ESN at the Union for the Mediterranean Higher Education National Focal Points Meeting 2025: Elevating the Voice of the Erasmus Generation in the Mediterranean
On 9 April 2025, Erasmus Student Network (ESN) participated in the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) Higher Education National Focal Points Meeting in Barcelona, a milestone event aimed at reviving regional cooperation in Higher Education across the Euro-Mediterranean space. Marking the 30th anniversary of the Barcelona Process, the meeting convened representatives from UfM Member States, the European Commission, university networks, and key stakeholders to build momentum ahead of the 2026 UfM Ministerial Meeting on Higher Education.
ESN’s presence at the event—represented by Rita Dias (President, ESN International), Emna Memmi (Liaison Officer for Africa and the Middle East), and the leadership of ESN Jordan, Haneen as a President and Ghassan as Vice President—reflected our commitment to fostering student mobility, regional integration, and inclusive education beyond the borders of the European Union.
A Key Platform for Regional Engagement
The meeting provided a unique opportunity to connect with UfM, ESN’s main institutional partner in the Mediterranean, and to showcase the strategic relevance of youth mobility in building regional bridges. Through meaningful exchanges with national focal points and representatives from the European Commission, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Mediterranean Universities Union (UNIMED), and leading Euro-Mediterranean universities, ESN reaffirmed its position as a trusted youth stakeholder in the policy dialogue on Higher Education.
ESN Delegation to Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) Higher Education
National Focal Points Meeting, Barcelona, April 2025
ESN’s Contribution to the Erasmus+ Regional Debate
ESN took centre stage during the panel discussion "What is the Med experience of Erasmus+?", an interactive session exploring the role of mobility in Euro-Mediterranean cooperation. The panel featured contributions from Rita Dias, Emna Memmi, Haneen AbuAlhayjaa and Ghassan AlAjlouni from ESN Jordan, highlighting ESN’s efforts to give a voice to the Erasmus Generation in the Mediterranean. A special spotlight was placed on ESN Jordan, our only section in the Southern Mediterranean and the Middle East, whose engagement exemplifies the power of youth-led cooperation across both shores of the region.
This session also served as a platform to present ESN’s ongoing cooperation with UNIMED, particularly through the Mediterranean Student Summit—an annual youth-led initiative now in its fourth edition. The summit has emerged as a flagship model of cross-border engagement, bringing together students, policymakers, and institutions to address common challenges and co-design solutions for the region’s future.
Strengthening Our Strategic Vision
ESN’s participation directly aligns with its strategic goals to:
- Strengthen its presence in the Mediterranean by acting as the voice of young people in regional fora.
- Expand the network’s impact beyond EU borders, in particular by empowering new sections in the Southern Mediterranean.
- Engage in regional policy processes as a credible actor advocating for inclusive and accessible international opportunities.
As emphasised in our exchanges during the meeting:
Higher Education must be prioritised as a driver of regional stability, equity, and development. Youth voices, especially those from the South, must be at the centre of this transformation.
Looking Ahead
Building on the momentum of the meeting, ESN aims to deepen its collaboration with UfM and explore new opportunities for engagement through ESN Jordan. Strengthening ties with institutional partners, such as the European Commission and UNIMED, will be key to expanding our reach and ensuring that student voices are embedded in future regional strategies.
ESN aspires to continue fostering and promoting youth-led initiatives like the Mediterranean Student Summit and participating in high-level events. On the other hand, the voice of the Erasmus Generation is committed to extending a hand of cooperation to strengthen multilateral partnerships with local partners and major stakeholders in the region through the labour of its Liaison Officer for Global Mobility in Africa and the Middle East.
In this context, ESN participated in the regional consultation of the New of “the Pact for the Mediterranean Neighbourhood Policy”, through the Euromed Survey 2025. Undoubtedly, ESN aims to keep advocating the voice of regional and international mobility in one of the EU's strategic and direct neighbourhood regions.
As discussions continue toward the upcoming Ministerial Meeting on Higher Education in 2026, ESN stands ready to contribute constructively, with policy input, grassroots insights, and youth-led initiatives that reflect the values of unity, dialogue, and mobility.
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