Attending the European Student Assembly (ESA) 2025 in Strasbourg was a fantastic experience. It was a unique combination of academic discussions, practical policy-making, and vibrant interactions with students from across Europe. Held at the impressive European Parliament, the setting itself made us feel the importance and responsibility of our roles as young Europeans. Over three exciting days, more than 250 students from over 200 universities and 50 countries gathered to talk, debate, and create ideas for Europe's future.
My motivation to join ESA was closely related to my research as a PhD researcher in Information Systems Management. I've been involved with the Digymatex project, an EU initiative that studies how children develop digital skills. Participating in ESA allowed me to share my research on digital wellness and make real policy recommendations to help young people across Europe.
I was part of Panel one, "Mentally (Un)Stable," where we tackled the mental health issues young people face. My specific policy recommendation was about digital overstimulation in young adults. We proposed a policy titled "Digital Wellness by Design." This proposal aimed to give young users more control over their social media usage. It included easy-to-find usage dashboards, options to adjust how algorithms shape their feeds, and integrating lessons on managing attention and digital self-regulation into school curriculums across Europe.
One of the most rewarding moments was when my policy recommendation was voted on during the final plenary session. It was approved by a strong 74% majority, showing how much everyone recognized the importance of addressing digital overstimulation.
Besides my own panel, there were many other interesting discussions at ESA covering critical topics such as environmental sustainability in education, the use of artificial intelligence to strengthen democracy, balancing innovation with economic sustainability, lifelong learning, affordable housing, social inequalities, and promoting cultural inclusivity. Being involved in these discussions, even indirectly, helped broaden my understanding of many important and interconnected challenges facing Europe today.
The interdisciplinary approach at ESA was especially valuable. Coming from a technology and management background, it was fascinating and enlightening to work alongside students from psychology, medicine, cinema, political science and other fields. This mix of perspectives not only enriched our discussions but also taught us the importance of collaboration and compromise.
My participation in ESA was made possible by CIVICA, my University alliance. CIVICA's commitment to encouraging civic engagement and collaboration was very evident at the Assembly, particularly through participating in the "Village of Alliances," which highlighted the collective efforts of various alliances across Europe. This experience emphasized how critical collaboration is when addressing Europe's diverse challenges.
Ultimately, ESA is an incredibly important initiative. It gives students a powerful voice and practical experience in shaping policies. It also offers deep insights into how policies are created and approved, giving us a better understanding of European governance. Initiatives like ESA make the European community stronger, more connected, and more effective in addressing shared problems.
Reflecting on my experience, ESA 2024 showed me how important youth engagement is in European democracy. Beyond creating policies, the event was an opportunity to connect with others, share ideas, and learn from different perspectives. The relationships, knowledge, and skills I gained from ESA will definitely influence my future academics and career, motivating me to keep contributing positively to Europe's shared future.
Photo credits: Ellée Civade (Sciences Po).
