From 18 to 21 May 2026, representatives of Erasmus Student Network participated in the 10th EC2U Alliance Forum hosted by the University of Turku in Turku. Gathering students, researchers, university leadership, municipalities and associated partners from across Europe, this year’s Forum focused on the theme “Shaping European Futures through Quality Education”. Alongside ESN's representation at the European level, the Forum also brought together ESN sections from universities within the EC2U Alliance. Through their close cooperation with their universities, these local sections contribute to fostering internationalisation, supporting student engagement and promoting mobility opportunities, making them important partners in advancing the Alliance's student-centred dimension.
The quality of higher education directly shapes student experiences, influencing accessibility, inclusion, mobility opportunities, employability and students’ sense of belonging within the European Higher Education Area. Throughout the Forum, discussions therefore focused strongly on the relationship between quality and impact in higher education, as well as on the broader societal role of universities in responding to contemporary European challenges. Particular attention was given to how universities can generate long-term impact through high-quality education, cooperation with local communities and stakeholders and by preparing students to actively contribute to society.
Particularly relevant in this context was the Higher Education Roundtable “Bridging Education and Skills: Challenge-Based Education, Quality Jobs and Talent Retention”, which explored the relationship between higher education, employability and societal needs. The discussion reflected many priorities that are also central to ESN’s advocacy work, including the importance of accessible learning opportunities, skills development, student mobility and ensuring that higher education equips students to actively participate in both local and European communities.
As a long-standing associated partner of the EC2U Alliance, ESN is also represented in the Alliance’s Quality Council, an advisory body bringing together internal quality assurance experts and external stakeholders to reflect on the Alliance’s long-term strategic development. During the Forum, ESN participated in the session “Perceived Benefits, Added Value and Impact of EC2U at the University of Turku: Internal Evaluation of the European Campus of City-Universities Alliance”. In this discussion, ESN contributed the student perspective on quality and impact within European Universities alliances, emphasising the importance of student-centred approaches, meaningful student participation in governance and accessible mobility opportunities. ESN also highlighted how students themselves can serve as multipliers of the European Universities Initiative by sharing experiences and contributing to the dissemination of European values and cooperation within their local communities and institutions.
Another important moment during the Forum was the opportunity for ESN to present its activities during the EC2U Plenary Council meeting to rectors, vice-rectors and representatives of the City of Turku. The presentation was delivered by representatives of ESN Uni Turku and ESN Finland, showcasing the role of student organisations in fostering internationalisation, inclusion, mobility and active citizenship across Europe.
Beyond the formal programme, the EC2U Forum also created valuable opportunities for connection and exchange between students involved in ESN sections across universities participating in the Alliance. Meeting in person allowed students to strengthen existing cooperation, exchange experiences from their local contexts and discuss possibilities for future collaboration within the framework of EC2U and beyond.
The Forum once again demonstrated the importance of involving students and student organisations in shaping the future of European higher education. ESN remains committed to contributing the student perspective to discussions on quality education, mobility, inclusion and the future development of European Universities Alliances.
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