As technology advances, it creates diverse opportunities for students and staff of higher education institutions to study abroad or participate in various exchange programmes. That is why the European Students Union (ESU) pursues to develop its actions in collaboration with students from all around the world.

It is important to foster solidarity and cooperation among students in order to tackle issues such as their inequal access to education and other students' rights. ESU focuses on working together with regional and national student representations in its effort to create a sustainable international dialogue among students and for them to join actions when needed.

Global Student Leadership Summit

ESU took part in the first Global Student Leadership Summit (GSLS) held in London in September 2012 (click here to see photos from the summit). This event brought together a number of delegates from different continents. The participants of the meeting decided to continue working together within the Global Student Cooperation Working Group (GSCWG) to plan the next global summit and follow-up on the points that were raised at the GSLS in London. ESU was appointed to chair that group in its first year of activity.

Historical background

ESU also established the International Cooperation Working Group (ICWG) in 2008 in order to facilitate communication with student bodies around the world. The ICWG was mandated by ESU's Board and promoted dialogues between regional platforms and national unions of students to voice out their main concerns related to violations of student rights and to safeguard education as a public good. It brought students’ perspectives to the Bologna Policy Forum, which was held in April 2012, by gathering opinions of students’ representatives from more than thirty countries outside the European Higher Education Area (EHEA). The ICWG worked together with the National Union of Students in the UK (NUS UK) on organising the GSLS in London in 2012. The ICWG was brought to an end when the GSCWG was formed.

Contact us

If you are interested in our global activities or believe you can contribute to the international student cooperation, please contact us at global@esu-online.org