Between 25th – 28th January 2007, students from all over Europe, representatives from many relevant international Youth NGOs gathered in Stuttgart for the opening conference of the project “Education Unlimited!”. This meeting was an event about the consequences of the Bologna-Process.

The project “Education Unlimited!” aims to improve Higher Education policies in Europe via the active engagement of students at their universities. The project facilitates a dialogue between Student NGOs and Education Institutions. As a European organisation, European Students’ Forum (AEGEE) will collect the data of this Flagship Project and present results to stakeholders, national and European decision makers.

”With the great contribution of high-profile speakers, through intensive workshops and panel discussions the participants debated on issues like the Bologna Process, Transnational mobility in Bachelor and Master Programs and Student Mobility” mentioned Theijs Van Welij, President of AEGEE-Europe. The working format was dynamic, involving lectures, discussions, workshops and informal talks between the participants and the lecturers.

The students were joined by German speakers from the University and private agencies (German Academic Exchange Service – DAAD -, Steinbach & Partner Consulting AG) and representatives from other organisations (JADE Germany, AIESEC LC Stuttgart, German Student Union, ESIB Bologna Committee, EMSA, Academic Turkish Association) who contributed their views on the discussions about the Bologna Process.

The conference in Stuttgart was the first of a long list of events that will take place in 2007 all over Europe. More than 20 activities: seminars, trainings, workshops and discussions about the different aspects of the Bologna Process will be held in the following months. “The most important outcomes from the opening conference was the recognition that the Bologna Process has impact on student NGOs, that can be a possible obstacle for recruiting Master students and there’s not enough space for Non Formal Education”, added Asia Piskunowicz, Project Manager of “Education Unlimited!”.

For more information about Education Unlimited: www.aegee.org

AEGEE is one of Europe's largest interdisciplinary student associations, with 15,000 students promoting a unified Europe, cross-border co-operation, democracy, mobility and the European idea to young people through the student world. AEGEE strives to create an open and tolerant society by involving students and young professionals in valuable projects and discussions on topics of importance for the communities they live in. AEGEE is not linked to any political party, and being truly European, has no national structures.

Contacts: European Students' Forum (AEGEE)
Laure Onidi, Projects Director
Rue Nestor de Tière 15
B-1030 Brussels
(t) +32 2 245 2300
(fax) +32 2 245 6260
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www.aegee.org