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Why “ organise ” ?. Karina Ufert European Students ’ Union, Chairperson. Why organise?. 17 th October 1982: Norway, United Kingdom, Sweden, Iceland, France, Denmark and Austria created Western European Students Information Bureau (WESIB) Aims:
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Why “organise”? Karina Ufert European Students’ Union, Chairperson
Why organise? 17th October 1982: Norway, United Kingdom, Sweden, Iceland, France, Denmark and Austria created Western European Students Information Bureau (WESIB) Aims: Coordinate the flow of information between the union members and international bodies, like UNESCO, Council of Europe
Why organise? Political changes in Eastern Europe (80-90ies) – “Iron curtain” goes down WESIB becomes ESIB (European Student Information Bureau) in 1990 Membership: from 16 in 1990 to 31 in 1992! First policy papers – Human Rights and Democracy, Equal Opportunities
The rise of Bologna… In 1999, 29 Ministers signed so-called Bologna declaration, calling for establishment of the… European Higher Education Area (EHEA), to ensure comparable, compatible and coherent systems of Higher education in Europe But without students.
ESIB responds: • Already in 2001 – reference to “students as competent and constructive partners” • In 2003 ESIB present at Ministerial Conference, presenting students’ view on Bologna process • In 2005 ESG are presented and adopted by the Ministers • In 2007 ESIB becomes ESU – what does it mean?
Paradigms in higher education Funding through EU budget
Europe: driving forces • Quality assurance – European standards and guidelines (currently under revision) • EU funds – Lifelong learning programme, including ERASMUS Rest is difficult to capture – Ministerial communiqués, Director general declarations, Council conclusions, Commission staff papers, European Parliament reports… For example, did you know that tuition fees enhance equity?
ESU: actions European level – influence the framework: • Act through mass media to emphasise core policy lines, such as access to higher education, more funding for higher education • Set the agenda – ESU co-chairing Social dimension working group • Encourage discussions on sensitive issues: Loan scheme • Influence politics on EU level (EP elections 2014?) • Stakeholder or lobbyist? National level – support implementation: • Information provision and communication to NUS (47) • Creating space for sharing practices • Capacity building (also through enhancement visits) • Communication to the national media • Empowerment for a constructive dialogue with decision-makers
ESU in 2013: • Final negotiations on Erasmus for all (and the loan scheme) • ESG revision – draft from E4 group to BFUG • Council conclusions on Equity (tackling drop-out rates) • Agenda for Social dimension working group • Interactive platform on funding of HE in Europe, advocacy tools, trainings • “Constructing” employability – training for NUS • Looking for alternative means to support degree mobility (Nordic compensation scheme?)
ESU has… • Access to information • Access to decision-makers • Access to mass media (IHT, The Times, The Economist, University World News, etc.) • 10 elected reps (and 3 coordinators) • Office in Brussels (7 employees) • 47 national unions in 38 countries Together we need to find, how to use it for the needs of students.