What does Europe mean to you?
Irefo: To me, Europe is a continent that understands the value of partnering for progress. It's amazing how many partnerships are going on.
Güler: Europe is where I live at the moment and it's also a place in a process of definition and redefinition at the moment. For us, it is also being part of the EDUC alliance: being on the Student Board or the Governing Board.
Jung: I have an extremely positive notion of Europe, though not completely uncritical. I was lucky enough to study abroad in the UK when there was no Brexit on the horizon. Growing up in the south of Germany, I remember that we had to have our passport ready at the Italian border. It is something that has changed dramatically in the last years. The freedom of people, services, workers and goods to move is so highly positive that I'm really a big fan of the European Union and of Europe.
What is your motivation to do something for Europe through EDUC?
Güler: My motivation comes from seeing the value of being active within the university. And we’re pushing so many discussions and different priorities within the European agenda. Working towards this very much matches my values.
Irefo: For me, the motivation comes from giving back. Things were put in place by people who rose up to the occasion. I think that I also have a part to play in my own small way in order to keep this going and make it even better.
Jung: The European Union has been the guarantee of peace for around 79 years. Since the war in Ukraine, I think it has become obvious why it is important to work for Europe. And to have an impact on a level that is bigger than just me alone. That is a great feeling!
Why did you decide to become Student Representatives?
Güler: I got to know EDUC back in 2022 when I was part of the Commission for Internationalization at the UP. At one of the meetings, EDUC was looking for student representatives. Later in January 2023, we had our first in-person meeting where we brought our heads together and worked very intensely on a structure that could work for all the universities. Since then it's been an ongoing discussion and process.
Irefo: I was also on the Internationalization Commission because I was a member of the general students’ committee, the AStA. I found EDUC quite interesting because I didn't know about it.
How does EDUC promote the European idea?
Jung: EDUC is like Europe on a smaller scale. There's the high degree of diversity that is so typical of Europe regarding languages, cultures, institutions, the ways how things are done. I think that makes it very tangible. There's a lot of willingness among all partner universities to really do something together. That’s why EDUC is something very concrete in a European sense.
Güler: Common European values are the foundation that brings EDUC together. All members bring their competencies to the table to create something that's mutually beneficial. I think it's really nice!
Irefo: It is one thing to have a European policy in place, but then it has to be actually put into practice. So that's where EDUC comes in. For example, with accessibility to education across borders.
How have you as students benefited from EDUC? Which offers have you tried out?
Güler: I have a very memorable experience with a sustainability challenge week in Cagliari, Italy. We got to make new friends and tried to solve a challenge. The highlight of it was that we also won it and got a hotel voucher.
Irefo: I was part of a user experience testing group for a course on the EDUC Moodle platform about best practices in research. It was quite exciting just seeing and thinking about all the efforts that must have gone into putting all that material together.
On a broader scale, I also benefited from being a part of the EDUC Student Board. I've gotten to appreciate how much goes into decision making: getting to understand other perspectives and motivations, considering so many other factors on a continental scale.
Your term of office as Student Representatives is coming to an end. What do you take away from your time with EDUC?
Güler: I was able to work with so many nice people. Actually, we had the honour, alongside Katja Jung, of sharing our experience with the EDUC Student Board at the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) retreat in Bonn. I think that is one of my highlights.
Irefo: I would say that this highlights, once again, the European Union value of oneness. Because with every challenge there was always a set vision of progress in all the meetings. There were deliberations, there were differences in opinions, but the vision remained the same. It is really about making progress!
Who else is benefiting from EDUC apart from the students?
Jung: It's really very broad: All the stakeholders at the university are profiting but it goes beyond that. For example, we have a very extensive program for administrative staff to learn mainly English. Besides that, we offer staff weeks, job shadowing, mentoring and staff secondment.
Also, we have a lot of associated partners, among them companies. Sometimes they come up to us with specific questions or problems. We then organize an event to bring together students who work on the solutions.
To what extent is European cooperation in education important?
Jung: Cooperation is very important! The alliances are there to experiment, to have very ambitious plans and to see how to realize them. It is our task and responsibility to bring the partners together and to change the established legislation for the better, not just for us but for all universities in Europe.
------------------------------------
Dr. Katja Jung (1979 – 2024) has sadly passed away and is therefore no longer available as a contact person. If you have any questions about the university alliance, please contact the team via infoueduc-alliancepeu
Please find the Digital Book of Condolences here: https://www.uni-potsdam.de/en/educ/press/latest-news/book-of-condolences-katja-jung
The EDUC Student Board is the student representation of the university alliance. Two students from each partner university are part of the board and advocate for the interests of all students at the eight universities.
The Governing Board is the steering committee of the Student Board. Five of the 16 members occupy each of the positions. They are responsible for chair and vice-chair positions, communications, welcoming new members and liaising with the alliance working groups, and office management to coordinate meetings.
This text (in german language) was published in the university magazine Portal - Zwei 2024 „Europa“ (PDF).