presidency, in Bialystok on 28 September, Allan Päll, ESU’s Chairperson said: “Where would Europe be without Erasmus? We are confident that the current Erasmus generation will create more integration and understanding in Europe as this group has, in an early stage in their li

EP and EU Council at loggerheads over 2012 budget for education

Mon, 03 Oct 2011 10:54:00 +0100

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.

Students discuss political situation in the Middle East

Mon, 03 Oct 2011 14:57:00 +0100

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.

ESU publishes full reaction to Commission's Modernisation Agenda

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 10:35:00 +0100

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

Chilean student leaders ask for European support

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 10:03:00 +0100

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.

150 student representatives gather in Sofia to discuss hot education topics

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 11:27:00 +0100

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.

Financing project 'FINST' entering next phase

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 12:08:00 +0100

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.

Budapest plans on forcing state funded students to stay in Hungary

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 12:24:00 +0100

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

ESU urges Romanian ministry to act on student rights issues

Wed, 02 Nov 2011 14:41:00 Z

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.”

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

Tue, 08 Nov 2011 09:18:00 Z

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

Massive student protests in Ireland against dramatic budget cuts

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 12:28:00 Z

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 worried about education budgets cuts on International Students’ Day

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 13:45:00 Z

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.”

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

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 10:59:00 Z

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.

Students formulate common answers to education budget cuts

Thu, 24 Nov 2011 09:35:00 Z

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.

National Union of Students (NUS UK) launches new project

Thu, 24 Nov 2011 10:42:00 Z

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.

ESU urges EU ministers to free up money for education

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 08:09:00 Z

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.

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

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 11:19:00 Z

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/.

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

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 11:34:00 Z

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.

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

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 09:21:00 Z

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.

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

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 09:34:00 Z

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.

Student unrest in an era of economic crisis

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 10:19:00 Z

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.

ESU opens the call for the FINST student exchange in Estonia

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 10:17:00 Z

BRUSSELS - The European Students' Union (ESU) opens the call for the FINST student exchange in cooperation with the Federation of Estonian Student Unions EUL, to take place in April 2012. ESU invites all the members of the National Unions of Students.

Research articles on the financing of higher education in Europe

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 10:20:00 Z

BRUSSELS - The ESU project on Financing the Students' Future (FINST) aims to increase the knowledge of the effects of financing systems in Europe on students and works on the capacity building of the NUSes. Here you can find four research articles from the research team of the project.

BFUG decides: ‘Belarus not fit to join EHEA’

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 12:44:00 Z

BRUSSELS - The European Students Union (ESU) welcomes the conclusion of the Bologna Follow Up Group (BFUG) that Belarus should not become member of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) without reform first. On 30 November 2011, Belarus officially applied to become a member of the area but the Bologna Follow Up Group decided to advise against EHEA membership of Belarus at its meeting on 18-19 January in Copenhagen.

ESU: “Erasmus needs to become more inclusive”

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 11:35:00 Z

BRUSSELS – “Erasmus needs to become more inclusive - the grant scheme must set clear targets for disadvantaged students”, said Allan Päll, Chair of the European Students’ Union, at the occasion of the 25th Anniversary of the Erasmus programme on 30 January.

ESU’s international cooperation working group sets agenda for 2012

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 13:07:00 Z

LONDON – ESU’s working group on International cooperation (ICWG), established in to facilitate the European Students’ Union communication from with student bodies globally, has had a first planning meeting this year, hosted by NUS UK, on 28 and 29 January in London.

VSS-UNES-USU deposites citizens’ initiative for scholarships

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 11:23:00 Z

BERN - The Union of Students in Switzerland (VSS-UNES-USU) - member of the European Students' Union (ESU) - deposited on 20 January the citizens’ Initiative for Scholarships with 140’000 signatures at the Federal Chancellery. The aim is to set a cornerstone for equal opportunities in the scholarship system by harmonize the 26 different systems.

Bologna Follow-Up Group debates future of Bologna Process

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 11:31:00 Z

COPENHAGEN - The Bologna Follow-Up Group discussed the draft Bucharest communiqué at their last meeting in Copenhagen on 18 and 19 January. The communiqué is to be signed by ministers at a conference in the enormous Palace of the Parliament in Bucharest on 26 and 27 of April. In relation to this, the BFUG also discussed the progress report of the Bologna Process reforms in all 47 member states of the European Higher Education Area.

European standards for quality assurance to be revised

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 11:44:00 Z

COPENHAGEN - European stakeholders in higher education in the E4 Group have proposed that the European Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance (ESG) should be revised. This is the core recommendation of the MAP-ESG report that was launched at an event in Copenhagen on 17 January.

ESU turns to European Commission as Hungary restricts freedom of state-funded students

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 09:04:00 Z

BUDAPEST – “The new Hungarian education law hugely restricts the free movement of Hungarian students. We call upon the European Commission to take action and immediately start a thorough investigation into the legality of such a law in the EU”, said Allan Päll, Chair of the European Students’ Union (ESU) on 8 February. Hungarian students are continuing their protest against this new law in the evening of 8 February in Budapest.

ESU concerned about Italy’s plan to free up higher education

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 08:08:00 Z

ROME – The European Students’ Union (ESU) fears that deregulating the Italian higher education sector will have a very negative impact on the future of academic degrees. In an attempt to liberalise their economy, the Italian government wants to give universities carte blanche concerning who can give academic diploma’s and wants to get rid of the legal validity of degrees. “This idea should be abandoned as soon as possible as it may lead to a loss of quality of university programmes.”

ESU: “Council should act on Hungary’s higher education bill"

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:55:00 Z

BRUSSELS – The European Students’ Union (ESU) urges the EU ministers for education to put pressure on Hungary during the Education, Youth and Sports Council (EYSC) in Brussels on 10 February. Budapest recently adopted a new law on higher education that, according to ESU, represents an unjustifiable restriction of freedom of movement for workers and is a violation of the 45th Article of the Treaty of the European Union (TFEU).

ESU and Jude Law launch Global Truce Day 2012

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 05:04:00 Z

LONDON – Jude Law and the European Students’ Union (ESU) launched the Global Truce Day student campaign, in London on 27 February. The Global Truce Day is an initiative from Peace One Day, an NGO led by Jeremy Gilley, that ignited the establishment of the annual Peace Day on 21 September.

ESU: “Czech new higher education bill should be binned”

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 15:43:00 Z

PRAGUE – The European Students’ Union (ESU) gives its strong support to the week of student protests in the Czech Republic, which take place from 27 February to 2 March all around the country. Czech students are protesting against two new law proposals. The biggest students protest march will take place in Prague, on 29 February.

INTERVIEW: President of Danish national union of students, Torben Holm

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 16:10:00 Z

COPENHAGEN - As Denmark currently holds the rotating EU Presidency and the 23rd European Students' Convention is jointly organised with the Danish national union of students DSF, ESU made an interview with the new president of DSF, Torben Holm.

QUEST workshop 2 empowers students to work on quality

Wed, 29 Feb 2012 09:53:00 Z

BRUSSELS - The second QUEST (Quest for Quality for Students) project Workshop took place in Brussels from 8 to 12 February. Around 25 students from all over Europe engaged in different training activities like debates, group work and brain storming exercises and pondered how more quality can be achieved through student involvement and engagement.

Kyiv makes big step forward in higher education reform

Thu, 01 Mar 2012 08:21:00 Z

KYIV - For more than two years now hard discussion on the reform of higher education of Ukraine takes place. It has resulted in a number of students protests and made even academics take the streets in 2011 to express their disagreement. But it looks like the protests now finally are bearing fruit as reforms are on their way in the country.

NY Times: "Hungarian Students Decry State Sponsorship Cuts and Other Changes"

Mon, 05 Mar 2012 10:06:00 Z

BUDAPEST — University students and administrators are complaining of a climate of uncertainty as the government rolls out changes in the higher education system, including sharp cuts in the number of state-sponsored students and an obligation for them to work in Hungary after graduation. (New York Times, 5 March 2012, by PALKO KARASZ).

ESU supports Europe-wide protests against regime of Belarus on 18 March

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 15:35:00 Z

BRUSSELS – The European Students’ Union (ESU) gives its full support to the pan-European street protests against the regime in Belarus, on 18 March. The action is organised by the Young European Federalists (YEF).

Students make recommendations to get young Europe out of crisis

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 18:24:00 Z

COPENHAGEN - The 23rd European Students Convention discussed employability and employment from 17 to 19 March in Copenhagen.

Students oppose EU Loan Scheme

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 08:12:00 +0100

BRUSSELS – The European Students’ Union (ESU) calls for more access to education mobility by linking the size of Erasmus grants to the socio-economic background of a student. It also makes a strong fist against the EU Loan Guarantee Scheme, part of the ‘Erasmus for All’ programme, proposed by the European Commission in November 2011.

“Bologna reforms in most countries not noticeable since 2009”

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 08:33:00 +0100

BRUSSELS - Given the rapid changes in higher education and numerous ongoing reforms, especially in funding systems, the eight Bologna Process Ministerial Conference aims to be yet another milestone in establishing the European Higher Education Area. The conference is to take place on 26 and 27 April in Bucharest, Romania.

ESU to elect a new Chairperson within three weeks

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 08:40:00 +0100

BUCHAREST - The European Students’ Union (ESU) will elect a new Chairperson during its 62nd Board Meeting in Bucharest, Romania, on 22 April. The fight for the helm of ESU will take place between Karina Ufert (Lithuania, currently ESU Vice-Chair) and Magnus Malnes (Norway, currently member of ESU’s Academic Affairs committee). Next to this, the Board of ESU will elect two new Vice-Chairs and 7 new Executive Committee (EC) members.

Obstacles to student involvement still exist in Azerbaijan

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 08:45:00 +0100

BAKU – Some barriers to student involvement in Azerbaijan still exist, possibly due to the geopolitical situation and the political history of the country.

Commission replies to ESU on restriction of freedom for state-funded students in Hungary

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 08:50:00 +0100

BRUSSELS – “Requiring a person to work for a certain number of years in Hungary after completing education could potentially be an obstacle to free movement of workers”, writes the European Commission in reply to an urgent letter from the European Students’ Union (ESU) on the new Hungarian Higher Education bill. The Commission letter is dated 22 March.

Cuts in social support force Portuguese students to leave education

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 09:46:00 +0100

LISBON - Thousands of students in Portugal are forced to drop out of the education system because of economic reasons. Since September 2011, more than 5000 students have left higher education in Portugal, a number that shows clearly that injustice is rising in one of the countries with low higher education rates in Europe.

ESU publishes Activity Report 2011

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 10:45:00 +0100

BRUSSELS – The ESU Activity Report 2011 is online now. The report describes the main activities of the European Students’ Union in 2011 and provides an overview of student campaigns and demonstrations in Europe in 2011.

ESU: “Ministers are loosing grip of EHEA”

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 11:17:00 +0100

BRUSSELS – The European Students’ Union (ESU) is very concerned about the future of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) at the dawn of the Ministerial Meeting on the Bologna Process in Bucharest on 26 and 27 April.

European Students’ Union elects new Chairperson

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 12:49:00 +0100

BUCHAREST – Karina Ufert from Lithuania was elected as the new Chairperson 2012-2013 of the European Students’ Union (ESU) on 22 April in Bucharest. Ufert: “European governments are looking for ways to cut their spending to keep or get their economies back on track. Only by making the right choices and prioritising education, we can get Europe out of the crisis in a socially and economically sustainable way.” Ufert and her new team will take office on 1 July.

ESU shocked by Chilean student repression

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 07:52:00 +0100

BUCHAREST – The European Students’ Union (ESU) is shocked that the Chilean students have faced threats, intimidation and violence during their fight for reforms in higher education. Allan Päll, Chairperson of ESU, said: “ESU believes in the rights of students to shape their future without being pressured, threatened or targeted with violence.”

Students ask Bologna ministers to put more money on the table

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 08:40:00 +0100

BUCHAREST - The European Students’ Union (ESU) believes that the Bologna Ministerial Conference on 26 and 27 April in Bucharest is a great opportunity to revitalise the ongoing standstill of the Bologna Process by investing the highest possible level of public money in higher education.

Ride For Your Rights! is looking for new members

Tue, 08 May 2012 09:16:00 +0100

BRUSSELS - Imagine biking through 18 different countries to fight for your rights? 'Ride For Your Rights' did it to support student mobility. And now they are looking for new members!

ESU finds worldwide support for Chilean students

Fri, 11 May 2012 08:55:00 +0100

BRUSSELS – The European Students’ Union (ESU) has successfully rallied for international support to their statement on the repression of Chilean students who are fighting for educational reforms in their country. National and regional blocks of student unions from Asia, the Pacific, Africa, Latin-America, Russia, the United States and Turkey (*) are now backing ESU in their solidarity actions.

ESU supports Intern Action Day for Quality Internships

Wed, 16 May 2012 14:11:00 +0100

BRUSSELS - It is Intern Action Day, a day of awareness raising for better quality standards for internships and apprenticeships. Thousands of young people are doing internships in Europe, but there is lack of clear quality requirements and a regulatory framework. The European Youth Forum organises today YO! Fest – Intern Action Day, the first gathering of young interns in Europe at the Esplanade of the European Parliament.

ESU shocked by repression in Quebec

Wed, 30 May 2012 17:16:00 +0100

BRUSSELS – The European Students’ Union (ESU) expresses its solidarity and support for Quebecois students in their fight for a society where the fundamental right to freedom of assembly is respected and where education for all is a guiding principle.

ESU joins in the fight against youth unemployment

Mon, 04 Jun 2012 13:14:00 +0100

BRUSSELS - The European Students' Union (ESU) organised a roundtable on employability of higher education in the European Parliament in Brussels on 29 May. With this event, ESU wants to include a wide range of perspectives to the starting project Student Advancement of Graduates Employability (SAGE) which wants to join in the battle against young people without a job in the European labour market.

ESU welcomes binning of new Czech higher education bill

Fri, 08 Jun 2012 13:16:00 +0100

BRUSSELS – The European Students’ Union (ESU) welcomes the decision from the new Czech education minister to withdraw the new higher education reform bill. On 7 June, Education Minister Petr Fiala, who took office only in May this year, binned the unpopular draft, which had the initial aim to majorly reform universities and the Czech funding system.

European students show continuous solidarity with Chilean students

Tue, 19 Jun 2012 08:32:00 +0100

SANTIAGO DE CHILE - Vice-Chairperson elect of the European Students' Union (ESU) Taina Moisander visited the Chilean student movement from 11 to 16 June to express ESU's solidarity with the Chilean students who are fighting hard for changes in higher education in their country. After the meeting, Moisander said: "It is of utmost importance that we, as European students, support our colleagues at the other side of the ocean. Higher education should be accessible for everyone and all should have t

Public funding of higher education in Europe increasingly under threat

Thu, 28 Jun 2012 11:42:00 +0100

SALZBURG – The economic and financial crisis could lead to major divisions across Europe in terms of levels of public investment in higher education. This is the major concern that was expressed at the first Universities Funding Forum that took place at the University of Salzburg, Austria on 11 and 12 June.

ESU Chairperson Allan Päll: “We need more European solutions”

Thu, 28 Jun 2012 15:26:00 +0100

Allan Päll, outgoing ESU Chairperson looks back on the time he spent at the European Students’ Union (ESU). According to him, ESU biggest challenge is Europe: “I think ESU can no longer escape the questions of how much power should be transferred to the European level concerning higher education.”

Tracking of students and graduates in the Information Age

Thu, 28 Jun 2012 15:45:00 +0100

COPENHAGEN - European University Association (EUA) hosted a conference on 5-6 June in Copenhagen on “Tracking the Higher Education Student Lifecycle”, presenting first outcomes of the TRACKIT project. ESU Chairperson Allan Päll attended the event and writes about his thoughts below.

New ESU team 2012/2013 ready to strike

Thu, 28 Jun 2012 15:57:00 +0100

VRUTKY - Two generations of ESU elected representatives got together at Vrutky, Slovakia to outline aims and objectives for action from 22 to 25 June. The meeting has been hosted by SRVS, the Slovakian ESU member.

Third QUEST workshop takes place in Bucharest

Mon, 16 Jul 2012 11:33:00 +0100

BUCHAREST - From 2 until 8 July a quality assurance (QA) training for student representatives was conducted as a part of the Quest for quality for student project of the European Student Union (ESU). The purpose of the QUEST Workshop was to empower student representatives to engage actively with the quality processes on national, local and international level and also to enhance and assure their, and their fellow students’, learning experience.

ESU is looking for a new Project Assistant!

Mon, 30 Jul 2012 11:40:00 +0100

The European Students’ Union (ESU) is looking for a proactive team player to fill the part-time position of a Project Assistant, starting 1st of September 2012 at its headquarters in Brussels, Belgium.

ESU publishes consultation report of the MAP-ESG project

Thu, 23 Aug 2012 09:13:00 +0100

BRUSSELS - ESU has published a new publication on 23 August. The report reflects the consultation of the European Students' Union on the MAP-ESG project. The MAP-ESG project is a project on European standards and guidelines in higher education.

ESU celebrates 30 years of student representation

Tue, 28 Aug 2012 12:46:00 +0100

BRUSSELS – ESU’s 30th Anniversary celebration and 24th European Students’ Convention wil take place in Limassol, Cyprus in October 2012. The event will be hosted by POFEN, the national student union of Cyprus and member of the European Students’ Union.

How it all began - thirty years of European student leadership

Fri, 14 Sep 2012 10:14:00 +0100

BRUSSELS - The 30th Anniversary of (W)ESIB/ESU will be celebrated in Limassol, Cyprus in October 2012. The event, organised along with the 24th European Students' Convention will be hosted by POFEN, the national student union of Cyprus. How did it all once began?

Global gathering of students to discuss more cooperation

Mon, 17 Sep 2012 12:19:00 +0100

LONDON – Student leaders from more than 40 countries (*) from all continents will gather this week in London at the Global Student Leadership Summit to discuss current threats to students all over the world. The European Students’ Union (ESU), co-organiser of the event, will voice the ongoing struggles of students in Europe and debate more international cooperation.

ESU Chair: “Mass education is fundamental to democratic culture”

Tue, 18 Sep 2012 11:06:00 +0100

PARIS – “Mass higher education is fundamental to developing democratic culture as well as optimising the talent of a new generation,” said Karina Ufert, Chair of the European Students’ Union (ESU) at the biennial General Conference of the OECD’s Programme for Institutional Management in Higher Education on 17-19 September in Paris.

ESU raises huge concerns on tuition fees in Europe

Wed, 19 Sep 2012 13:56:00 +0100

BRUSSELS – Growing disparities in tuition fees in Europe has caused reason for the European Students’ Union (ESU) to ring the alarm bells. Karina Ufert, ESU Chair said: “We are witnessing a vast drop in student applications for universities in Europe as tuition fees are on the rise in many countries. There is no time to contemplate or discuss any longer. Europe must act and put a halt to creating more barriers to education.”

European Students’ Union calls for global truce on Peace Day

Thu, 20 Sep 2012 09:50:00 +0100

LONDON – The European Students’ Union (ESU) will take action on Peace Day 2012 and is calling for a Global Truce on 21 September. All 47 member unions of ESU will participate, online or in real live, to make Peace Day 2012 a success. ESU delegates will join Elton John on stage at the Peace One Day concert at the Wembley Stadium in London, together with other regional student platforms.

“Need for global cooperation between students now bigger than ever”

Wed, 26 Sep 2012 10:42:00 +0100

LONDON - Student leaders from 35 countries have agreed on a joint statement for international cooperation on education, sustainability, peace and social justice, at the first Global Student Leadership Summit. The Summit was hosted by the European Students’ Union (ESU) and NUS-UK in London between 18 and 21 September.

European student leadership celebrates its 30 years milestone

Wed, 26 Sep 2012 12:27:00 +0100

BRUSSELS – New generations of student politicians have gathered on a regular basis to create policies within ESU for three decades now. Upon founding the organisation in October 1982, it was decided that the first meeting would be preceded by a seminar on a topic of interest to all unions. The topic of the first seminar was “Student participation in decision-making bodies in Higher Education”.

150 student leaders to debate young graduates employability in Europe

Wed, 26 Sep 2012 12:54:00 +0100

LIMASSOL - Employability of students and the impact of the worldwide austerity measures on higher education will be high on the agenda of the 24th European Students' Convention from the European Students' Union (ESU). The meeting of 150 student leaders from all over Europe takes place from 17 to 20 October in Limassol, Cyprus and is hosted by ESU's Cypriot member, POFEN.

"Privatisation of education needs an immediate response"

Wed, 26 Sep 2012 13:09:00 +0100

BUENOS AIRES - "Privatisation of higher education needs an immediate response." This is one of the main outcomes from the '8th Higher Education and Research Conference' of Education International, a representative organisation of teachers unions from across the globe. The event took place in Buenos Aires, Argentina from 25 to 27 September.

Imprisoned student from Iran wins Student Peace Prize 2013

Wed, 26 Sep 2012 14:18:00 +0100

BRUSSELS - The European Students' Union (ESU) congratulates Majid Tavakoli, an imprisoned courageous student from Iran, for winning the Student Peace Prize 2013. ESU's Chairperson, Karina Ufert, said: "Tavakoli very much deserves to win this prize. He stood up for democracy and human rights in a country where criticizing the government is very dangerous."

ESU to co-chair Social Dimension working group BFUG

Thu, 27 Sep 2012 10:00:00 +0100

NICOSIA – The European Students’ Union (ESU) will co-chair the Social Dimension and Lifelong learning working group of the BFUG. This was decided at the Bologna Follow-up Group (BFUG) meeting which took place from from 28 to 29 August in Nicosia, Cyprus.

ESU worried about major geographical differences in higher education

Fri, 28 Sep 2012 08:19:00 +0100

BRUSSELS - The European Students’ Union (ESU) shows itself worried about the significant divides between levels of educational attainment within EU member states themselves. This division was revealed by the publication of an independent report from the NESSE network, dubbed "Mind the Gap”, published on 12 September. Chairperson of ESU, Karina Ufert, said: "We call on all countries to improve support for students already in the system and continue, or indeed begin, serious work on improving nati

Erasmus under threat, ESU calls for an urgent solution

Wed, 03 Oct 2012 14:47:00 +0100

BRUSSELS – Students who go on an Erasmus exchange in the second semester of 2012-2013 might not receive enough funding from their national Erasmus agencies. This was revealed by a news report from AFP, on 2 October. Karina Ufert, Chair of the European Students’ Union (ESU), said: “We urge the European Commission to make haste with their so called Global Transfer Proposal and solve the current financial shortcomings of the European Social Fund by using money from underspent EU funds.”

European Commission lacking 90 million euro for Erasmus

Wed, 10 Oct 2012 14:34:00 +0100

BRUSSELS – Only by the end of December 2012, students will have certainty about their Erasmus grants for the second semester of the academic year 2012 – 2013. For the first semester, the European Commission has already transferred 99.13 percent of the money to the national Erasmus agencies but is now lacking 90 million euro to make the payments for Erasmus students in the second semester.

UPDATE for Communications Manager applicants

Fri, 12 Oct 2012 12:49:00 +0100

BRUSSELS - Due to a high volume (300 +) of applicants for the position of ESU Communications Manager we are unable to get back to every applicant individually. We are reviewing the applications right now. If you have not heard from us within the next two weeks, you may consider your application unsuccessful.

International Students’ Day Campaign: Speak Up for Your Rights!

Wed, 24 Oct 2012 09:35:00 +0100

BRUSSELS - With the International Students’ Day Campaign, the European Students’ Union (ESU) wants to create awareness on how students perceive their studies and higher education in times of crisis, when the right to quality education is changing. The International Students’ Day, taking place on 17 November, is seen by ESU as an opportunity to go back to the roots of education and what it stands for, highlighting the perception of the students.

ESU: “Crisis is no excuse to cut back on education”

Wed, 24 Oct 2012 09:57:00 +0100

LIMASSOL – “The crisis cannot be used as an excuse to reduce spending on higher education,” this was the main conclusion of the around 150 participants at the bi-annual European Students’ Convention from the European Students’ Union (ESU). The student leaders, who met in Limassol (Cyprus) concluded that governments need to recognise the role that education plays in providing opportunities for its citizens.

European Students’ Union slams EU Loan Scheme

Wed, 24 Oct 2012 11:01:00 +0100

BRUSSELS – The European Students’ Union (ESU) strongly opposes the European Commission’s proposal for a European Loan Guarantee Facility for Master students. In ESU’s non-paper on the draft, the students write that this facility ”will bring more damage to young people instead of increase their chances for better lives”.

Recent trends in quality assurance in the limelight

Wed, 24 Oct 2012 12:23:00 +0100

PORTO – A critical discussion on recent developments in quality assurance in Europe and the USA was among the main aims of the conference “Recent Trends in Quality Assurance“ that was held in Porto (Portugal) from 11 to 13 October.

UNICA conference debates the 'Ideal European University'

Thu, 25 Oct 2012 08:55:00 +0100

OSLO - The 2012 UNICA Student Conference, the seventh of its kind, was hosted by the University of Oslo from 20 to 13 October. Organised on the theme of the Ideal European University, the conference brought together some 250 students from the network of universities in the capital cities of Europe.

European Students’ Union invites for a Roundtable Discussion on EU Loan Facility

Fri, 09 Nov 2012 12:46:00 Z

BRUSSELS - The EU loan guarantee facility, as a part of the Commission proposal on “Erasmus for All”, is in the center of heated debates due to different perspectives on the tool, meant to support master studies abroad. The European Students’ Union (ESU), representative organisation of more than 11 million of students in higher education, calls upon decision-makers to listen to what the students have to say.

Education as a solution to the crisis

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 11:24:00 Z

BRUSSELS – November 17th is globally known as the International Day of Students. It is a day of remembrance and gratitude for the acts of those students who came before us, many of whom dedicated their lives fighting for liberties and rights of students.

Concerns about a student loan scheme expressed

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 16:49:00 Z

BRUSSELS - Participants in a roundtable discussion arranged by the European Students’ Union (ESU) were generally concerned about the effect that a student loan scheme proposed by the European Commission could have on higher education in Europe.

Actions around Europe on the International Students' Day

Sat, 17 Nov 2012 11:18:00 Z

Whether it’s fighting totalitarianism or arguing around a negotiating table - students have always been a catalyst for change. Today, students organisations all over Europe are gathering to speak up for students rights in Brussels in the heart of the European institutions against the numerous austerity measures undertaken by governments in 2012 and to claim free education and investment in education as a solution to the crisis.

Students want free quality education

Tue, 20 Nov 2012 12:43:00 Z

BRUSSELS - On Saturday students gathered in Brussels, Belgium, to oppose budget cuts for education policies. They furthermore reminded decision makers of their demands and promoted their fight to ensure access to free and quality education.

ESU shows solidarity with demo in London

Wed, 21 Nov 2012 10:51:00 Z

BRUSSELS – "Students take to the streets when politicians break their promises and their short-sighted crisis mentality damages our future. Today, European students stand together in spirit with those on the streets of London participating in the mass protest,” Karina Ufert, the Chairperson of the European Students’ Union says.

ESU calls for an immediate solution to EU budget for 2013

Mon, 26 Nov 2012 12:40:00 Z

BRUSSELS - The European Commission presented on Friday 23 November a new draft proposal for the budget of the European Union in 2013, which ‘protects’ financial commitments for the Erasmus Mundus and Lifelong Learning Programmes. The European Students’ Union (ESU) requests that the European Parliament and the Council deal swiftly with the proposal so that any uncertainty concerning the funding for European education policies can be erased.

Access to education is a transatlantic issue

Wed, 28 Nov 2012 16:38:00 Z

NEW ORLEANS - “Even though the financing of higher education differs largely between Europe and North-America, the underlying issues concerning access remain the same. Students from underrepresented groups face the most difficulties entering tertiary education and lack information and knowledge on where to seek support to attain higher education,” says Taina Moisander, Vice-Chairperson of the European Students’ Union (ESU).

Time for peer learning on the social dimension

Wed, 28 Nov 2012 17:00:00 Z

The European Students’ Union (ESU) participated at the beginning of November in the kick-off meeting of a new project aimed at facilitating peer learning on the social dimension between countries in the European Higher Education Area. It focuses on collecting information about good practices that promote issues related to the social dimension of higher education as well as conducting peer-reviews on the subject.

Education Ministers reaffirm the importance of student-centred learning

Wed, 28 Nov 2012 17:08:00 Z

STRASBOURG - Delegates of the European Students' Union (ESU) participated in the second regional meeting of Ministers of Education on the implementation of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) held in Strasbourg on 22 and 23 November 2012. ESU presented students' view of the national qualifications frameworks, referring to Bologna With Students' Eyes 2012 conclusions and recommendations.

Quality and trust: At the heart of what ESU does

Wed, 28 Nov 2012 17:17:00 Z

TALLINN - Tallinn University turned into a hub for enthusiasts about the quality assurance of education from 22 to 24 November 2012. Around four hundred people with experience ranging from public policy-making and governance in the area of higher education or quality management to students gathered for the European Quality Assurance Forum (EQAF) to share their views on whether quality assurance of higher education, as we experience it nowadays, lives up to our expectations. Never have as many st

QUEST participants exchange views on a quality concept for education

Wed, 28 Nov 2012 17:44:00 Z

VALLETTA - Students’ representatives from all over Europe, policy makers and experts in the area of higher education and quality assurance are expected to participate in a consultation conference organised as part of the Quest for Quality for Students project (QUEST) in Valletta, Malta, from 29 November to 1 December 2012.

Turkish students become candidates to ESU

Thu, 06 Dec 2012 14:33:00 Z

VALLETTA - “We are one of the student unions in the world that has the highest number of students represented, which amounts to more that four million. This situation brings a significant duty and responsibility for our board in order to figure out the common problems of higher education for students,” says Ozan Demirer, member of the Student Council of Turkey (STC) responsible for relations with the European Students’ Union (ESU).

Armenian students join ESU: "ANSA has demonstrated a significant progress," says ESU Chair

Thu, 06 Dec 2012 14:43:00 Z

VALLETTA - “We want to form a generation of students that will clearly realise their roles in the society and will be able to take actions when necessary,” says Sargis Asatriants, Head of the International Relations Committee at the Armenian National Students’ Association (ANSA).

ESU outraged due to a decision made by the Hungarian Government

Mon, 10 Dec 2012 12:17:00 Z

BUDAPEST - The Hungarian Government has introduced a regulation that caps the number of free study places available to students at ten thousand for bachelors´ degrees in 2013. This means that there will be twenty thousand fewer places offered for free next year in Hungary when compared to 2012. The Government has gradually scrapped the number of these study places, as they were fifty thousand just a few years ago. It is furthermore suggested that no state-subsidised places will be offered for ce

Words from ESU's chair: Why organise? - Looking back at 2012

Thu, 20 Dec 2012 06:52:00 Z

BUDAPEST - The Hungarian government tends to ask students that protest, why they are in the streets when a decision to raise tuition fees will not apply to them. Why bother? But the problem here and elsewhere in Europe is much deeper. It is not only a single case involving tuition fees in Hungary, but more about how decision-makers see us, the young people.

Two important policy papers adopted at ESU’s Board Meeting

Thu, 20 Dec 2012 08:14:00 Z

VALLETTA - One hundred and twenty delegates from national unions of students gathered in Malta for ESU’s bi-annual Board Meeting from 2 to 5 December. ESU’s Board is the organisation’s highest decision-making body consisting of representatives from all the unions that are full members of ESU, or 47 in total.

ESU's projects: Concluding 2012 and continuing in 2013

Thu, 20 Dec 2012 08:40:00 Z

BRUSSELS - This year has been eventful in terms of project activities in ESU. The three main projects; FinSt, QUEST and SAGE, have kept the organisation busy, with five major events taking place throughout the year.

Role of students in quality assurance highlighted at a successful seminar

Thu, 20 Dec 2012 08:47:00 Z

VALLETTA - More than 130 students’ representatives from all over Europe, policy makers and experts in the area of quality assurance of higher education participated in a consultation conference organised as part of the Quest for Quality for Students project (QUEST) in Valletta, Malta, from 29 November to 1 December 2012.

Overview of ESU's partnerships in 2012

Thu, 20 Dec 2012 09:08:00 Z

BRUSSELS - Besides continuing its long-term collaboration with partners active in the higher education field, the European Students’ Union (ESU) developed specific partnerships for several projects this year funded by the European Commission. These projects cover policy areas that are of great interest to ESU and its members.

Social dimension working group starts new mandate with students’ power

Thu, 20 Dec 2012 09:21:00 Z

BRUSSELS – The European Students’ Union (ESU) has been endorsed to co-chair the Social Dimension Working Group together with Ireland following a decision taken at a meeting of the Bologna Follow-up Group (BFUG) in Cyprus in August. Brian Power (Ireland) and Karina Ufert (ESU), acting co-chairs, summoned the first meeting of the working group on 13 December in Brussels. The main idea behind it was to discuss and agree on the future working agenda for 2013 to 2015.

Structural implementation of the Bologna process discussed

Thu, 20 Dec 2012 09:30:00 Z

BRUSSELS - The European Students' Union (ESU), represented by Nevena Vuksanovic, participated in the kick off meeting of the Structural Working Group (SWG) of the European Higher Education Area on 13 and 14 December. Around thirty participants gathered for the meeting taking place in Brussels to discuss challenges and expectations of the group.

ESU enters into partnership with Debating Europe

Thu, 20 Dec 2012 12:21:00 Z

Officials of the European Students’ Union (ESU) and Debating Europe signed a partnership agreement in the middle of December. Debating Europe is a leading discussion platform for European affairs and it is therefore of great pleasure that ESU enters the agreement.

Hungarian students gain leverage in their struggle against educational reforms

Thu, 20 Dec 2012 13:44:00 Z

BUDAPEST - Following a demonstration attended by thousands of students in Hungary over a period of two weeks, the government has shown willingness to negotiate on highly disputed changes to the country’s education system. It seems as the government has backed away from some of its plans to cut the number of free study places offered in 2013 as was decided at the beginning of December.

Student mobility a main priority in European integration

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 16:21:00 Z

BERLIN - “European integration is concerned with mutual exchange and understanding. One of its main goals is to improve student mobility. It can only be achieved if student flows are balanced between different regions in Europe,” says Tinja Zerzer, a member of the Executive Committee of the European Students’ Union (ESU), but she was nominated to represent students' views in the Working Group on Mobility and Internationalisation.

Tuition fees in Finland would be harmful, says ESU's Chair

Tue, 08 Jan 2013 07:48:00 Z

BRUSSELS - Finnish parliamentarians are now considering whether tuition fees should be imposed on students coming from outside the EU/EEA area even though research and an on-going tuition fee trial indicate that it would be a damaging decision. Similar attempts in Sweden and Denmark have revealed that tuition fees can lead to a drop up to 80 per cent in the number of non-EU/EEA students seeking education in these countries.

FINST conference highlights differences in European financing systems

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 15:01:00 Z

BRUSSELS - On Tuesday 29 January, the European Students Union (ESU) will present the outcomes of a research on how various financing systems affect students. The study reveals a country and regional based comparison exposing many differences in funding systems from a Pan-European perspective.

Students and universities' officials gather in Brussels for EU Studies Fair

Thu, 31 Jan 2013 15:00:00 Z

BRUSSELS - The European Voice will hold its 14th annual undergraduate and postgraduate EU Studies Fair on 8 and 9 February to bring together universities and prospective students in EU studies, international relations, business or law. It has established itself as a unique event attracting multilingual, ambitious students and young professionals who have a direct interest in further study and careers in these fields.

Internship programme launched for the SiS Catalyst Project

Thu, 31 Jan 2013 15:55:00 Z

BRUSSELS - Eight internships will be introduced for students as part of the implementation of the SiS Catalyst Project, which is an initiative taken to foster and support ethical, effective and sustainable engagement between children aged 7-14 years and decision makers that shape the children’s future.

Governments must ensure that international students can vote

Thu, 31 Jan 2013 16:35:00 Z

ROME - “We are firmly convinced that the voting right is a fundamental right in a democracy and we urge that all students studying abroad have the opportunity to participate in general elections in their home countries,” says Karina Ufert, Chairperson of the European Students Union (ESU).

European students stand firmly against tuition fees in Finland

Thu, 31 Jan 2013 17:01:00 Z

HELSINKI - International students residing in Finland might have to pay thousands of euros in tuition fees if a motion supported by a majority of the national parliament becomes reality. An on-going trial project on tuition fees for certain Master’s programmes in Finland has already revealed that some universities have charged up to twelve thousand euros per annum.

The dangers of university ranking systems

Thu, 31 Jan 2013 17:25:00 Z

DUBLIN - The European Students Union (ESU) hopes that the European Commission’s attempt to develop a multidimensional ranking system for higher education institutions called U-Multirank will avoid the pitfalls of traditional ranking systems, such as doing damage to the social dimension of higher education.

Hungarian students make headway in government negotiations

Thu, 31 Jan 2013 17:50:00 Z

BUDAPEST - On 21 January, Zoltán Balogh, the Hungarian Minister for Human Resources, signed a partial agreement with representatives of the National Union of Students (HÖOK) regarding state-financed places in sixteen academic fields. This means that students entering their first year of studies such as law and economics will not have to pay tuition fees although the entrance requirements of credits will be higher than in other study areas.

In pictures: Armenian and Turkish students sign a cooperation agreement

Thu, 31 Jan 2013 18:01:00 Z

ISTANBUL - The Armenian National Students Association (ANSA) and the Student Council of Turkey (SCT) have expressed their readiness to cooperate on representation and protection of the students’ educational, social, economic, sports and cultural interests as well as to advocate students’ rights.

FINST study: More public investments needed in higher education

Thu, 31 Jan 2013 18:04:00 Z

BRUSSELS - Public investments have not kept up with the rising number of students in higher education in Europe in the past twenty years. Quite the opposite, budgets for higher education have been cut in almost all European countries since 2008, with the most severe being up to fifty percent.

EU heads are not committed to reach the EU2020 targets

Sat, 09 Feb 2013 12:00:00 Z

BRUSSELS - ‘Erasmus for all’ might only receive around 17.5 billion euros from 2014 to 2020 if the European Council will get its way. The European Commission had originally allocated 19 billion for this programme within the new Multiannual Financial Framework that is currently being negotiated. These figures take into account the estimated inflation throughout the programme´s time period.

The social system for Danish students is in jeopardy

Fri, 22 Feb 2013 13:16:00 Z

COPENHAGEN - Social mobility might be reduced and fewer students would complete their studies if proposed changes to the financial support system for students in Denmark will be adopted. These reforms introduced by Morten Østergaard, the Danish Minister for Higher Education, would hit those families especially hard that come from lower socio-economic backgrounds. They could have severely negative consequences for all students in secondary and tertiary education.

MEPs listen to students’ worries about a loan scheme

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 10:21:00 Z

BRUSSELS - Mrs. Isabelle Thomas, Member of the European Parliament (S&D), understands the concerns that European students have regarding the introduction of a European Loan Guarantee Facility. She thinks it might be a slippery slope for the European Union, as it might change the perception of the Erasmus programme and make it possible to gradually replace scholarships with loans. It would also increase the indebtedness of students, which she says is: “Not something we should wish for with 25 per

Students seek solutions to protect the equality and diversity of education

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 15:02:00 Z

DUBLIN – From 8 to 10 March, students´ representatives from 39 countries in Europe will debate how equality and diversity within higher education can be ensured in times of radical changes caused by intense budgetary constraints. What strategies do individual universities, regional authorities, national governments and European institutions employ to achieve their goals?

Strategies and resources for student support services are needed

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 16:38:00 Z

BUCHAREST – A genuine commitment to implementing agreed goals for student support within the Bologna context is lacking in South-East Europe, according to the participants of a seminar on the social dimension of Higher Education held in Bucharest from 22 to 24 February.

ESU Study Session: Stronger students' participation for the open society

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 16:45:00 Z

BUDAPEST - Thirty experienced students’ representatives from all over Europe gathered in Hungary from 3 to 9 February to explore different ways to improve organisational knowledge management at European, national and local levels.

Council of Europe: Shaping education for future societies

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 16:57:00 Z

STRASBOURG – The Council of Europe’s (CoE) role in higher education is a prominent one. Based on firm values, such as democracy, human rights and rule of law, this European institution has a unique perspective to offer, by strongly advocating the multiple purposes of education.

Enhancing students´ representation in Belarus: Reflections from Lithuania

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 13:38:00 Z

VILNIUS – A new Belarus Student Representatives Exchange Scheme will be launched this spring, aiming at major topics related to student representation in the region and beyond such as the European Higher Education Area (EHEA), Student Participation in the Higher Education Governance, Quality Assurance in Higher Education and Enhancement of the Academic Integrity. This Exchange Scheme will provide students’ representatives with the skills and know-how on how to advocate students´ interests effici

ESU participates in the revision of European Standards and Guidelines

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 14:00:00 Z

BRUSSELS - The European Students’ Union (ESU) is one of seven stakeholders’ organisations in charge of drafting the initial proposal for a revised version of the Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area (often referred to as ESG).

ESU deplores intentions to raise tuition fees in Bulgaria

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 15:16:00 Z

SOFIA – Thousands of students take to the streets in Bulgaria to protest worsening living conditions, as many universities plan to increase their tuition fees by 8 to 33 per cent. Students’ demands to be fully recognised as partners have also been ignored, as students´ representation within governing bodies of higher education institutions is still limited. Decisions to introduce higher tuition fees were taken behind the students’ back.

ESU tells the Icelandic government to make haste

Sat, 09 Mar 2013 15:28:00 Z

REYKJAVIK – The European Students’ Union (ESU) encourages the Icelandic Parliament Althingi to give priority to a government bill making changes to the Icelandic loan system for students.

Europe needs to take action on the social dimension

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 14:35:00 Z

DUBLIN - European students call for a clear message from the Council of the European Union on the social dimension of higher education. A first draft of council’s conclusions on the issue will be debated at a meeting of the council's education committee meeting this Wednesday.

Internship positions funded by the SiS Catalyst Project

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 18:32:00 Z

BRUSSELS - ESU invites students that are interested in working with children to apply for one of the four positions for internships linked to the activities of the SiS Catalyst FP7 funded project.

ESU welcomes the European Commission's push for student mobility

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 15:02:00 Z

BRUSSELS – The European Students’ Union (ESU) fully supports the new attempt of the European Commission to introduce clear and more consistent rules for non-EU nationals, who come to the EU for studies or scientific research.

Budget cuts to education in contrast with EU2020 goals

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 08:40:00 Z

BRUSSELS – The European Students’ Union (ESU) raises strong concerns about the consequences the imposed cuts in national budgets for education would have for Europe in the long run. ESU believes that those cuts divert the EU away from its agreed strategy for inclusive growth (EU2020).

In the midst of hot springs and smelly sharks

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 09:58:00 Z

REYKJAVIK – Nordic and Baltic students gathered in Iceland from 21 to 24 March to talk about employability of students and recent graduates and different ways to courage entrepreneurship and innovation. One of the projects run by the European Students’ Union (ESU), called Student Advancement of Graduates’ Employability (SAGE), was presented at the conference.

ESU participates in the ECTS revision process

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 10:21:00 Z

BRUSSELS - The European Students’ Union took part in the first meeting of the ad hoc working group on modifying the ECTS Guide, following up on recommendations from the meeting of the 47 Education Ministers involved in the Bologna Process in Bucharest in 2012.

Four policy papers up for ESU’s Board Meeting

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 12:02:00 Z

BUDAPEST – The 64th Board Meeting of the European Students´ Union (ESU) will be taking place next month, from 26 to 28 April, in Budapest, Hungary. A revision of ESU’s policy will be at the top of the agenda, but the process was kicked off last autumn when participants discussed and approved a policy paper on the social dimension of higher education.

Europe must do more on the Social Dimension of Higher Education

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 12:32:00 Z

DUBLIN – More than one hundred students and students‘ representatives from across Europe participated in the 25th European Students‘ Convention where they challenged each other in discussions about the social dimension and equality of higher education in times of immense economic pressures. This debate took place in Dublin from 7 to 11 March.

Blooming creativity at the European Students’ Convention

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 13:02:00 Z

DUBLIN – A new concept for online interaction was introduced to the participants of the European Students’ Convention in Dublin from 7 to 11 March. Defined as rapporteur 2.0, it encouraged people to participate in lively debates on Twitter on the topics highlighted each day during the conference. People were also asked to share their experiences off-venue in a creative way.

Hands off our financial aid, students tell parliament

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 13:23:00 Z

HELSINKI – The Parliament of Finland received a clear message on Wednesday 20 March when thousands of students stormed to it holding banners and shouting slogans telling law makers to defend the country’s student support system for higher education.

Waiting for EU action on student contracts

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 13:57:00 Z

BUDAPEST – Hungarian students have not yet received any concrete support from the European Commission regarding their government‘s plans to install contracts obliging students to stay in the country following their graduation.

Proper funds for higher education needed in Belgium

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 14:09:00 Z

BRUSSELS - Financial support per student in Belgium has been steadily decreasing in the past years, adequate infrastructure is lacking, studies are inflexible and more investments are needed in the education system in order to aid success.

A phantom of the Erasmus budget crisis is back

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 16:14:00 Z

BRUSSELS – Once again the European Union has sent students an upsetting message about the Erasmus and Lifelong Learning Programmes as an amended budget proposal only allocates the bare minimum needed to meet financial obligations in 2013.

Ukrainian students must enjoy democratic rights

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 11:46:00 +0100

KIEV – The European Students’ Union (ESU) is appalled by the Ministry of Education and Science‘s attempt to influence the work of Ukraine‘s student bodies.

Student benefits cause a populist overreaction

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 17:25:00 +0100

COPENHAGEN – The European Students’ Union (ESU) is dismayed by the political debate in Denmark where the Liberal and People’s Party have used a recent judgment by the European Court of Justice as a lame excuse to attack international students residing in the country.

Disappointing move by the Icelandic Parliament

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 16:03:00 +0100

REYKJAVIK – “We find it very unfortunate and discouraging that the Icelandic Parliament did not realise the importance of adopting a legal bill that would have improved the financial situation of students greatly. Now, the future of the proposal will be in the hands of voters in Iceland that will choose a new set of parliamentarians at the end of April,” says Karina Ufert, Chairperson of the European Students’ Union (ESU).

Participate in a survey on student guidance in your university

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 10:03:00 +0100

BRUSSELS – The Stay In project aims at designing and developing services capable of supporting students in higher education during their academic career, for example by offering them guidance on how to access available and prospective opportunities within universities and in relevant communities. Guidance is conceived as personalised support for each student to tackle potential obstacles that could possibly lead to his or her disengagement and drop-out.

ESU looks for students interested in going to Montreal

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 13:59:00 +0100

MONTREAL – The Europan Students‘ Union (ESU) proudly announces the opening of a call for students who are interested in participating in the first World Congress on Access to Post-secondary Education taking place from 7 to 10 October 2013 in Montreal, Canada.

Education should be protected from austerity

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 16:24:00 +0100

BRUSSELS – The European Students’ Union (ESU) welcomes the idea of making 2013 a European Year of Citizens and urges decision-makers to reflect on how their policies affect societies in Europe.

Students say no to a shrunken Erasmus budget

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 08:15:00 +0100

BRUSSELS – The European Students’ Union (ESU) is deeply disappointed that billions of euros might be slashed from the original budget proposal for education and youth in the EU’s multiannual financial framework from 2014 to 2020 because of the austerity demand set by the European Council in February.

A double tuition system in Switzerland hurts student mobility efforts

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 21:59:00 +0100

BERN – A decision to double or even triple the tuition fees paid by students whose parents do not pay taxes in Switzerland would diminish the country’s international student population, reduce cultural diversity and hurt any attempts to attract talented people from all over the world. This is the opinion of the European Students’ Union (ESU).

The Erasmus funding gap must be eliminated

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 10:47:00 +0100

BRUSSELS – Students have been given a new hope that the uncertainty arising from the EU’s budget negotiations on education and youth may soon be eradicated. A new agreement might take care of the 126 million euros that are needed for the Lifelong learning and Erasmus programmes this year.

Four policy papers adopted at ESU’s Board Meeting

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 21:16:00 +0100

BUDAPEST - After a year of intensive work, the highest decision making body of the European Students Union (ESU) has discussed thoroughly and adopted four core policy papers on higher education.

SAGE training: No jobs, no solution

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 21:46:00 +0100

BUDAPEST – Students’ perspectives need to be brought to decision makers in order to support the policy-making processes for sustainable higher education reforms. Therefore, ESU’s project called Student Advancement of Graduates Employability (SAGE) provides an important input to the current educational reforms as it addresses the question of why employability shouldn’t only be defined accordingly to labour market’s terms.

Alternatives to student loans must be considered

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 21:59:00 +0100

BUDAPEST – Students want more investments in the grant system for higher education in Europe much rather than to introduce a new loan scheme like the European Commission has proposed. They demand that the European Parliament and Council look at alternative measures on how student mobility can be enhanced instead of including the loan facility in the Erasmus for all programme starting in 2014.

A new leadership for ESU has been elected

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 23:02:00 +0100

BUDAPEST – Rok Primozic, from Slovenia, has been elected as a new Chairperson of the European Students’ Union (ESU). Along with Primozic, two Vice-Chairpersons and seven Executive Commitee members were also chosen at the 64th Board Meeting of ESU taking place in Budapest, Hungary, from 26 to 28 April.

Call for proposals: Student engagement in Europe - society, higher education and student governance

Fri, 03 May 2013 14:04:00 +0100

STRASBOURG - ESU seeks proposals for several categories of articles on key themes concerning student engagement in contemporary Europe. Proposals need to be handed in by filling out a standard form and a CV before 1 June 2013.

Discrimination based on homosexuality must be brought to an end

Fri, 17 May 2013 09:31:00 +0100

BRUSSELS – The European Students Union (ESU) calls on the United Nations and the Council of Europe to introduce and support a resolution calling for an end to discrimination based on homosexuality and for all citizens of Europe to pursue their life choices freely and without fear or personal danger.