1. Impact of the Crisis on Higher Education: Student Demand The European Students’ Union on the crisis in Higher Education Bert Vandenkendelaere Member of the Executive Committee of the European Students’ Union Copenhagen Business School, OECD Conference 29 th - 30 th of June 2009

2. Over 11 millions students in Europe! 47 members 38 countries Surveys in summer and fall of our member organizations on the impact of the crisis on Higher Education in their countries

3. Examples of problems for students Latvia : budget cut of 60 % Budget cuts in Italy, Hungary, Lithuania, Poland Iceland : grants don’t meet living expenses Belgium : less job opportunities for students

4. ESU not in crisis Same goals, same tasks Only intensified Educational, social, cultural and economic interests of students

5. Priorities Higher education as a public good and a public responsibility Equal access to qualitative education Social lever Education as a human right

6. Mobility A mirror of the diversity of the student body Mobility of students, teachers, researchers and administrative staff Bologna With Student Eyes 2009

7. Mobility – BWSE 2009

8. Mobility : grants and scholarships Grants and scholarships should be Flexible Transferrable Given before the mobility period 20 % by 2020?!

9. Lifelong learning Sufficient funding needed Leuven Communiqué 2009 Diversification of allocation of public funding

10. Plan of work of ESU Survey for member organizations Social dimension during times of crisis Win a nobel prize..?

11. Thank you! More information www.esu-online.org or bert@esu-online.org