Who are we and what do we do?
Erasmus Student Network (ESN) is one of the biggest interdisciplinary student associations in Europe. It was born on the 16th October 1989 and legally registered in 1990 for supporting and developing student exchange (here you can find more information on the history on ESN)..
We are present in more than 900 Higher Education Institutions in 40 countries. The network is constantly developing and expanding.
ESN is working in Higher Education (HE):
- offering services to 220.000 students
- on a volunteer basis (only very few people get paid)
- with an average annual growth rate of 12% since 2005
ESN is operating on three levels: local, national, and international.
ESN works for the creation of a more mobile and flexible education environment by supporting and developing the student exchange from different levels, and providing an intercultural experience also to those students who cannot access a period abroad (“internationalisation at home”).
Aims & Principles
In synthesis, ESN:
- works in the interest of international students
- works to improve the social and practical integration of international students
- represents the needs and rights of international students on the local, national, and international level
- provides relevant information about mobility programmes
- motivates students to study abroad
- works with the reintegration of homecoming students
- contributes to the improvement and accessibility of student mobility
- cares about its members
- values volunteering and active citizenship
Who are we for?
Homecoming students, i.e. the students who are returning from exchange, are being supported in reintegration process in their home countries by keeping contact with an international environment. Many local sections are set up by former exchange students, often because they have had good experiences from their exchange period or because they felt a lack of help during their exchange. They also understand better the issues and challenges in a foreign environment.
However, the main focus of ESN is placed on current exchange students, who often face problems (and feel abandoned) in their new environments. Therefore, ESN offers help in academic, social and practical integration process. This is mainly done through activities in the local sections, which include cultural and social events such as trips to various places within the country, film nights, language projects, international food festivals and last, but not least, parties. In addition to that, many sections have introduced mentor systems, which help the international students mainly in academic and practical integration.
ESN also provides relevant information and encourages the future exchange students to gain the international experience and gain relevant insight to different cultures.