Financial future of European students in limelight

TALLINN – During the 60th Board Meeting of the European Students’ Union (ESU), students from all over Europe will debate the financial prospects of higher education from 2 to 7 May. As budget cuts in higher education are taking place all over Europe, endangering the accessibility of universities, this topic is high on the agenda of the students.

Bert Vandenkendelaere, ESU’s Chairperson said: “Everyone has the right to follow higher education if they wish to do so. European governments have to make sure higher education is and remains accessible to everyone.”

Students will debate the pros and cons of public and private funding of higher education during several seminars which are hosted by EUL, ESU’s Estonian member union. Students will look at the differences and similarities in the financing of higher education in their respective countries. Furthermore they will discuss student loans, tuition fees, government cuts as well as the question whether some studies are not worth the investments of societies, as some would claim.
ESU is currently carrying out a three year long project on the financing of the future of students (project names is FINST), which is co-funded by the European Commission. This project aims to map all existing funding systems in Europe and deliver input for future policies, both on national and European level.

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Published: 28 April 2011

For more information, please contact:
Bert Vandenkendelaere, ESU Chairperson: +32473669892 or bert@esu-online.org
Marianne Slegers, ESU Communications Manager: +32473669894 or marianne@esu-online.org