Four OpenEU students to represent the alliance at the European Student Assembly 2026

From 20 to 22 April 2026, Strasbourg will host the fifth edition of the European Student Assembly (ESA 2026), the flagship initiative of the EUC Voices Erasmus+ project. This year, four students from OpenEU partner universities have been selected to represent the alliance and actively contribute to shaping recommendations for the future of Europe.

Held at the European Parliament, ESA brings together around 250 students from 65 European Universities Alliances. Over three days, participants engage in intensive discussions, draft policy recommendations, and vote on proposals addressing key European challenges.

More than just a conference, the European Student Assembly is a hands-on democratic process. Students collaborate across disciplines and countries to analyse complex issues, negotiate perspectives, and formulate concrete policy proposals to be shared with European stakeholders and decision-makers.

OpenEU representatives at ESA 2026

The OpenEU alliance will be represented by four students participating across different thematic panels:

• Michael Hert (FernUniversität in Hagen)
  Master’s student | Panel 2 – Scaling the circular economy

• Menelaos Papamichelakis (Hellenic Open University)
  PhD candidate | Panel 4 – Europe moving together

• Julia Montero (UOC)
  Bachelor’s student | Panel 8 – Europe’s strategic autonomy

• Marc Rodriguez (UOC)
  Master’s student | Panel 5 – Unlocking digital potential (Panel Coordinator)

Panel coordinators play a key role in facilitating discussions, supporting the drafting process, and presenting the outcomes of their panel during the Assembly.

Eight key topics shaping the debate

ESA 2026 is structured around eight major themes reflecting Europe’s current and future challenges:

1. Strengthening democracy: bridging the gap between EU institutions and citizens

2. Scaling the circular economy: encouraging cross-sectoral systemic change

3. Aligning budget with impact: adapting Union funding to social shifts

4. Europe moving together: developing an inclusive public transport system

5. Unlocking digital potential: empowering digital literacy and cybersecurity resilience

6. Educating without borders: supporting interdisciplinary cooperation in universities

7. Enabling generational solidarity: addressing demographic change and senior participation

8. Europe’s strategic autonomy: reconciling trade agreements with core EU values

Through these discussions, students will co-create a set of policy recommendations that will be presented to European institutions and stakeholders in the months following the Assembly.

A collective European experience

ESA 2026 offers a unique opportunity for students to engage directly with European policymaking processes while working collaboratively in a multicultural and interdisciplinary environment.

By participating in ESA, OpenEU students not only contribute to ongoing European debates but also bring the perspective of open and distance-learning institutions into discussions on the future of higher education and society.

Their participation reflects OpenEU’s commitment to active European citizenship, student engagement, and shaping inclusive and forward-looking policies at European level.

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