On International Students’ Day, students from all continents pledged to #FundOurFuture
Yesterday, students from all continents celebrated the International Students’ Day by sharing their thoughts and initiatives for advancing student rights. This year, as part of the #fundourfuture initiative, the European Students’ Union focused on the global dimension of financing higher education and the struggles students face worldwide in relation to education budget cuts.
Supporting organisations include student unions and federations from Canada, Europe, Zimbabwe, Burma, India, Russia, Australia and All Africa (AASU). In addition, through the #fundourfuture pledge, support was shown by individuals from Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Burkina Faso, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Philippines, Israel and Jordan. For the full list of supporters, please consult the Supporters List and Supporting Organisations.
Through social media, the hashtag #fundourfuture reached over 1 million impressions and over 8k exposure per hour.
“All around the world, students are united in calling for an education system that is affordable and accessible. Only through the proper funding of higher education will societal inequalities be reduced, and today’s actions and the sharing of solidarity and support demonstrated the strength of feeling of students globally in creating more equal, inclusive societies. “says Beth Button, Executive Committee Member, European Students’ Union
Through the website: www.globalstudentvoice.org activists are sharing their initiatives and call for support in their struggles at local and national level.
The #fundourfuture initiative will continue beyond 17 November and the website will be updated on a continual basis, as a collaborative effort to exchange ideas, inspiration for campaigns, and evidence for arguments on the issue of funding of education.
We encourage student activists, civil society organisations, higher education professionals and supporting individuals to sign the pledge for accessible education and share it among their networks. The petition will be used by national students’ unions and movements to support their national campaigns and causes – demonstrating the support received worldwide for a shared commitment to #FundOurFuture.
Background Information:
The campaign is initiated by the European Students’ Union with the support of student activists from North America, South America and Africa.
These efforts are in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goal 4 and the Bergen Declaration, signed in May 2016 by the European Students’ Union along with student activists from South America, North America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Pacific. The aim of the Declaration is to increase cooperation between student organisations.
