The European Students' Union (ESU) is the umbrella organisation of 44 national unions of students from 40 countries, representing almost 20 million students.[1][2] A consultative member of the Bologna Process, ESU is also a full member of the European Youth Forum (YFJ).[3]

European Students' Union
Institutionsee member list
LocationMundo-Madou. Avenue des Arts 7/8, 1210 Brussels, Belgium
Established1982
PresidentIris Kimizoglu
Vice presidentsLana Par, Arno Schrooyen
Members44 (40 Countries)
AffiliationsEuropean Youth Forum
Executive Committeesee executive committee
Websitehttp://www.esu-online.org/

History

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On 17 October 1982, seven National Unions of Students (NUSes) from the United Kingdom, Sweden, Iceland, France, Denmark, Norway and Austria established the Western European Students Information Bureau (WESIB) at a gathering in Stockholm.[4] In February 1990, WESIB dropped the "W" to become the European Student Information Bureau (ESIB) following the political upheaval in Europe at the time. In 1992 the name was changed yet again into the National Union of Students in Europe. This reflected the recognition of the changing mission of ESIB from being a pure information-sharing organisation into a political organisation that represented the views of students in European institutions. In May 2007, the current name, European Students' Union (ESU), was introduced.

Over the years, the office of ESU has moved around Europe and was first hosted by the member NUSes. Following the establishment of WESIB in Stockholm, the office was based in the SFS Office in Sweden from 1982 until 1985, funded by a grant by the Swedish Government. By 1985 the grant was running low, and so NUS UK offered to host WESIB in their London headquarters. In 1988 the office moved to the ÖH offices in Vienna and remained there until 2000 when it was decided that for reasons of being near the European institutions, the office should move to Brussels and was hosted by VVS.

Structures

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The highest ESU structure is the Board Meeting, bringing together representatives from all the National Unions of Students it represents. The Board Meeting sets the organisation's policy direction and elects members to the executive committee to run the organisation.

Executive committee

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The executive committee (EC) is elected for a one-year term at the annual Board Meeting by representatives of the member organisations, with each country (not organisation) given two votes. The president and vice-presidents together make up the presidency of ESU, and are responsible for the day-to-day operations of the organisation along with the seven general members of the EC.[5]

Title Name Country
Presidency President Iris Kimizoglu   Germany
Vice Presidents Lana Par   Croatia
Arno Schrooyen   Belgium
Executive Committee Duarte Lopes   Portugal
Jens Bartnes   Norway
Lauren Pray   Czech Republic
Levente Varga   Hungary
Lisa Schivalocchi   Italy
Tamara Ciobanu   Romania
Nora Angelova   Bulgaria

Member organisations

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Country English Name Local Name ESU Abbrev.[nb 1]
  Armenia Armenian National Students Association Հայ ուսանողական ազգային ասոցիացիա ANSA
  Austria Austrian Students' Association Österreichische Hochschüler_innenschaft ÖH
  Belarus Belarusian Students' Association Задзіночанне Беларускіх Студэнтаў BSA
Brotherhood of Organizers of Student Self-Government БОСС BOSS
  Belgium Federation of French-speaking Students Fédération Des Etudiants Francophones FEF
Flemish Union of Students Vlaamse Vereniging van Studenten VVS
  Bosnia and Herzegovina Students' Union Republic of Srpska Unija studenata Republike Srpske SURS
  Bulgaria National Assembly of Student's Councils in the Republic of Bulgaria Национално представителство на студентските съвети в Република България NASC
  Croatia Croatian Students' Council Hrvatski Studentski Zbor CSC
  Cyprus Pancyprian Federation of Student Unions Pagkypria Omospondia Foititikon Enoseon POFEN
  Czech Republic Student Chamber of the Council of Higher Education Institutions Studentská komora Rady vysokých škol SKRVS
  Denmark National Union of Students in Denmark Danske Studerendes Fællesråd DSF
  Estonia Federation of Estonian Student Unions Eesti Üliõpilaskondade Liit EÜL
  Faroe Islands Faroese National Union of Students Meginfelag Føroyskra Studenta MFS
  Finland National Union of University Students in Finland Suomen Ylioppilaskuntien Liitto, Finlands studentkårers förbund SYL, FSF
Union of Students in Finnish Universities of Applied Sciences Suomen opiskelijakuntien liitto, Finlands studerandekårers förbund SAMOK
  France National Federation of Student's Associations Fédération des Associations Générales d'Étudiants FAGE
  Georgia Georgian Student's Organizations Association Georgian Student's Organizations Association GSOA
  Germany Free Association of Student Unions freier zusammenschluss von student*innenschaften fzs
  Hungary National Union of Students in Hungary Hallgatói Önkormányzatok Országos Konferenciája HÖOK
  Iceland National Union of Icelandic Students Landssamtök íslenskra stúdenta LÍS
  Ireland Union of Students in Ireland Union of Students in Ireland, Aontas na Mac Léinn in Éirinn USI
  Israel National Union of Israeli Students התאחדות הסטודנטים בישראל
تحاد الطلاب في إسرائيل
NUIS
  Italy Union of University Students Unione degli Universitari UdU
  Latvia Student Union of Latvia Latvijas Studentu apvienība LSA
  Lithuania Lithuanian National Union of Students Lietuvos Studentu Sajunga LSS
  Luxembourg National Union of Students in Luxembourg Union Nationale des Etudiant(e)s du Luxembourg UNEL
  Malta University Students' Council Kunsill Studenti Universitarji KSU
  Moldova Student Alliance of Moldova Alianta studentilor din Moldova ASM
  Montenegro Student Parliament of the University of Montenegro Studentski Parlament Univerziteta Crne Gore SPUM
  Netherlands Dutch National Students Association Interstedelijk Studenten Overleg ISO
Dutch Student Union Landelijke Studentenvakbond LSVb
  Norway National Union of Students' in Norway Norsk studentorganisasjon NSO
  Poland Students' Parliament of Poland Parlament Studentów Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej PSRP
  Portugal Academic Forum for Information and External Representation Fórum Académico para Informação e Representação Externa FAIRe
  Romania National Alliance of Student Organizations in Romania Alianta Nationala a Organizatiilor Studentesti din Romania ANOSR
  Serbia Students Conference of Serbian Universities Studentska konferencija univerzitetâ Srbije SKONUS
  Slovakia Student Council for Higher Education Študentská Rada Vysokých Škôl SRVS
  Slovenia Slovene Student Union Studenska Organizacija Slovenije ŠOS
  Spain Coordinator of Student Representatives of Public Universities Coordinadora de Representantes de Estudiantes de Universidades Públicas CREUP
  Sweden Swedish National Union of Students Sveriges Förenade Studentkårer SFS
   Switzerland VSS-UNES-USU Verband Schweizer Studierendenschaften
Union des Etudiant-e-s de Suisse
Unione Svizzera degli Universitari
VSS-UNES-USU
  Ukraine Ukrainian Association of Student Self-government Українська асоціація студентського самоврядування UAS
  United Kingdom National Union of Students NUS-UK

Candidate members

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Candidate-members are NUSes that have submitted an application of membership to ESU but have not yet been granted member status by the Board Meeting. Candidate-members retain their status for one year and are subject to a "study visit" by ESU to ensure they meet membership criteria.

Country English Name Local Name ESU Abbrev.[nb 1]
  North Macedonia National Students’ Assembly Државно Студентско Собрание NSA

Associate organisations

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Associate members of ESU are pan-European and international student organisations that have similar goals to ESU. The criteria for associate membership require the organisation to be democratic and student-run, have either students or NUSes as members, and represent students from at least 8 countries that are parties to the European Cultural Convention. Associate organizations can attend and speak at all ESU meetings, but cannot vote at Board Meetings.[6]

List of Executive Representatives

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Source:[7]

Year (Mandate) President Country Vice Presidents Executive Committee Coordinators (appointed by the executive committee)
2024–2025 Iris Kimizoglu   Germany Lana Par   Croatia Duarte Lopes, Jens Bartnes, Lauren Pray, Levente Varga, Lisa Schivalocchi, Nora Angelova, Tamara Ciobanu Estelle Née, Magnus við Streym, Urszula Lis
Arno Schrooyen   Belgium
2023–2024 Horia-Șerban Onița   Romania Iris Kimizoglu   Germany Joanna Maruszczak (until October), Lana Par (substituting Joanna Maruszczak), Andrej Pirjevec, Ana Gvritishvili, Arno Schrooyen, Ida Flemmich, Tamara Ciobanu, Tór Marni Weihe (until October), Magnus við Streym (substituting Tór Marni Weihe) Emily MacPherson, Bastien Degardins, Lauren Pray
Tanguy Guibert   France
2022–2023 Matteo Vespa   Italy Katrīna Sproģe   Latvia Tanguy Guibert, Iris Kimizoglu, Andrej Pirjevec, Emily MacPherson, Tór Marni Weihe, Oraz Myradov, Ana Gvritishvili Antoine Bakhash, Joanna Maruszczak, Sandi Rizvić
Horia-Șerban Onița   Romania
2021–2022 Martina Darmanin   Malta Zamzam Ibrahim   UK Matteo Vespa, Kristel Jakobson, Martin Hammerbauer, Pegi Pavletić, Ruben Janssens, Meral Nur, Stanimir Boyadzhiev Katrīna Sproģe, Borna Nemet, Anastasia Kreis
Jakub Grodecki   Poland
2021 Martina Darmanin   Malta Zamzam Ibrahim   UK Matteo Vespa, Kristel Jakobson, Martin Hammerbauer, Pegi Pavletić, Ruben Janssens, Ronja Hesse, Otto Rosenlund Vicky Reichling, Borna Nemet, Carmen Romero (until June), Katrīna Sproģe (substituting Carmen Romero)
Jakub Grodecki   Poland
2019–2020 Gohar Hovhannisyan

(Oct.-Dec. 2020)

  Armenia Martina Darmanin   Malta Monika Skadborg, Ursa Leban, Nina De Winter, Rajko Golovic, Helene Mariaud, Daniel Altman, Jakub Grodecki, Martin Paluoja, Daniel Lindblom (until November), Carmen Romero (substituting Daniel Lindblom)
Sebastian Berger   Austria
Robert Napier

(until Sept. 2020)

  Malta Gohar Hovhannisyan   Armenia Daniel Altman, Jakub Grodecki, Monika Skadborg, Ursa Leban, Nina De Winter, Rajko Golovic, Helene Mariaud Martina Darmanin, Daniel Lindblom, Martin Paluoja
Sebastian Berger   Austria
2018–2019 Adam Gajek   Poland Katrina Koppel   Estonia Daniel Altma, Joāo Martins, Gohar Hovhannisyan, Monika Skadborg, Sebastian Berger, Ursa Leban, Yulia Dobyshuk Rob Henthorn, Hélène Mariaud, Marie Desrousseaux, (1st part of mandate), Martina Darmanin (substituting Marie Desrousseaux)
Robert Napier   Malta
2017–2018 Helge Schwitters   Norway Caroline Sundberg   Sweden Chiara Patricolo, Aleksandar Šušnjar, Filip Prihoda, Gohar Hovhannisyan, João Pedro Estêvão Martins, Katrina Koppel, Yolanda Trujillo Adriá Simona Gamonte, Patrick Dempsey, Robert Henthorn
Adam Gajek   Poland
2016–2017 Lea Meister    Switzerland Līva Vikmane   Latvia Beth Button, Gramoz Shpendi, Adam Gajek, Aleksandar Šušnjar, Frederik Bach, Chiara Patricolo, Milana Jankovic (1st part of mandate), Helga Lind Mar (substituting Milana Jankovic) Melanie Fröhlich, Filip Prihoda, Helge Schwitters
Blazhe Todorovski   North Macedonia
2015–2016 Fernando Miguel Galán Palomares   Spain Lea Meister    Switzerland Liva Vikmane, Karolina Pietkiewicz, Cristi Popescu, Rebecka Stenkvist, Tijana Isoski, Viktor Grønne Melanie Fröhlich, Chiara Patricolo, Martin Retelj
Blazhe Todorovski   North Macedonia
2014–2015 Elisabeth Gehrke   Sweden Erin Nordal   Norway Blazhe Todorovski, Maksimas Milta, Cat O’Driscoll, Karolina Pietkiewicz, Lea Meister, Tiago Estêvão Martins, Tijana Isoski Melanie Fröhlich, William Benn, Viktor Grønne
Fernando Miguel Galán Palomares   Spain
2013–2014 Rok Primozic   Slovenia Elisabeth Gehrke   Sweden Fernando Miguel Galán Palomares, Erin Nordal, Elin Blomqvist, Nevena Vuksanovic, Blazhe Todorovski, Maroš Korman, Maksim Milto, Michael Tolentino Frederiksen Gabriela Bergan, Tiago Estêvão Martins, Aengus Ó Maoláin (1st part of mandate), Melanie Fröhlich (substituting Aengus Ó Maoláin)
Fernando Miguel Galán Palomares   Spain
2012–2013 Karina Ufert   Lithuania Taina Moisander   Finland Fernando M.Galan Palomares, Florian Kaiser, Blazhe Todorovski, Tinja Zerzer, Nevena Vuksanovic, Elisabeth Gehrke, Liliya Ivanova Aengus Ó Maoláin, Karl Agius, Brikena Xhomaqi (until November 2012), Gabriela Bergan (substituting Brikena Xhomaqi)
Rok Primozic   Slovenia
2011–2012 Allan Päll   Estonia Rok Primozic   Slovenia Nevena Vuksanovic, Kaloyan Kostadinov
2010–2011 Bert Vandenkendelaere   Belgium Rasa Cincyte   Lithuania Robert Santa, Karina Ufert
2009–2010 Ligia Deca   Romania Allan Päll   Estonia Andrea Blättler, Alma Joensen, Bert Vandenkendelaere
2008–2009 Ligia Deca   Romania Anita Lice   Latvia Bruno Carapinha, Alma Joensen, Olav Øye
2007 Koen Geven   The Netherlands Anela Beso, Bartlomiej Banaszak, Lara Lena Tischler, Maria Noleryd, Matthew Tabone, Viorel Proteasa, Rossella Iraci Capuccinello
2006 Justin Fenech   Malta Maher Tekaya, Sime Visic, Marja-Liisa Alop, Tatsiana Khoma, Victor Vidilles, Janja Komljenovic
2005 Vanja Ivosevic   Croatia Öyvind Reidar Bakke, Justin Fenech, Marzia Foroni, Katja Kamsek, Jean-Baptiste Prévost, Marija Stambolieva
2004 Johan Almqvist   Sweden Marzia Foroni, Lene Henriksen, Vanja Ivosevic, Péter Puskás, Robin Semal, Chris Weavers
2003 Stefan Bienefeld   Germany Johan Almqvist, Mads Aspelin, Nikki Heerens, Vanja Ivosevic, Marija Mitrovic, Bettina Schwarzmayr
2002 Martina Vukasovic   Serbia Petra Arsic, Stefan Bienefeld, John C. Friend-Pereira, Chris O’Sullivan
2001 Jacob Henricson   Sweden Stefan Bienefeld, Ante Matic, Marlous Veldt, Martina Vukasovic
2000 Remi Bordu   France Polona Car, Aleksandar Dimiskov, Magne Hustavenes, Taru Liira
1999 Antti Pentikäinen   Finland Remi Bourdu, Anja Kovacs, Marieke Rietbergen, Uros Vajgl
1998 Peter Sondgaard   Denmark Antti Pentikäinen, Judith Sargentini, Emese Szitasi, Hilde W. Wibe
1997 Agnieszka Bolimowska   Poland Malcolm Byrne, Outi Hannula, Helena Randerborg, Reuben Seychell
1994 - 1996 Stephen Grogan   UK

Prior to 1997 ESIB was Chaired by a NUS instead of an individual, though its first director was employed in 1994.

Year Union Country
1996 Hökosz   Hungary
1995 SYL   Finland
1994 SYL   Finland
1993 SFS   Sweden
1992 SFS   Sweden
1991 VVS-UNES    Switzerland
1990 NUS (UK)   United Kingdom
1989 NUS (UK)   United Kingdom
1988 ÖH   Austria

Notable people

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See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ a b Abbreviation given in ESU's member list, may differ from the associations' local or official abbreviations

References

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  1. ^ "European Higher Education Area and Bologna Process". www.ehea.info. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  2. ^ "About". European Students' Union. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  3. ^ Klemencic, Manja (2015). "European Students in the Bologna Process". International higher education (50). ISSN 1084-0613.
  4. ^ "The European Students' Union". www.ecbe.eu. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  5. ^ "Elected representatives". Structures. European Students' Union. Archived from the original on 4 May 2016. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
  6. ^ "Associate members". About us. European Students' Union. Archived from the original on 6 May 2016. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
  7. ^ "ESU History". ESU Online. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
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