From 6 to 8 May 2025, the Erasmus Student Network participated in the CIVICA Global Forum, hosted by IE University in Madrid. The event brought together academic leaders, policymakers, and civil society to reflect on how higher education can respond to today’s most pressing global challenges under the theme “Harnessing the Social Sciences in Higher Education: Navigating Global Challenges and Complexity.”
Among the key voices at the forum were Enrico Letta, former Italian Prime Minister and Dean of the IE School of Politics, Economics and Global Affairs, and Glenn Micallef, European Commissioner for Intergenerational Equity, Youth, Culture and Sport. Both emphasised the need for a deeper, more connected European academic space and jointly called for the creation of a "fifth freedom": the free circulation of knowledge, research, education, and innovation across Europe. For ESN, this vision reflects a long-standing belief that student mobility is not a privilege, but a right, and one that must be protected and expanded as a pillar of European cooperation.
Central to the forum’s discussions was the call for greater collaboration between universities, industry, international institutions, and civil society. However, as ESN highlighted, these partnerships must go beyond bilateral cooperation. They must become trialogues that also include students as full partners in shaping educational strategies. Students bring on-the-ground experience, a critical civic perspective, and a direct stake in the outcomes of higher education reforms. Without their inclusion, efforts to modernise and internationalise universities risk falling short of their transformative potential.
The forum also explored the evolving role of universities in contributing to global development, particularly in light of the approaching conclusion of the United Nations 2030 Agenda. As discussions turned toward the future of the Sustainable Development Goals, ESN emphasised the need for European University Alliances to play an active role in shaping what comes next. Their capacity to link cross-border academic cooperation, research, and civic engagement places them in a unique position to contribute meaningfully to a post-2030 vision, provided they are fully included in international dialogues and policy frameworks.
The CIVICA Global Forum 2025 reinforced the shared responsibility of universities, policymakers, and civil society to shape an education system that is resilient, inclusive, and forward-looking. As Europe continues to build a stronger and more interconnected education area, ESN remains committed to representing the voices of mobile students and advocating for a more accessible, engaged, and student-centred higher education landscape.
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