European Student Assembly 2026
About
On 21 April 2026, the Transform4Europe (T4EU) European University Alliance was represented at the European Student Assembly (ESA) at the European Parliament in Strasbourg. Seven students from T4EU partner universities took part in this Erasmus+ initiative, which brought together 250 selected students from across Europe.
The ESA offered a unique platform for students to discuss key European challenges, develop policy recommendations, and debate them directly in the Parliament’s hemicycle. In addition to the panel work, networking and alliance reflection sessions highlighted the importance of European University Alliances in fostering cross-border student engagement and a shared European academic identity.
Alina Dohtiar from Vytautas Magnus University in Kaunas, Lithuania, described the experience as both academically enriching and personally inspiring, strengthening her ambition to actively shape Europe’s future:
„For me, this experience was not only academically enriching but also personally inspiring. It was an amazing opportunity to meet ambitious, driven young people from all over Europe. My panel focused on interdisciplinarity in education, a topic closely connected to my field of study and something I’m truly passionate about.”
At the Alliances Meeting, participants exchanged perspectives with Yann‑Maël Bideau, Policy Officer at the European Commission for Erasmus+ Higher Education, focusing on the role of alliances and the financial framework supporting European cooperation in higher education.
While no ESA is planned for 2027, new funding models and formats, such as a Blended Intensive Programme, are currently being explored for 2028 and beyond.
