Exchanging Ideas and Dreams - Podcast #8 on the Student Congress

The second Una Europa Student Congress "Una for Future. The Sustainable University." took place on 20 and 21 October 2021, hosted by Universidad Complutense de Madrid. The congress brought together students from all eight Una Europa partner universities to collaborate and shape the idea of a European university of the future, with a focus on creating sustainability on campus.

The hybrid format of the event allowed some students to attend the Congress in person, with those who missed out on the opportunity of the usual physical mobility opportunities offered by their university jumping on the chance to spend time abroad and practice their language skills. Students who were not able to travel to Madrid did not miss out - the full programme of events was streamed live online, from lectures to workshops and even coffee breaks. This ensured that the Student Congress was accessible to all, so any student could engage with their Una Europa student community and make their voice heard.

In the eighth episode of the Una Europa podcast we hear from three Una Europa students that were able to attend the Student Congress in person in Madrid. Our student speakers offer perspectives from all corners of the alliance. Marco Reyes-Bernal is Co-chair of the Una Europa Student Board and currently studying for a Master's in International Security and Development at Uniwersytet Jagielloński w Krakowie. Lovina Okonkwo is a postgraduate student in International Relations at Freie Universität Berlin, and Louise Girard studies at Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne.

Designed and coordinated by students, for students, the second Una Europa Student Congress was organised with the aim of strengthening student networks and highlighting sustainability as a major topic for the future of higher education. The two-day programme offered students the chance to actively get involved in Una Europa’s goal to build a Sustainable University of the Future. During the congress, participants were will able to listen and to ask questions to prominent experts in sustainability from different universities and organisations.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Congress, Una Europa General-Secretary Emily Palmer highlighted the importance of students to the activities and outputs of the alliance, stressing that events such as this were essential to providing a space for students to engage: "One Europe would not exist, it would make no sense, if it were not for the students". She also encouraged students to keep engaging with Una Europa beyond the Congress, stating that "the opinions expressed by the students will be fundamental" because “everything is necessary for the sustainability of the future of the European university, and with everyone's ideas a common campus can be created”.

A Photography Competition was organised in collaboration with the Student Congress, inviting students to showcase their university and student life at "My Una Europa Campus". The winners were announced at the Closing Session of the 2nd Una Europa Student Congress, which took place on 21 October at 12:00 (CEST):

• FIRST PRIZE - "Rotunda", Karolina Jarosik, Uniwersytet Jagielloński w Krakowie
• SPECIAL MENTIONS
  • Meike Heinrich, Freie Universität Berlin
  • Luke Jenkins, University of Edinburgh
  • Elisa Tosi, Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna
  • Pedro Palleiro, Universidad Complutense de Madrid
  • Anna Durnez, KU Leuven

You can view all the winning entries on our dedicated Photography Competition page.