European Students' Union

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European Students' Union
Institution see members list
LocationAv. de Tervueren 155, 1150 Brussels Brussels, Belgium
Established1982
PresidentLana Par
Vice presidentsDaciana Pop, Arno Schrooyen
Members43 (40 Countries)
Affiliations European Youth Forum
Executive Committee see representatives
Website esu-online.org

The European Students' Union (ESU) is the umbrella organisation of 43 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]

Contents

History

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.[ citation needed ]

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.[ citation needed ]

Structures

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.[ citation needed ]

Executive committee

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]

As of 2025, the executive committee includes:[ citation needed ] [6]

TitleNameCountry
PresidencyPresidentLana ParFlag of Croatia.svg Croatia
Vice PresidentsDaciana PopFlag of Romania.svg Romania
Arno SchrooyenFlag of Belgium (civil).svg Belgium
Executive CommitteeDuarte LopesFlag of Portugal (official).svg Portugal
Franziska Sophia KnoglerFlag of Austria.svg Austria
Bálint KoósFlag of Hungary.svg Hungary
Katariina JärveFlag of Estonia.svg Estonia
Luka LešićFlag of Croatia.svg Croatia
Urszula LisFlag of Poland.svg Poland
Nora AngelovaFlag of Bulgaria.svg Bulgaria

Member organisations

CountryEnglish NameLocal NameESU Abbrev. [nb 1]
Flag of Armenia.svg Armenia Armenian National Students Association Հայ ուսանողական ազգային ասոցիացիաANSA
Flag of Austria.svg Austria Austrian Students' Association Österreichische Hochschüler_innenschaftÖH
Flag of Belarus.svg Belarus Belarusian Students' Association Задзіночанне Беларускіх СтудэнтаўBSA
Brotherhood of Organizers of Student Self-Government БОССBOSS
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Belgium Federation of French-speaking Students Fédération Des Etudiants FrancophonesFEF
Flemish Union of Students Vlaamse Vereniging van StudentenVVS
Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg Bosnia and Herzegovina Students' Union Republic of Srpska Unija studenata Republike SrpskeSURS
Flag of Bulgaria.svg Bulgaria National Assembly of Student's Councils in the Republic of Bulgaria Национално представителство на студентските съвети в Република БългарияNASC
Flag of Croatia.svg Croatia Croatian Students' Council Hrvatski Studentski ZborCSC
Flag of Cyprus.svg Cyprus Pancyprian Federation of Student Unions Pagkypria Omospondia Foititikon EnoseonPOFEN
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Czech Republic Student Chamber of the Council of Higher Education Institutions Studentská komora Rady vysokých školSKRVS
Flag of Denmark.svg Denmark National Union of Students in Denmark Danske Studerendes FællesrådDSF
Flag of Estonia.svg Estonia Federation of Estonian Student Unions Eesti Üliõpilaskondade LiitEÜL
Flag of the Faroe Islands.svg Faroe Islands Faroese National Union of StudentsMeginfelag Føroyskra StudentaMFS
Flag of Finland.svg Finland National Union of University Students in Finland Suomen Ylioppilaskuntien Liitto, Finlands studentkårers förbundSYL, FSF
Union of Students in Finnish Universities of Applied Sciences Suomen opiskelijakuntien liitto, Finlands studerandekårers förbundSAMOK
Flag of France.svg France National Federation of Student's Associations Fédération des Associations Générales d'ÉtudiantsFAGE
Flag of Georgia.svg Georgia Georgian Student's Organizations Association Georgian Student's Organizations AssociationGSOA
Flag of Germany.svg Germany Free Association of Student Unions freier zusammenschluss von student*innenschaftenfzs
Flag of Hungary.svg Hungary National Union of Students in Hungary Hallgatói Önkormányzatok Országos KonferenciájaHÖOK
Flag of Iceland.svg Iceland National Union of Icelandic Students Landssamtök íslenskra stúdentaLÍS
Flag of Ireland.svg Ireland Aontas na Mac Léinn in Éirinn Aontas na Mac Léinn in ÉirinnAMLÉ
Flag of Israel.svg Israel National Union of Israeli Students התאחדות הסטודנטים בישראל
تحاد الطلاب في إسرائيل
NUIS
Flag of Italy.svg Italy Union of University Students Unione degli UniversitariUdU
Flag of Latvia.svg Latvia Student Union of Latvia Latvijas Studentu apvienībaLSA
Flag of Lithuania.svg Lithuania Lithuanian National Union of Students Lietuvos Studentu SajungaLSS
Flag of Luxembourg.svg Luxembourg National Union of Students in Luxembourg Union Nationale des Etudiant(e)s du LuxembourgUNEL
Flag of Malta.svg Malta University Students' Council Kunsill Studenti UniversitarjiKSU
Flag of Moldova.svg Moldova Student Alliance of Moldova Alianta studentilor din MoldovaASM
Flag of Montenegro.svg Montenegro Student Parliament of the University of Montenegro Studentski Parlament Univerziteta Crne GoreSPUM
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Netherlands Dutch National Students Association Interstedelijk Studenten OverlegISO
Dutch Student Union Landelijke StudentenvakbondLSVb
Flag of Norway.svg Norway National Union of Students' in Norway Norsk studentorganisasjonNSO
Flag of Poland.svg Poland Students' Parliament of Poland Parlament Studentów Rzeczypospolitej PolskiejPSRP
Flag of Portugal (official).svg Portugal Academic Forum for Information and External Representation Fórum Académico para Informação e Representação ExternaFAIRe
Flag of Romania.svg Romania National Alliance of Student Organizations in Romania Alianta Nationala a Organizatiilor Studentesti din RomaniaANOSR
Flag of Serbia.svg Serbia Students Conference of Serbian Universities Studentska konferencija univerzitetâ SrbijeSKONUS
Flag of Slovakia.svg Slovakia Student Council for Higher Education Študentská Rada Vysokých ŠkôlSRVS
Flag of Slovenia.svg Slovenia Slovene Student Union Studenska Organizacija SlovenijeŠOS
Flag of Spain.svg Spain Coordinator of Student Representatives of Public Universities Coordinadora de Representantes de Estudiantes de Universidades PúblicasCREUP
Flag of Sweden.svg Sweden Swedish National Union of Students Sveriges Förenade StudentkårerSFS
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland VSS-UNES-USU Verband Schweizer Studierendenschaften
Union des Etudiant-e-s de Suisse
Unione Svizzera degli Universitari
VSS-UNES-USU
Flag of Ukraine.svg Ukraine Ukrainian Association of Student Self-government Українська асоціація студентського самоврядуванняUAS
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom National Union of Students NUS-UK

Candidate members

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.

CountryEnglish NameLocal NameESU Abbrev. [nb 1]
Flag of North Macedonia.svg North Macedonia National Students’ AssemblyДржавно Студентско СобраниеNSA

Associate organisations

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. [7]

List of executive representatives

Source: [8] [ failed verification ]

Year (Mandate)PresidentCountryVice PresidentsExecutive CommitteeCoordinators (appointed by the executive committee)
2025–2026Lana ParFlag of Croatia.svg Croatia Daciana Pop Flag of Romania.svg Romania Duarte Lopes, Franziska Sophia Knogler, Bálint Koós, Katariina Järve, Luka Lešić, Nora Angelova, Urszula LisBianca Pace Flag of Malta.svg Malta
Arno Schrooyen Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Belgium
2024–2025Iris KimizogluFlag of Germany.svg Germany Lana Par Flag of Croatia.svg Croatia Duarte Lopes, Jens Bartnes, Lauren Pray, Levente Varga, Lisa Schivalocchi, Nora Angelova, Tamara CiobanuEstelle Née, Magnus við Streym, Urszula Lis
Arno Schrooyen Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Belgium
2023–2024Horia-Șerban OnițaFlag of Romania.svg Romania Iris Kimizoglu Flag of Germany.svg 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 Flag of France.svg France
2022–2023Matteo VespaFlag of Italy.svg Italy Katrīna Sproģe Flag of Latvia.svg Latvia Tanguy Guibert, Iris Kimizoglu, Andrej Pirjevec, Emily MacPherson, Tór Marni Weihe, Oraz Myradov, Ana GvritishviliAntoine Bakhash, Joanna Maruszczak, Sandi Rizvić
Horia-Șerban Onița Flag of Romania.svg Romania
2021–2022Martina DarmaninFlag of Malta.svg Malta Zamzam Ibrahim Flag of the United Kingdom.svg UK Matteo Vespa, Kristel Jakobson, Martin Hammerbauer, Pegi Pavletić, Ruben Janssens, Meral Nur, Stanimir BoyadzhievKatrīna Sproģe, Borna Nemet, Anastasia Kreis
Jakub Grodecki Flag of Poland.svg Poland
2021Martina DarmaninFlag of Malta.svg Malta Zamzam Ibrahim Flag of the United Kingdom.svg UK Matteo Vespa, Kristel Jakobson, Martin Hammerbauer, Pegi Pavletić, Ruben Janssens, Ronja Hesse, Otto RosenlundVicky Reichling, Borna Nemet, Carmen Romero (until June), Katrīna Sproģe (substituting Carmen Romero)
Jakub Grodecki Flag of Poland.svg Poland
2019–2020Gohar Hovhannisyan

(Oct.-Dec. 2020)

Flag of Armenia.svg Armenia Martina Darmanin Flag of Malta.svg 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 Flag of Austria.svg Austria
Robert Napier

(until Sept. 2020)

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

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

YearUnionCountry
1996HökoszFlag of Hungary.svg Hungary
1995SYLFlag of Finland.svg Finland
1994SYLFlag of Finland.svg Finland
1993SFSFlag of Sweden.svg Sweden
1992SFSFlag of Sweden.svg Sweden
1991VVS-UNESFlag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland
1990NUS (UK)Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom
1989NUS (UK)Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom
1988ÖHFlag of Austria.svg Austria

Notable people

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 Abbreviation given in ESU's member list, may differ from the associations' local or official abbreviations

References

  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). doi:10.6017/ihe.2008.50.7994. ISSN   1084-0613.
  4. "The European Students' Union". www.ecbe.eu. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  5. "Structures - Elected representatives". European Students' Union. Archived from the original on 4 May 2016. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
  6. https://esu-online.org/about/elected-representatives/
  7. "About us - Associate members". European Students' Union. Archived from the original on 6 May 2016. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
  8. "ESU History". European Students' Union. Retrieved 6 September 2022.