Elected representatives
Executive Committee (EC)
Academic Affairs Committee (AAC)
Committee for Internal Development (CID)
Gender Equality Cross Committee (GECC)
Social Affairs Committee (SAC)
Student Union Development Committee (SUDC)
Introduction
ESU has a democratic structure based on the primacy of its members – 45 national unions of students from 38 different countries across Europe. The Boards meets twice a year and elects ESU’s officials on an annual basis, with each member country having two votes. The elections appoint ESU’s representative structure which consists out of the Executive Committee (EC) whose work is supported by five content committees that work on various topics such as academic affairs, gender equality, social affairs, students’ union development and related topics. In addition to the content committees, ESU had 2 working groups in 2011 which worked on the topics of international cooperation and immigration and ethnic minorities.
The daily work of the Executive Committee and the elected representatives is supported by a professional Secretariat which consists out of a Financial Officer, a Communications Manager, a Project Officer, a Project Assistant and an Executive Assistant, all five based in Brussels. For more information on the Secretariat, click here.
Executive Committee
The Executive Committee (EC) consists out of a chairperson, a vice-chairperson and three general members. The EC is responsible for steering and organising the organisation, both politically and financially, on a day-to-day basis. It is responsible for carrying out the decisions which are taken by the Board Meeting, ESU's highest decision-making body which consist out of all member unions. Contact the EC.
For 2011-2012, the EC consists out of the following persons:
Allan Päll
Chairperson
Email: allan@esu-online.org
Phone: +32 479 591 499
Karina Ufert
Vice-Chairperson
Email: karina@esu-online.org
Phone: +32 473 669 892
Kal Kostadinov
EC-member
Email: kal@esu-online.org
Phone:+359 884 399 414
Nevena Vuksanovic
EC-member
Email: nevena@esu-online.org
Phone: +38 164 457 3783
Rok Primozic
EC-member
Email: rok@esu-online.org
Phone: +38 641 923 209
The Academic Affairs Committee (AAC) is responsible for developing expertise and representation regarding academic affairs. It deals with issues such as quality assurance, qualifications frameworks, ECTS (European Credits Transfer System) and student-centered learning. It monitors these developments, produces policy papers, drafts statements and develops external strategies to promote these. It is a key channel for the promotion of the paradigm shift that ESU is pushing for in higher education generally. Contact the AAC.
For 2011-2012, the AAC consists out of the following persons:
Fernando Galán Magnus Malnes Mari Simola Tinja Zerzer (picture coming soon)
The Committee for Internal Development (CID) is responsible for finances, public relations and internal working conditions. Initially, its work is to develop the plans for more finances by setting up the ISIC-card and developing a training portfolio. Finally, the CID is a reference point for elected representatives, making them feel comfortable in the organisation and making sure they are able to use the facilities that are offered. Contact the CID.
For 2012, the CID consists out of the following persons:
Cristina P. Valcarcel Miroslav Jasurek
The role of the Gender Equality Cross-Committee is to address gender-related issues within its internal structures and within Higher Education. The aim of the committee is to increase awareness and understanding of gender equality issues such as participation of women in the student movement, equal pay disparities, policy development and effective internal monitoring. This is done through training and sessions dedicated to different aspects of gender equality at ESU’s major internal events.
GECC is responsible to ensure the implementation of ESU’s Gender Mainstreaming Strategy. Reflecting the importance of ensuring that gender issues are reflected across all of ESU’s policies, the committee is made up of 5 elected representatives from different fields that cover all of ESU’s policy areas: academic affairs, social affairs, ESU’s internal development and student union development.
For 2012, the Gender Equality Cross Committee consists out of the following persons:
Florian Kaiser
Cristina Pastor Valcarcel
Fernando Galán
Karl Agius
Kal Kostadinov
Contact the Gender Equality Cross Committee
The Social Affairs Committee (SAC) is tasked with researching, training and representing students in the field of social affairs of higher education. The SAC focuses on questions related to access to higher education, participation in and completion of one's studies. It therefore involves all work regarding the social dimension of higher education, including financial affairs, students' health, accomodation and work. Contact the SAC.
For 2012, the SAC consists out of the following persons:
The Student Union Development Committee (SUDC) is tasked with supporting the development of student unions in Europe. It carries out this work in cooperation with the other working structures as well as the national unions of students. The SUDC develops its own plan of work and defines its work methods based on the general plan of work of ESU. Contact the SUDC.
For 2012, the SUDC consists out of the following persons:
Liliya Ivanova Karl Agius