why “organise”? karina ufert european students’ union, chairperson
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Why “organise”?Why “organise”?
Karina UfertEuropean 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?
ESU as a “political animal”
Focus: European framework on higher education
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.
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