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

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

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 ESU The voice of European students ESU - The voice of European students 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.

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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 Voicewww.esu-online.org

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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 13 th 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!

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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?

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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


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