“In May 2025, I had the opportunity to take part in the European Student Assembly (ESA) in Strasbourg, an event organised as part of the European Universities initiative, which brings together over 200 students from all over Europe every year. These students are selected to debate major contemporary issues and formulate concrete political proposals for European institutions.
For several months prior to the Assembly, each participant takes part in a thematic panel. I was on panel 2, entitled ‘Greener Tomorrow’, which focused on the issues of environmental sustainability and green transition in Europe.
Within this panel, I worked with other students on Policy 6, entitled “From Knowledge to Action: Green Skills Initiative for a Sustainable Future in Higher Education”.
Our main objective was to design a European initiative to encourage students to become more involved in projects linked to sustainable development, by integrating “green skills” into higher education courses.
We proposed the introduction of a European framework for sustainable skills, accompanied by concrete incentives for universities and students: such as training modules, collaborative projects with local partners, or academic credits rewarding environmental commitment.
Once in Strasbourg, in the hemicycle of the European Parliament, we had three intensive days of debates, reviews and votes. Each policy was discussed and reviewed by all the participants, in a democratic and collaborative spirit. At the end of the Assembly, the policies that achieved consensus were included in a final report, to be shared with European decision-makers, universities and partner organisations.
Taking part in ESA 2025 was an outstanding experience: a civic, intellectual and human experience. I was able to interact with committed young people from all over Europe, strengthen my skills in argumentation and negotiation, and gain a better understanding of the mechanisms of European governance. It was a very enriching experience that I would recommend to any student looking for change.
Ricarda VOKA LUKENSU
Student in industrial engineering at University-College of the Province of Liège (HEPL)
All photos © Fusing Pheonix
