 |
Dear readers,
As you all know, Europe is facing one of the biggest
humanitarian crisis since the World War II regarding the number of
displaced persons fleeing their countries and looking for a safe place
to stay in Europe. Some of these people will be able to get the refugee
status and initiate the integration path rather fast, while others might
face quite long and bureaucratic procedures. In either case, education
institutions and stakeholders have a key role to play both in welcoming
and integrating these people.
The European Students' Union is aware of the challenges that
refugees and other displaced persons face, especially the challenges in
accessing or continuing education and getting their qualifications
recognised. This is why ESU has been collaborating with other
organisations and institutions since a long time ago, to assist refugees
and displaced persons, including those who are in the area at the
border between Turkey and Syria. Nonetheless, much more needs to be done
to meet the needs of refugees and combat hate-speech, xenophobia and
radicalisation.
We hope you will find this special edition of our
newsletter interesting and inspiring. We would also like to invite you
to share initiatives and good practices about how to assist refugees and
other displaced persons. ESU will continue working on ensuring that
education is seen as a human right and a public good, accessible to
everyone regardless of their formal status. Sincerely, Fernando Galán, ESU Chairperson
|
|
Mail to a friend
Know someone who might be interested in this email?
|
|
The European Students' Union condemns the terrorist attacks in Paris
|
 
ESU is deeply concerned about the the possible outcome of what this seed of fear might mean for Europeans and for Europe itself.
The European Students' Union strongly condemns the terrorist
attacks in Paris and send our condolences and solidarity with all the
victims, their families and their beloved ones. All our thoughts and
prayers are with all people in Paris and in France.
Read more |
Students worldwide stand up for free education as a tool against radicalisation and xenophobia
|
 BRUSSELS
- Today, in celebration of the International Students' Day, the
European Students Union (ESU) together with Organising Bureau of
European School Student Unions (OBESSU) and students from all over the
globe call for freedom of movement, freedom to study and freedom to
live in dignity. Read more |
|
Step forward to make EU education systems more accessible to non-EU students
|
 On
17th of November, the International Students' Day, the trialogue
between the European Commission, the European Parliament and the
Council have reached an agreement regarding new EU rules of entry and
residence for non-EU students. This directive will merge and replace
two existing directives (one on students and one on researchers) and
has been a subject of discussions and disagreements for the past years. Read more |
Conversations with a Syrian refugee: Meet Karam Yahya
|
 We
reached Karam Yahya, a young Syrian refugee who not very long ago made
the dangerous jouney to Europe in search for a better life. Karam was
also one of our key speakers during the 30th European Students'
Convention in Brussels. We tried to find out more about his story,
including his motivations to join Europe and his hopes and fears. Read more |
Why education is a life-saving sector for refugees
|
 GAZIANTEP
- Since the so called refugee migration crisis hitting Europe in the
summer of 2015, there are numbers we are starting to know by heart. In
2015, the UNHCR has registered over 4 million Syrian refugees: 2,1
Syrian refugees live in Turkey, over one million live in Lebanon, over
one million live in Jordan and Greece registered over 500 000 refugees.
Out of the Syrian population that is still living in Syria, 13,5 are
in dire need of basic services: food, non-food items, health,
education, shelter, water, hygiene and sanitation. 6,5 in Syria are
Internally Displaced Persons. Numbers are devastating, yet for the most
of us, they don't mean anything until we meet a Syrian person and we
can give a human face to these numbers. Hopefully with the majority of
those refugees being young people, our generation will be able to meet
them in schools, universities or in the workplace and welcome them
without fear and with compassion. If we often need to put a human face
on Syrian refugees, we must show them our human face as well by being
compassionate, this is what makes us Human. But before we meet refugees
in schools, universities and in the workplace, there are many steps
that need to be taken by our European governments. Read More |
The refugee crisis as Europe's brain gain
|
Europe is in need of a new university: a Lampedusa university.
There are many talented people among the 19 million people that have
been forced to flee their home countries because of war, persecution and
oppression. Nurses, architects and researchers that can help Europe in
facing the challenges of the future.
Half of all Syrian refugees are children or teenagers and only 20%
of them are attending school. While education is exactly what is
essential/necessary to give them a future, hope and perspectives. Why
not transform refugee camps into centres of excellence? we would thereby
help to reshape the future of those teenagers and give their lives
some perspective again.
Read More |
SSU: How does Slovenia react to the refugees crisis?
|
Slovenians' opinions are divided on many issues; due to geographical or
political reasons. This means that the country has many opposing
thoughts on the topic of refugees. On one hand, there are the ones who
believe that refugees are going to enrich our society, that our country
should put in some efforts to keep (some of) the refugees in our
country and that people are coming from warzones, where their lives are
endangered and to flee is the only possible and reasonable way to
survive.
|
NUSUK: International Students' Campaign Day of Solidarity
|
The anti-immigrant policies of the UK government have become
intolerable. The difficulties faced by International students are not
isolated but are part of a wider agenda to keep away migrants and pander
to the far-right. Students across the UK have had enough and are going
to take part in a one-day national day of walk-out on November 17 to
highlight their dissatisfaction and anger with such policies.
Read more |
VSS-UNES-USU: Refugees in Swiss universities (French)
|
 The Swiss Students Union welcomes the swissuniversities declaration of intent of 09.17.2015 to
become active in the field of the admission of refugees in Swiss
schools. In this area , there is a need for action. In addition to
admission, we should also eliminate other barriers that prevent refugees
to continue their training. Read more |
SFS: Four proposals for an open knowledge society (Swedish)
|
 Swedish National Union of Students (SFS) has stood up for transparency and solidarity in a hundred years.Today, on the International Student Day, we want to highlight all people to get an education and move freely in the world. We present four requirements for an open knowledge society. Read more |
|
ESU in the Press
|
|
Upcoming Events
|
|
|
Below is a list of projects ESU is participating in as a Partner or Team Leader.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
