Erasmus Student Network

Erasmus Student Network (ESN ) is a European-wide student organization. They cared exchange students, that are mediated generally by the Erasmus program, and facilitate their local integration. With the growth of the organization and more focus on the issues and improve the exchange of students are placed in general.

ESN is currently ( April 2014 ) of 449 sections at universities in 37 European countries ( with the Euro Europe -oriented definition).

• 5.1 Idea and structure
• 5.2 List of international meetings

History

In 1987 the European Community adopted a plan for international mobility for tertiary level of education. Established in this context Erasmus program has become one of the most well-known organizations, which allows students to spend part of their studies in a foreign country. At a meeting to evaluate the program history two years later in Belgium, the idea of ​​creating a network that supports the exchange students coming to terms with everyday problems in their host country was born. According to the motto "Students help students " was the Erasmus Student Network. Then ESN sections were launched at various European universities; the first in Utrecht in 1989. since 1990 has led the organization in Copenhagen as a registered association. ESN experienced in the last decade strong growth (2000: 95 sections, 2010: 338 sections), which is also strongly influenced by new computer technologies such as Skype and Facebook. 2005 an office in Brussels was established. ESN gets financial support from the European Commission, but it is the Erasmus program independently.

Activity

ESN is organized on three levels. The most important level is the local which maintains contact with the students. The international umbrella organization coordinates the interaction between the individual states and sections. More and more are forming and national structures that ensure the cooperation between a country sections.

Local level

The local level is the most important in ESN. Here the members are the most active, here are the results and activities directly visible. The former exchange students come especially with the local sections of ESN in contact; to this they remember, even after their stay abroad. The main task of the local ESN - sections is the support and integration of exchange students in everyday life. They coordinate and organize social and cultural activities and excursions and make the exchange students as their homeland closer. The individual sections are often organized as a working group or club and maintain cooperation with the international offices.

National Level

In some countries - including Germany, Austria and Switzerland - there are national boards, which coordinate the work at national level. They also perceive a mediating role between local and international level and organize activities at national level.

Currently ( as of March 2014) and 17 exist in Switzerland 15 sections in Germany 28, in Austria. Germany, together with France to Italy (50 ), Turkey (34 ), Poland ( 33 ) and Spain ( 32) the country with the fifth- most sections.

International level

The international, ie pan-European level supports the sections in their tasks and promotes cooperation between the different sections. Furthermore, it organizes international events, and ensures coordination between all its members safe. ESN International represents the organization of national and international events that affect the mobility of students and is the contact in negotiations with the European Commission and other institutions concerned.

Membership

ESN is represented with different status in the following institutions:

• Full membership in the European Youth Forum
• Associate member of European Students' Union
• Guest status at en: European Association for International Education
• Participation status in the Euro Europe

ESN has local offices in the following cities:

Pallomeri

The Finnish word " pallomeri " is the game corner in supermarkets, which is filled with soft, colored balls. This word was set at the 1998 AGM in Graz, Austria as a greeting between the ESN members and shows in a way, the spirit of the organization. Pallomeri is also a backronym for Pan-European Association Leading Local Organization Making Erasmus Richer Inside

For CEP, 2012 in Graz greeting was resumed.

International events

Idea and structure

The most important event of ESN is the Annual General Meeting. It is the fixed annual general meetings at which delegates from all sections of the National Board and the International Board are invited. At this meeting, the most important decisions are taken and adopted amendments decided and chosen the new International Board. It takes place usually in the spring.

Furthermore, important events include the National Council of delegation (CND ) and the Cultural Medley ( CM).

When CND, representatives of the various countries, the so-called National Representatives ( NRs ), as well as other people as President of the National level meet, etc. The CND was needed and introduced because the network had grown so wide that not all decisions on the AGM could be made.

Furthermore, the Regional Platforms was introduced due to the growth. On these, the representatives of individual parts of European countries meet. The terms and the participating states change frequently due to the necessary reclassifications. The Regional Platforms are traditionally rather like the CND in the fall.

The CM is a social event, here is primarily concerned to establish or strengthen old connections new contacts.

Furthermore, have now been introduced due to the size of the network a number of other meetings, such as alumni meeting or special Comittees that deal with various tasks.

List of international meetings

Explanation: CND = Council of National Delegates CM = Cultural Medley CEP = Central European Platform NEP = North European Platform SEP = South European Platform ( SEP was cleaved from 2007 in the SEEP and SWEP. ) WEP = Western European Platform