Academic freedom is the most important pillar that underpins and enables a democratic and free higher education sector. Given that the academic and political debate on the concept of academic freedom tends to be one-sided and confined to the needs and experiences of academic staff and researchers, as well as in face of the ongoing attacks on the…

In response to numerous reports from students across Europe expressing concerns about acute housing conditions, the European Students' Union (ESU) and the Erasmus Student Network (ESN) launched a snap survey in early November 2022. The findings of the survey seek to provide Higher Education Institutions and policymakers with an evidence-based…

This publication has been developed under the Erasmus+ co-funded "Quality Assurance Fit for the Future"(QA-FIT) project, coordinated by the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA), in partnership with the European University Association (EUA), the European Students' Union (ESU), and the European Association…

During the COVID-19 pandemic, students in higher education experienced mental health issues whereby National Unions Students & local unions, Higher Education Institutions, and governments played a role in addressing them. Mental health and wellbeing among students have been analysed by external actors as the topic has been talked about already…

This report looks to address the topic of Brain Drain in an international context, focusing on the impact on Higher Education within the European Higher Education Area. We have assessed the underlying mechanisms contributing to Brain Drain and the potential measures for convergence to Brain Circulation, considering economic, social, and…

The COVID-19 pandemic which has swept across Europe has made changes to many facets of life from working conditions to freedom of movement. Education has been one of the sectors disrupted by the crisis with educational provision both in Europe and globally having gone on-line. In higher education, on the one hand, this new moment has highlighted…

Only 3% of the young people with refugee backgrounds are enrolled in Higher Education. Barriers remain extremely high when it comes to access, participation and success: recognition of qualification, language barriers, financial, legal and administrative burden, lack of social interaction, access to decent living conditions and (mental) health…

This Policy Paper aims at analysing the most important aspects of Public Responsibility, Financing and Governance of Higher Educations while seeking to formulate a students perspective on the state of play within the European Higher Education Area (EHEA). In doing so it touches upon the very foundation of how and in which socio-political…

These recommendations have been put together for the guidance and reference of European Students' Union (ESU's) membership of national student unions and student representatives mandated by point 2.3.b. of ESU's Plan of Work 2019-2020: "ESU should develop recommendations on what students can do to promote democratic citizenship education and…

The role of higher education towards social, economic and cultural development of our societies is certainly unquestionable from various aspects. In that sense, synergy and mutual dependence of higher education and society & vice-versa is a constant of modern times. However, one must acknowledge that all these aspects very often are highly…

This paper defines the European Students' Union (ESU) opinions on the topics related to internationalisation and learning mobility. This document is both an advancement and a cohesive overview of ESU's existing positions on internationalisation and mobility in higher education. This paper offers both definitions and elaborations on relevant policy…

In every policy paper European Students' Union (ESU) seeks to outline their vision for a truly modern and collegial higher education and student interests. This paper provides an overview of ESU's main policies on higher education. It begins with the following sections: (1) What is higher education?; (2) Who is higher education for?; (3)…

The European Students' Union with the support of the Open Society Foundation published a new study on recognition of qualifications held by refugees and their access to higher education in Europe. The paper analyses how a selected pool of countries use education as an instrument for inclusion of refugees, asylum seekers and persons in refugee-like…

The development of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) through the Bologna Process has contributed to an increase in cross-border exchanges and cooperation in higher education and facilitates the enhancement of trust and confidence among higher education systems. In the framework of the Bologna Process, cross-border QA is supported, and in…

The European Students' Union (ESU) believes that open access to all levels of education is the cornerstone of a socially, culturally and democratically inclusive society and a pre-requisite for individual and societal development and well-being. ESU sees higher education as a human right, guaranteed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and…