Promotional image Unite! experience showing a picture of a male student.
Promotional image Unite! experience showing a picture of a male student.
5 July 2023
My Unite! Experience: Fostering the participation of students within European University Alliances
Promotional image Unite! experience showing a picture of a male student.
From 31 May to 2 June, Lluís Gil represented Unite! at the European Student Assembly aimed at voicing the opinion of European University Alliances students.

Picture of Lluís Gil

From 31 May to 2 June, Lluís Gil represented Unite! at the European Student Assembly, which brought together 230 students, from 40 European University Alliances and 30 countries across Europe. Unite! was represented by 12 students who participated in the Assembly's various round tables, workshops and interactive sessions.

05/07/2023

The 2nd edition of the European Student Assembly, held from 31 May to 2 June, brought together 230 students, from 40 European University Alliances and 30 countries across Europe. They gathered in the prestigious setting of the European Parliament in Strasbourg to exchange ideas, discuss pressing matters, and collaborate on shaping the future of Europe.

Unite! was represented by 12 students who participated in the Assembly's various round tables, workshops and interactive sessions. The students, invited by the European University Community (EUC), had the opportunity to delve into areas such as sustainable development, inclusion, and digital innovation, among others. Students were able to consult experts in various fields before participating in discussions and workshops. They then drafted and voted on a total of 75 policy recommendations aimed at addressing the challenges and opportunities facing Europe. The results of the Assembly, including the policy recommendations, will soon be disseminated to stakeholders, policymakers in the European Parliament, and educational institutions. Unite! students have been actively involved in the Assembly by organizing and coordinating the different panels.

Lluís Gil Vives, a bachelor student in Design Engineering and Product Development at the Superior School of Industrial, Aerospace and Audiovisual Engineering Terrassa (ESEIAAT) of Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya · BarcelonaTech (UPC), who acts as a UPC bachelor representative of SURE! (Students in Unite! for Representation and Empowerment), explains his experience as one of the students involved in the panel focused on digital transition of the European Student Assembly. 



What Unite! initiative were you involved in?

I recently attended the European Students Assembly in Strasbourg, organized by the European Universities Community, as a representative from the Unite! Alliance. At the assembly, we met with students from many universities involved in European Alliances, to discuss what we thought the future of Europe should look like, and agree on policy recommendations we later sent to MEPs. These recommendations revolved around ten different panels, each one focusing on issues of great importance: democracy and citizen involvement, peace and reconciliation between countries, sustainable and resilient energy grids, sustainable agriculture and food autonomy, mental health, digital transition, security and defence, sustainable cities, excellence and inclusion in education, and the European Year of Skills. 

Did you learn anything new? 

I believe any experience is a learning opportunity, and the Assembly was an amazing one! Working as a team with students from diverse cultures and completely different disciplines was something I had never done before. Communication among us was key, as we were all challenged to explain ideas and concepts from our respective fields in a simple and understandable way. It was amazing to share talks with law and international relations students, as these fields were completely new to me. By combining our knowledge in different fields, we were able to write clear, rigorous, and concise policy recommendations that we would have not been able to achieve on our own. 

How is it different from a “normal” university experience?

From my experience in UPC, opportunities to meet colleagues from other fields, other study levels (for example, meeting a PhD student while being in bachelor's), or other cultures have been few and far between. The European Student Assembly was all of that combined, in a city I had never been to, applying the knowledge acquired in university in a completely new way: discussing European policy. It was unlike anything I had done in UPC, but at the same time, for me, it was the epitome of what a university experience should be: getting out of your comfort zone while having fun. (Because we also had some time for fun, let's be honest). 

From your point of view, what is the advantage of working or studying at a Unite! university?

There are many, many advantages of studying in a Unite! university. The alliance is already offering great opportunities for students to participate in mobility programmes, network with students from all over the EU, learn new languages, interact with new cultures... And I am sure there is much more to come! Unite! has great potential to become a European leader when it comes to technology and engineering, both through education and research. 

What were the best aspects of this experience?

Getting to know other students, working and debating inside the European Parliament, broadening my horizons as to what engineering can be useful for, exchanging ideas with colleagues, having my ideas challenged and challenging their ideas, learning about ongoing student initiatives in other universities and alliances... Those were the overall best aspects, although I have to mention the twinning session we held with Erasmus Student Network Ukraine, in which student representatives from a Ukrainian university shared their experiences since the start of the war. Witnessing such remarkable courage, and everything those students are capable of was a great inspiration. 


More information about the European Student Assembly: