Holding the World Responsible: The Global Impact of Student Advocacy and Activism

1. Holding the World Responsible: The Global Impact of Student Advocacy and Activism AAC&U – Student workshop October 1-3 2009, Minneapolis Ligia Deca, ESU Chairperson

2. A short history • 17 October 1982:Founded by seven unions: NSU Norway, NUS United Kingdom, SFS Sweden, SHÍ Iceland, UNEF-ID France, DSF Denmark and ÖH Austria • 1989:WESIB (Western European Students’ Information Bureau) changes to ESIB due to the democratic revolutions in central Eastern Europe • 1999:Structural changes are provoked by the start of the Bologna Process • 2007:25th Anniversary and name change to ESU • 2008: 2 meetings with other continental student platforms -> Global student statement

3. European Students’ Union - ESU, is the umbrella organization of 47 national unions of students from 38 European countries. Through its members ESU represents around 11 million students in Europe. ESU - The voice of European students

8. Main Areas of work • The Bologna Process - BWSE • The Lisbon Strategy - LWSE • Equal opportunities • Students’ financing • Students’ mobility • Development of the student movement • Students’ rights • Values and social outcomes of education • Higher education in a globalized world

9. Tools used for student representation • Internal events: • European Student Conventions • Board Meetings (General Assemblies) • Trainings etc • Publications: BWSE, LWSE, Handbook on Student Union Development, Equality handbook, Qualifications Frameworks • Website: www.esu-online.org and Newsletter – The Student Voice

11. A personal history • Started as a high-school student leader through founding the only school-student association in Romania (1999) • Local union student vice-president and University Senate member for 4 years in the Constanta Maritime University: the gender equality mentality obstacles and challenges • Secretary General and President of ANOSR - the National Alliance of Student Organisations in Romania (2005-2007) • ESU GE committee member (2008) and Chairperson (2008-2010) • Anti-corruption campaign coordinator

12. Who are the ESU’s members? • National unions of students who are (cf the Ljubljana student declaration – 2007): • Democratic • Inclusive • Representative • Independent • Tremendously diversity and varying capacity: • From NUS UK and Scandinavian Unions -> budgets of millions of Euros, long history, large staff • To BSA – Belarus – operating underground and its members imprisoned if they are caught by the police meeting or • Different models: unions, federations, national student governments, NGOs etc.

13. Work on solidarity and capacity building • Ukraine – a special Working Group and 3 study visits • Zimbabwe – solidarity and invitation to the 13th European Student Convention in Ljubljana • Georgia • Iran – need for formal support, awareness raising • Kosovo – in cooperation with the OSCE, NGOs and CoE • Moldova – incredible attacks on student protesters • Armenia – formal country student movement study visit conducted by ESU and the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe • Turkey and Greece – unstable student movement • Colombia ALL BASED ON STUDENTS’ RIGHTS!

16. Student rights charter (2007) Student rights form the fundamental basis of ESU actions and policies. Student rights are derived from human rights, considering: • the Universal Declaration of Human Rights(1948), • the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (1966), • The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966) and • the authoritative interpretations of these acts.

17. Student rights charter (2) 35 rights grouped in the following main categories: • Access to higher education • Student involvement • Social aspects of study • Academic aspects to study • Right to privacy and access to knowledge and information

18. Ethical leadership and democratic participation • European/ US differences: • Community service – US characteristic • Involvement in democratic decision making – Europe • Dire need for HE to be a driver for active citizenship – • HOW DO WE ACHIEVE THIS?

19. Ethical leadership and democratic participation How? • Student involvement as part of the academic community • Democratic and ethical institutional leadership • Societal commitment • Fight for students’ rights and solidarity • HE as a public good and a public responsibility

20. Day to day ethical dilemmas • Who do we represent? Students that are already in the system or every potential student? • Access and funding strategies • Campaign focus • Outreach measures • What student needs should we address? • Primary: representation, social etc • Secondary: social networking, professional complementary etc • How do we deal with academic malpractice when it is our own colleagues who go on the wrong side? • Protecting the ones who cannot protect themselves • Societal involvement vs academic performance?

22. How do we make our (student) life count? • Use the university time as an identity builder, not as a vehicle to promote an already ingrained way of life • Make every day count in fighting for what you believe • Make use of the freedom given by the possibility of lack of compromise • Be involved in the community and try to practice democracy even when being in a friends group • Don’t forget! Universities are there for students and they are 90% of the academic community – make you opinion heard and contribute to societal development and social justice through your student life

23. Thank You for your attention! European Students’ Unions 20, Rue de la Sablonnière 1000 Brussels, Belgium Web-Site:www.esu-online.org Phone: +32 2 502 23 62 E-mail: ligia@esu-online.org Executive Committee EC2009@esu-online.org