ESN International news

We won’t be crossing any borders this month, but a four-hour trip from Warsaw takes us to the friendly neighbouring city with a rich history, that goes by the name of Krakow. Raise your glass for the Section in the Spotlight of March: ESN UEK!

With a long, shiny history, the section was founded in 2003 (a whopping 13 years ago) and have since been making the Erasmus experience better for more than 3,000 students.

ESN UEK has experience with hosting both national and international events, as well as receiving recognition for the work is not unfamiliar to them. They are proud owners of STARlight 2014 (Best ESN Section) which they snapped at AGM Milano, and they keep on shining! Need further proof? Magdalena Wlodarska, former President of ESN UEK, was elected as the new National Representative of ESN Poland just last month!

Today, ESN UEK has 85 active members. The section organises two recruitment drives per year - a long and tedious process but, thoroughly worth it because it produces creative, capable and hardworking members.

“Members of ESN UEK never complain about boredom, as they always have a chance for self-improvement.”

New members are offered the chance to learn more about the structure of ESN and meet senior members at the biannual “Newbie Training Camp”, while more experienced members participate in training camps where they have a chance to improve their skills. Non-members are offered the chance to participate in a mentorship system intended for new Erasmus students, and at the International Open Day as volunteers. 

In cooperation with other student organisations from the University, ESN UEK organises the annual Juwenalia Concert. Besides the concert itself, other activities also take place at the event, such as Fashion Night, the only fashion show in Poland organised solely by students.

They have not one, but two flagship projects. Tour De Krakow consists of sightseeing and city games for all visitors and Blog Erasmus, a nationwide blog, is a source of information for all Polish students when it comes to Erasmus. The blog offers information about internships, exchanges and the ExchangeAbility programme. Talk about Mov’in Europe, huh?

There are several teams in ESN UEK dealing with Erasmus students and their stay in Krakow. Members of the sports, travel, culture, party and social teams work hard to make life in Krakow an unforgettable experience for all students. Watch out for this one - PR managers, apart from Facebook, Instagram and weekly newsletters, also use Snapchat to keep Erasmus students informed about upcoming events.

If you ask me, ESN UEK is not only the Section in the Spotlight for March; the lights are on them the whole year through! They clearly have no problems motivating their members to do their work or to climb up the ladder. Keep up the good work!

“We take great pride in keeping in touch with the community.”

by Tajana Mohnacki

Supported by the European Commission, the Erasmus Student Network is embarking on a brand new project that aims to improve the housing situation of international students.

Over the course of two years, we will investigate the challenges international students and trainees face when looking for accommodation abroad. Through in-depth analyses of current experiences, we will extract best practices and propose recommendations to policy-makers, universities and housing providers, as well as students and trainees themselves.

Our goal? To ensure that affordable and quality housing is accessible to young people on mobility experiences, and that the fear of not finding a place to stay does not stop young people from taking part in the beautiful international adventure that we all cherish so much.

As part of this research, ESN is launching a survey for current and former international students and trainees to gather input on the obstacles faced during mobility experiences. We need your help to spread the word and ensure that we gather information from all over!

To thank you for your participation, our partner Uniplaces is giving away 2 iPads as prizes for the lucky winners that will be selected at random! Of course, your help will also contribute to our efforts in helping to provide proper and affordable accommodation for international students all around Europe.

Yours,
The HousErasmus+ Team

In the last article in the series we were introduced to Lucy - an up-and-coming nurse - learning the three categories that are crucial to becoming a unicorn in the job market. This article will be all about learning. How to acquire the right skills, knowledge, and attitude.

Have you been told the same story by your parents as the rest of us? You probably have. It’s the one that goes “Study hard, get good grades, and you’ll get a job.” Not that completely wrong, it’s just that there is a difference between education and learning. As Joi Ito said, "Education is what people do to byou, learning is what do to yourself."

What exactly is learning and how is it different? Learning is the pursuit of knowledge, pursuit of getting new skills, pursuit of becoming better. Learning is not confined to childhood or classrooms, schools or universities.

Think about learning as a game of Tetris. Finding ways the separate pieces of information fit into each other in the best way possible. You play on your own, there is no opponent, nobody is trying to make you lose. And yet, if you recall there is no way to win Tetris. Your score just keeps increasing the longer you play.

Why is it that everyone keeps mentioning studying? Mainly because it’s the most common way of learning, especially if you’re following a traditional education programme. Let’s open our eyes though. There is so much more to learning than just studying!

Formal education

Let’s start with the obvious. All of us have gone through some sort of formal education. Perhaps this setting sounds familiar to you: The teachers stand in the front of the classrooms, you listen to them, push yourselves to study for the exams, and get rewarded by a shiny diploma in the end. While some people flourish in this system, many others don’t.

This is not to spread doom and gloom about formal education. Formal education definitely has its place in the society - mainly for acquiring knowledge, such as Lucy’s medical one -it’s just important to point out that formal education on its own is not enough nowadays; there are also other ways to learn.

Non-formal learning

When all done well we are learning without even knowing it. The roles of the teacher/student become very blurry, the learning environment is very flexible, the learning itself might not even be the main activity.

Imagine this setting: Lucy the nurse participates in a workshop on dealing with patients. The participants discuss the different approaches there are to certain situations and act out a couple of scenarios live using the participants as actors. The leader of the workshop is on the same level with everyone else and only acts to steer the workshop in the right direction.

While there might not be a clear outcome of the workshop, Lucy has still learned a lot, mainly from the participants themselves, from experiencing the situations hands-on, and from being in a buzzing engaged environment. Non-formal education is the best way to go to improve your soft-skills and attitude. Ever heard of Eduk8? ESN has a whole learning programme focused on improving these aspects of ESNers!

Informal learning

That’s not all though. Just like there were three categories to look for in the last article, there are three ways to learn. This last one is totally up to you - also called learning-by-doing. It’s where you have to push yourself to learn more, purely fueled by your own curiosity and will. It’s where there are no curricula or teachers. It’s where you take the challenge and jump right into a task outside your comfort zone. It’s Lucy spending her own free time to practise and improve her skills. It’s keeping yourself on top of your industry, learning every day.

There you have it, the three ways to learn and improve your skills, knowledge, and attitude. Remember, keep these in balance and look for diverse ways to learn new things! Now when we know what to look for and how to learn, the only thing missing is learning how to convince the employers it’s what they want. We will cover these in the next articles.

#myESNcareer

The Erasmus Student Network, along with 13 other pan-European youth organisations, have called upon the European Council to preserve the principles of the Schengen Area.

In an open letter to Donald Tusk, President of the European Council, leaders of the organisations highlight the need for sustainable multilateral solutions to European border control. This is in light of recent responses by European Member States towards migratory pressure.

Open borders are one of Europe's greatest milestones - we want to keep it that way.

Please find the letter below in PDF.

Attachment Files:  Open letter to President Tusk.pdf

Every success story begins with a first step forward and things following naturally. As a volunteer experience, ESN has been a stepping stone for many, now successful, individuals. This was also the case for Damien Lamy-Preto, who works for Education First in France as a Business Developer.

After his Erasmus exchange, Damien decided to join ESN in addition to his studies and work in architecture, but ESN completely changed his career. He has been involved in ESN for almost ten years, starting from a section member, to the section President of ESN Nancy. Later, he continued his journey as the National Treasurer of ESN France and lastly he became the Treasurer of ESN International.

Through his experience in ESN, Damien developed an entrepreneurial spirit. He believed that developing himself as much as he did was only possible due to the love he has for the mission and vision of ESN. So much of what he achieved was due to the effort he put forth and his belief that ESN could be great.

His hard work and involvement was rewarded with trust from the network, which allowed him to further learn and develop as he was working to keep that trust. After years of experience, on all levels, he is still convinced that ESN can always do better if the belief and trust in ESN, and its members, continue to grow.

Thanks to his volunteer experience in ESN, Damien pursued a career that was very different from his studies. He compares his choice with other students who followed an MBA path to build up their careers and now when he looks back he believes he made a good choice. In his own words:

“In ESN, nothing is impossible. The work fields of ESN are really broad: Education, Management, Finances, IT and so on. I found a real possibility to grow personally and professionally and thanks to the size of the Network this was a long and fruitful adventure.”

In ESN, he had the chance to work with many different institutions and companies which helped him build extensive personal relations and networks. He developed numerous skills in finance, languages, education management, and leadership, but above all, he values his friendship skills, which he believes will be essential in his future.

He is convinced that if it hadn’t been for ESN he wouldn’t have had these vast opportunities to improve himself at the level he did and he would have also never gotten in touch with Education First, where he works now.

Damien’s experience is a great example for every volunteer in ESN. From time to time, your volunteering work might not always seem important to you, or be relevant to your field, but you are learning a lot and developing competences you do not even realise at the time. All of this self-improvement will be helpful in your near future.

ESN is so much more than meets the eye. Search no more for what is relevant. By adding value to the network, you will also be adding value to yourself. ESN itself might not be the reason a company will employ you, but the skills and experiences you acquire from volunteering in ESN will. 

#myESNcareer

Written by: Jesús Escrivá Muñoz, Sara Panis, Stefan Jahnke
Edited by: Cüneyt Akso

A unicorn. The synonym of success in the professional world. After all, the term itself was coined for the most successful startup companies in the world. But this article is not about Silicon Valley or startups. This article is about you.

It’s not easy to spot a unicorn - especially the mythical one - and yet becoming ‘a unicorn’ seems to be a universally applicable goal. Stand out in the crowd and shine. Don’t we all want this? Sadly, there’s no universal recipe, but we can all work on understanding ourselves and selling our assets in the best possible way. This article is the first in a series on how to become a unicorn yourself - in the job market.

If you’re sitting in a classroom, look around you. These people are just a tiny fraction of all students of your age. Students that will enter the job market at the same time as you will. In fact, around 20 million students graduated in 2015. Now look around the class again. These people will enter the job market having the same education as you.

Our generation is constantly told we’re special. And we are, when it comes to our families. Out in the wild we’ve got to show something extra to stand out if we want to succeed.

It’s easy to say “something extra”, but what exactly should it be? Well, let’s actually take a step back and start from the very beginning. Ask yourself a question: “What am I bringing to the table?” Let’s take the example of Lucy. Lucy is applying for a job to become a nurse. Lucy gave the question a thought and came up with the following answer: “I know how to handle medical equipment, I have an excellent overview of pharmaceutics and I am a gentle yet firm person.” Sounds simple enough, right? Let’s take a close look at Lucy’s answer.

Skills

The first thing mentioned by Lucy - “I know how to handle medical equipment” - is a skill. Skills are simply the ability to perform a certain task. Do you know how to cook scrambled eggs? Congratulations, that’s a skill - and very valuable one for having a delicious breakfast.

However, not all skills are relevant for all tasks. Cooking eggs might not be the core skill for being a nurse; that’s why it’s important that we know which skills are the ones we can proudly present to the world. Knowing your skillset well is a must - and knowing which of those skills to show at the right time, that’s what makes you stand out. Don’t worry, we will show you how later on.

Knowledge

Skills are closely tied with knowledge - a good example is Lucy’s 'excellent overview of pharmaceutics'. Knowledge is usually associated with what you learn during your time at the university, but having knowledge itself doesn’t necessarily mean it’s good or useful.

What you’re looking for is pairing the knowledge with the relevant skills, that’s where the sweet spot is. On top of that, in today’s fast-paced world, it’s the ability to acquire knowledge quickly, the ability to jump into an issue without knowledge and learning along the way, the ability to go 80% using the resources we have, that makes for an A-player.

That concept sounds oddly familiar, doesn’t it?

Attitude

What would skills and knowledge be without the third to the Triforce. Being 'a gentle yet firm person' is Lucy’s secret sauce. You’ve probably heard the words 'soft skills' already. Being a team player, being resilient, being persistent on one hand and patient on the other. These are what binds the whole A-player together.

Skills and knowledge on their own are simply not enough today; it’s the extra mile, expressed by the attitudes we are showing to the outer world, that makes a difference in the end. And of course - as you have probably guessed it already - they are the hardest ones to obtain. The soft skills and attitude are completely up to you, to your personal growth.

There we go, the three categories we should focus on to become a unicorn in the job market. So, do you have the right skills, knowledge, attitude? We will look into how to acquire these in the next article.

#myESNcareer

For the 6th year running, Erasmus Student Network (ESN) and Pernod Ricard have renewed their partnership on the Responsible Party project. Since 2010, the Group and the pan-European association ESN, supported by the European Commission and assisting exchange students in more than 37 European countries, have jointly organised Responsible Parties during which student 'ambassadors' explain to their peers why responsible consumption is important.

Within 5 years, more than 250 000 students were reached in 28 EU countries as well as in Turkey, Serbia and Switzerland. As of September 2015, an independent scientific study is being conducted by researchers at the Univeristy of Louvain (Belgium) to measure the programme’s efficiency as well as obtain information on the drinking patterns of both local and exchange students.

After the partnership renewal, Alexandre Ricard, Chairman and CEO of Pernod Ricard and Christian Porta, Chairman and CEO of Pernod Ricard Europe / Middle East / Africa, invited representatives of ESN to join them for a moment of convivialité to answer questions on the social responsibility of wine and spirits producers. Coming from 18 European countries, twenty students took the opportunity to question them directly about Pernod Ricard’s commitment to corporate social responsibility.

For more than two hours, the students initiated debate on the Group’s commitment to be a 'responsible actor'. Alexandre Ricard and Christian Porta had the opportunity to explain how protecting youngsters from binge drinking is on the fundamentals of the Group’s initiatives, and reminded them that there could not be conviviality in excess.

Another topic that piqued the students’ interest was the internal control of advertising. How can we make sure that all of our brands’ commercial communications comply with both the Group’s and the industry’s commitments? Alexandre Ricard and Christian Porta explained the role of the Responsible Marketing Panel, a committee of internal experts who review more than 500 campaigns a year before they’re released.

Commenting on the event, CEO Alexandre Ricard explained,

"This gathering is an excellent opportunity to know ESN’s expectations in terms of corporate social responsibility. I’m glad to see those young adults are attached to promote responsible drinking and volunteer their time to raise their peers’ awareness with the Responsible Party programme and contribute to its success.”

Signing the partnership with Alexandre Ricard, Safi Sabuni, President of ESN, acknowledged the time that Alexandre and Christian both dedicated to the evening.

“It’s a real pleasure to see two leaders taking the time to interact with students. ESN representatives were impressed by their honesty and humility, and are happy to partner up  with Pernod Ricard in the Responsible Party programme,” she commented.

---

Erasmus Student Network is the biggest student organisation in Europe, founded in 1989 to support and develop student exchange. ESN is present in more than 500 Higher Education Institutions in 37 countries, involving around 14,500 volunteers and offering its services to 190,000 international students. ESN works for the creation of a more mobile and flexible educational environment by supporting and developing student exchanges on different levels, and provides an intercultural experience to those students who cannot access a period abroad ('internationalisation at home'). For more information visit esn.org.

For more information, contact:
Gaffar Rampage
Communication Manager
communication@esn.org

Are you excited for AGM 2016? Well you don’t have to wait too long since this month we are travelling to Poland! Please, fasten your seatbelts and enjoy the trip to visit the Section in the Spotlight of February: ESN SGGW Warsaw!

The section was founded ten years ago and it all started with a student association named "Circle of Friends of Erasmus". The association became a full member of ESN at AGM Krakow 2006. Just one year after joining the network, one of their members, Anna Demner, was elected as a National Board Member of ESN Poland.

Empowerment is one of the core values at ESN SGGW. The section provides a wide range of training to all its members. Last year, four weekend-long training trips were organised; one each to Torun, Krakow, and Sulejow, and the other in cooperation with other sections in Warsaw. Once a semester, the best trainers and ESN members from Poland are invited to attend a training weekend on-campus. Looking to improve skills such as public speaking or negotiation? ESN SGGW is the place to go!

When it comes to services and activities for international students, this section is one step ahead of others. ESN SGGW offers different kinds of activities, including city trips in Poland, Austria, and Hungary. With the aim of promoting a healthy lifestyle, various sport events are organised, the most notable being the ESN Olympics in March! The section also supports language exchange through tandem courses every Thursday and a variety of cultural activities. ESN SGGW shows the importance of non-formal education for everyone.

Finally, ESN SGGW deserves congratulations not only for being Section in Spotlight, but also for being an example to the rest of the network. The main values of the Erasmus programme have not been forgotten: sharing knowledge and experiences. Well done ESN SGGW!

“We still don’t forget about our primary goal – Helping Erasmus Students. We think that word “Erasmus” in Erasmus Student Network means a lot”.

by Alejandra Dubeibe

Eero Loonurm, a former ESNer, has become Communication Manager of the Archimedes Foundation: a national institution for education, training, and research in Estonia.

There is a story behind every success, and there are many success stories which have been realised thanks to volunteering in ESN. Eero Loonurm from Tallinn, Estonia, is someone who started writing his own story within ESN. After finishing his Erasmus exchange in Granada, Spain, he started his journey in ESN as a local Board Member, then as local President, and after that as the National Representative (NR) of Estonia.

Some of his main tasks were organising activities for international students, drafting contracts with universities, and cooperating with other NGOs and private companies. He even helped organise the Northern European Platform (NEP) in Estonia as well as planned and facilitated various workshops during international events such as the Annual General Meeting (AGM) and NEP. Having done all this in ESN, he had a bright future ahead of him professionally.

Today, he is the Head of Communication for the Archimedes Foundation, an Estonian governmental institution that implements different national and international projects for in the fields of education, youth and research. When asked how ESN helped him obtain this position, Eero said:

“ESN gave me everything, all the skills to run meetings, to develop and improve the organisation, marketing and communication skills, to think big and to support my colleagues. ESN also gave me the mentality that everything is possible.”

Through his past work in ESN, Eero was able to make positive changes in his section and even on the international level of ESN. He believes that ESN can only be strong if volunteers give something back to the organisation. He is still committed to ESN and willing to help future generations make the best of their sections and bring about much-needed development.

Eero Loonurm is one example of the many success stories that came to fruition thanks to ESN. These types of experiences are about meeting people and serving as an effective individual in a community where everyone shares the same goals. It is all about volunteering in different fields for the same objective. All this is found in ESN.

Being an ESNer does not only mean being part of a network; being an ESNer means making a difference in a community. Being an ESNer is going beyond the concrete and pursuing one’s dreams and passions. ESN helps you find out who you really are, what you really want to achieve and why you want to do it. ESN is not simply an organisation, it changes your way of thinking and is a constant source of inspiration.

#THISisESN

 

Written by Jesús Escriva Muñoz, Stefan Jahnke and Sara Panis
Edited by Amenie Mehrez

From 14th to 15th January, Brussels was the centre of attention for a consortium of partners gathering to collectively launch MappED!, a project that works towards improveing educational mobility for students with disabilities.

The goal of MappED! is to provide equal opportunities to students with disabilities for their participation in the Erasmus+ Programme, so that they are better informed about their rights, the procedures involved and the support services they are entitled to. It also aims to reduce the disparities in learning outcomes affecting disadvantaged learners by increasing the number of students with disabilities participating in Erasmus+ exchanges. Representing a wide spectrum of stakeholders, project partners include ESN AISBL, IxESN France, Jaccede, AHEAD, UNICA, the University of Vigo and University of Warsaw.

"MappED! is a follow up on the ExchangeAbility and MapAbility projects, and as such will provide students with information regarding the accessibility of not only university facilities, but also the surrounding establishments and services available in the city. It will do so via a digital platform with an improved interface that will be available both as a web portal and as a mobile application," explains Adam Farnik, coordinator of the project.

During the meeting, partners discussed project coordination and task division, along with finer details regarding the project's execution. A highlight of the agenda was the discussion on the creation of an infocenter that would gather all relevant information on Erasmus+ exchanges from the perspective of a student with disabilities. Needless to say, ESN is excited about what's to come!

For more information, please contact Adam Farnik, MappED! Project Coordinator.

If society is a damsel in distress, then volunteers are superheroes who are on call 24 hours a day. Why? Because it is rewarding in so many different ways! If you are wondering whether it’s worth the time then keep reading to find some of the benefits volunteering can offer you.

1. We develop new skills.

Through our work as volunteers we develop soft skills such as adaptability and problem solving, as well as hard skills such as proficiency in a foreign language and networking. Both sets of skills boost our employability and make us competitive in the labour market.

2. We travel.

Thanks to our activities, we can travel all across Europe, discover new places and meet new people. As much as travelling is a fun experience in itself, it also allows us to develop a sense of wonder, foster new values, and helps us realise what it truly means to identify yourself as a European citizen.

3. We learn informally.

Volunteering serves as a reflection of who you are―it shows that you have been active during your student years, that you took initiative, and that you performed in high, decision-making positions which helped you foster entrepreneurial and leadership skills. That is enough to set you apart from other candidates.

4. We work on improving ourselves.

Social interaction is a key component of life. Volunteering makes you open your door to strangers who soon become your family. It pushes you out of your shell and motivates you to work on improving yourself. Soon enough, you become a master of social and communication skills, and presenting yourself to new people brings you joy, not sweaty palms.

5. We learn languages.

Volunteering in an international environment does wonders for your language skills. It helps you improve the language you already know, practise speaking a language you have only started learning or get you into learning one you never thought about before. Plus, it looks amazing on your CV!

 

6. We celebrate differences.

For a continent with as rich a history as Europe, it is important to get a better understanding of other cultures, something we as volunteers have first-hand access to. Understanding leads to respect and respect leads to knowledge. Learning and participating in other people’s traditions, exploring their cuisines and discovering their differences is not only fun, but also rewarding.

 

7. We make friends.

The amount of people you meet through volunteering is one of its greatest advantages―you make a network so big, making sure you always have someone to turn to. We do not only meet potential employees, we make friends all over Europe which means that as volunteers we can offer you any piece of information you might need.

8. We inspire.

Volunteering can be a stepping stone for you. It is a source of motivation and inspiration—through various volunteering activities you can discover your career path.

9. We help people.

Volunteering is like asking yourself “Would you still do your job, even if you did not get paid for it?” Volunteers are people who are willing to invest their free time into helping others not because they have to do it, but because they want to do it. No matter what you are doing—helping international students find their place in a new surrounding or helping your local community—you matter. And is there a better way to end your day other than hearing a warm thank you?

10. We make a difference.

Interacting with people from other cultures can make you more open-minded, tolerant, and understanding. Volunteering can change your point-of-view, educate you and help you break stereotypes. You find yourself in situations you never thought you would be in, doing things you never thought you would be doing. You acquire knowledge and skills that can become your lifeline. Volunteering opens a whole new window of possibilities and experiences. You stop wanting to become better than other people and you start wanting to outgrow yourself. You become your own superhero.

Do you want to join our squad?

 

Written by Tajana Mohnacki

What is ARC5?

Are you keen on contributing to policy proposals for higher education challenges in Asia and Europe? Are you interested in exploring the roles which universities and businesses play alongside governments in preparing the new generation for the labour market? Do you have innovative solutions to develop employability skills for the youth? Take the opportunity and join ARC5 to share your thoughts and answers with university and business leaders and, ultimately, with the Ministers of Education from 51 Asian and European countries.

What awaits you?

• Participate in Plenary and Working Group sessions with inspiring keynote speakers and mentors from the education, business and government sector
• Gain insights into the policy decision-making of the ASEM Education Process, as well as universities’ and employers’ perspectives on employability skills
• Collaborate and exchange views with your peers from 51 countries
• Fine-tune your soft skills and knowledge that will benefit your academic, professional and personal life
• Raise questions, share solutions, and network with over 150 rectors, business leaders and government representatives

When & where?

• 4-7 April 2016, Charles University
• Prague, Czech Republic
• Organised in conjunction with the 5th ASEM Rectors’ Conference (ARC5).

For whom?

• Citizens of the 51 ASEM member countries
• University students between 18 and 30 years old
• Strong verbal and written command of English

Costs?

• There is no registration or participation fee. We provide accommodation, meals and a travel subsidy for the selected participants.

How to apply?

• We look forward to your application HERE before Friday, 22 January, 2016!

Questions?

• If you have any further questions, take a look at the FAQ.
• For all other questions, email us on arc@asef.org.

Attachment Files:  151210_ARC5_Open Call ARC5.pdf

Dear Volunteers,

Yes, you! All of you out there doing something extra. Something you don’t have to be doing. And doing it day and night in your free time. We’ve got something to tell you, but before we do that…  All of you deserve a thank you. Thank you for believing in yourself and in your efforts.Thank you for spending countless hours making a difference. Big or small, you do deserve a thank you.

Because the world needs somebody willing to clock in a couple of extra hours after coming back home from a long day at the university. The world needs somebody who believes in their efforts, unconditionally. The world needs somebody who is willing to tackle a problem not knowing much about it, to fail, learn from their mistakes, and try again. The world needs volunteers.

So what is it you’re doing? May it be helping international students get the most out of their exchange or involving people to help in their local communities; may it be researching the impact of education on the current youth or helping the elderly stay in shape, we all have something in common. We all have that spark in our eyes, the spark that shines the most when we are doing what we love, regardless of how tough the task is or how late at night it is.

It’s absolutely crazy to think of how many ways this spark can shine. The variety of expertise bubbling in your communities is just outstanding. Reaching from IT & programming, over education & policy making, all the way to human resources & management, just to name a few. Being volunteers, we have a unique chance to practise all we have learned already during our student times. What better time to stay hungry and foolish, not being afraid to make errors, to sharpen the skills we have learned?

And yet, we are often told that our volunteering is not a real-work experience. Why is that? Can it be because we don’t spend 8 hours a day doing what we do? Wait, that can’t be true, sometimes we dedicate even more time than that to our passions. Is it because we don’t do it for big commercial corporations? Or maybe it’s because nobody understands what we are actually doing as volunteers? What if it’s because we are not able to explain to them what we are learning...

How many times have you heard your parents, friends, or partner say that your volunteering is just a waste of time? Do they know what exactly you’re doing and learning? They wouldn’t dare to say you’re wasting your time if they knew how much there is to what you do.

Let’s make a deal. Let’s all make sure that in 2016 we will show the world what it means to be a volunteer. Let’s show everyone what we’ve learned through volunteering!

Yours sincerely,
the volunteers of the Erasmus Student Network

On 14th January 2016, between 3 and 4pm (Central European Time), the Erasmus Student Network and the European Commission will join forces in hosting the biggest online #ErasmusPlusChat so far.

The panel of hosts will include representatives from:

• DG EAC, European Commission
• Erasmus Student Network
• EP-NUFFIC (Dutch National Agency for Erasmus+)
• International Office, Mykolos Romeris University

The online chat will be the first time that representatives from the four major stakeholder groups of the Erasmus+ programme are brought together to address the burning questions of potential Erasmus+ beneficaries. Questions regarding every step of the Erasmus+ experience, from the application process to practical questions regarding living abroad, will be accepted and answered live on social media.

Questions may be posed on the Facebook page of Erasmus+.

For more information, please contact:

Gaffar Rampage
Communication Manager of ESN
communication@esn.org.

A consortium led by the European Association of ERASMUS Coordinators (EAEC) has embarked on a project that aims to innovate on the way students present themselves to prospective employers. The envisioned final product is the  European Digital Portfolio for University Students (EDIPUS) - a powerful new tool for all Higher Education students in Europe which will provide students with a tool called the Digital Portfolio Portal (DPP), where they can create their own portfolio of experiences and qualifications in a creative and professional way.

The portfolio will be semi-structured, allowing students to exercise creativity in the way they present their portfolio of experiences. EDIPUS aims to replace the traditional CV by offering a smarter, modern tool for students to express themselves, with social media functionalities as well as smartphone support. The digital portfolios will be hosted on an online platform with smart search capabilities, allowing employers to discover potential employees by filtering for competence preferences or job needs.

The tool is expected to contribute substantially to the development of students' self-assessment and communication skills. Besides the DPP, the project will also encompass a survey to gather feedback, an electronic user guidebook, and a training course to maximise the potential of the tool and platform.

Besides EAEC, partner organisations in the EDIPUS consortium include the Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto, Enoros Consulting, the University of Piraeus Research Centre, UNIMED Mediterranean Universities Union, the Erasmus Student Network, the University of Vienna, Eurocrea Merchant and Fundacion Universidad Empresa Murcia.

For more information, please refer to the Press Release below.

Attachment Files:  Edipus_Press Release I.pdf

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In 2015, the Network hit a significant milestone of 500 sections across Europe. Each leaves an undeniable mark, with unique stories to tell. Proudly kicking off 2016, here is one shining example - the Section in the Spotlight of January: ESN UniBuc from Bucharest, Romania!

It all started in 2009 when a group of brave and innovative girls decided to found an ESN section in the Romanian capital to cater to the abundance of incoming international students. Not long after the establishment, ESN UniBuc became the most sought-after and innovative NGO dealing with mobility in Bucharest. What for some takes years of hard work, thanks to passionate and dedicated volunteers and a careful recruitment process, ESN UniBuc managed to do in just two.

The team consists of several departments - from events to SocialErasmus - creating a multicultural and enjoyable atmosphere not only for incoming exchange students but the local volunteers as well. ESN UniBuc welcomes the international community inside their inner working circle as well. The section takes pride in this, as they bring an international perspective that improves the quality of activities organised.

If you ever decide to do an exchange semester in Bucharest, ESN UniBuc will keep you occupied every week of the semester with various sorts of cultural and social activities. Visits to museums, traditional dinners, pub quizzes and trips to nearby attractions will let you get a glimpse of the rich Romanian culture. Numerous cleverly themed parties will serve as a great occasion for you to have fun and socialise. Signature trips such as Escape to Vama Veche and the annual Halloween in Transylvania will revive those Romanian legends we have all heard about leave you goosebumps.

"We are trying to motivate students more and more every time and show them that the Erasmus+ experience is more about integration in a foreign community and that their horizon is much more wider that they thought. From what we see, they are succeeding."

When it comes to implementing international ESN projects, SocialErasmus activities are always one step ahead of the others. Inspired by the widely popular “Humans of New York” campaign, ESN UniBuc has its very own version, “Humans of Bucharest by Erasmus+” which stands out as the flagship project of the section. SocialErasmus also serves as the field where local communities and institutions get involved in the work of the section and see Erasmus life from a different perspective.

The section plays a significant role on the national scale of the Network as well. They have acted as Organising Committee for the National Event 'Escape to Vama Veche' for two consecutive years and have no plans of stopping there. What drives these young volunteers in building a large international community in Bucharest?

"We want to help Erasmus+ students have the time of their lives, because this is what Erasmus should be. We want to help them grow as wonderful persons and learn about Romania. ESN UniBuc has become a family. The members make us unique."

Surely, the motivation is strong with this one.

by Karolis Kriuka

The Erasmus Student Network (ESN) is Europe’s biggest student organisation, present in 500 Higher Education Institutions in 37 European countries. Our aim is to support and develop student mobility and the internationalisation of higher education, through providing services and opportunities to students. 

The Board of ESN International, based in Brussels, is looking for an Administrative assistant from January 2016/February 2016.

Main tasks and responsibilities

• Office management
• Webshop order management
• Network administration
• Event management support

Profile

• Bachelors degree
• Three-year working experience
• Fluency in French and English
• Competency in core Microsoft Office and Google tools
• Precise, organised and proactive with strong interpersonal skills

Terms and conditions

• Full-time position (38 hours/week)
• One year contract with the opportunity for extension
• Transportation partly covered as per Belgian law
• Health insurance reimbursed

For more detailed information regarding the open call, please refer to the PDF attached. To apply, please send a short motivation letter and CV  to applications@esn.org by Sunday 10th January 2016, 23:59 CET.

Interviews will be scheduled and conducted on a rolling basis.

Attachment Files:  2015_12_Open_Call_Administrator.pdf

The Erasmus Student Network (ESN) is the biggest student organisation in Europe. It was founded in 1989, with the aim to support and develop student mobility. As a European organisation, ESN uses multiple channels to maintain effective internal and external communication with the Network, our partners and stakeholders.

ESN offers a Communication and Media Internship for students or recent graduates to work on our communication projects in 2016 at the ESN international Secretariat (Rue Hydraulique 15, 1210 Brussels).

Main tasks and responsibilities

• Assisting in all communication-related tasks, such as producing the newsletter, ESN.org, etc., implementation of social media communication, graphic designs and ESN’s online tools
• Contribute to our internal ESN publications

Terms and conditions

• Internship for a duration of 6 months
• The successful applicant should start ideally at the beginning of January
• Must have an Erasmus+ Placement or any other Internship Agreement / scholarship
• Accommodation at the ESN house in Brussels is provided
• Transport costs in Brussels are covered

Required skills and experience

• Good knowledge of written and spoken English
• Background in communication, media, graphic design or similar
• Familiar with the concepts of Social Media and online marketing
• Good knowledge of Adobe software: Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign
• Precise and organised way of working
• Proficient user of Microsoft Office package
• Capability of working in a team as well as independently
• Comfortable working in a multicultural environment
• Knowledge of the Erasmus Student Network is a plus

Highly valued

• Knowledge of photography, video editing and/or animation tools
• Knowledge of HTML and/or CSS, experience in web design
• Fluency in other European languages

To apply, please send a short motivation letter, CV and examples of work related to communication and design to applications@esn.org by Sunday 27th December 2015 23:59 CET.

Interviews (via Skype) will be conducted the following week with the shortlisted applicants. Please don't hesitate to contact us in case you have any additional questions regarding the position.

Attachment Files:  2015_12_Open_Call_Communication_Intern.pdf

The Erasmus Student Network (ESN) is the biggest student organisation in Europe. It was founded in 1989, with the aim to support and develop student mobility. Every year, ESN maintains and develops several IT tools such as its intranet ESN Galaxy and its webpage template ESN Satellite.

ESN is looking for a Web Project Intern, so if you are a student or recent graduate in a related field,  send us your CV and motivation letter stating why you want to work on the web projects of ESN at the international headquarters (Rue Hydraulique 15, 1210 Brussels).

Terms and conditions

• Internship for a duration of 6 months
• The successful applicant should start ideally at the beginning of January
• Must have an Erasmus Placement or any Internship Agreement
• Accommodation at the ESN house in Brussels is provided
• Transport costs in Brussels are covered 

Required skills and experience

• Experience with Drupal
• Structured and reliable way of working
• Background in computer science, engineering or similar
• Interest in web development
• Knowledge of HTML and CSS
• Basic knowledge of PHP (advanced knowledge is a plus)
• Knowledge of MySQL is a plus
• Knowledge of git is a plus
• Knowledge of Drupal module development is a plus
• Knowledge of ESN’s projects and especially its web projects is a plus

Main tasks and responsibilities

• Concretise the functional design of a web project
• Develop a web platform with Drupal
• Assist the IT Committee*
• Assist the office with IT related tasks
• Assist the Web Project Administrator
• Write project documentation

To apply, please send a short motivation letter and CV to applications@esn.org by Sunday 27th December 2015 23:59 CET. Interviews (via Skype) will be conducted the following week with the shortlisted applicants.

Please don't hesitate to contact us if you have any additional questions regarding the position.

*The IT Committee of ESN, which works closely with the Web Project Administrator, aims at strengthening the organisation by developing IT systems for the whole network and providing assistance and advice about technological matters in general.

Attachment Files:  2015_12_Open_Call_Web_Project_Intern.pdf