URL: www.esib.org
Contact: Alex Bols

MAIN AREAS OF ACTIVITY:
ESIB is the umbrella organisation of 41 national unions of students from 32 countries, open to all students in the country regardless of their political conviction, religion, ethnic or cultural origin, sexual orientation, social standing. It is run and controlled by students, which hold democratic elections and are run on democratic lines, they are autonomous and independent in their decision-making and which are representative. The aim of ESIB is to represent and promote the educational, social, economic and cultural interests of students at a European level towards all relevant bodies and in particular the European Union, Council of Europe and UNESCO. Through its members, the 41 National Unions of Students from 32 European countries, ESIB represents 6 million of students in Europe. ESIB works to bring together, resource, train and inform national student representatives on European developments, particularly in fields of higher education and youth. Since more and more decisions concerning students are taken on the European level, ESIB´s role as the European student platform is increasing. ESIB is ensuring student participation in European policy making; it support members by organising seminars, training and conferences relevant to students and conducts European-wide research and co-operation projects, provide information service and publishes magazine.

EXPERTISE:
ESIB has been extremely active at European level since its creation. Activities, either funded or co-funded by European institutions or related agencies, have been carried out on the following issues: "The knowledge society and lifelong learning" (1996), co-funded by E.C: DG XXII; "Women students in European and Mediterranean Region" (1997), awareness raising actions on development issues conducted by European youth organisations, co-funded by E.C. DG VIII "The Hidden Agenda: Sexual Violence at Universities" (1997), funded by the E.C. within the DAPHNE Initiative "ESIB-pilot project on providing information about the EU-Mobility Programmes and supporting EU Commission's survey" (1998), co-funded by the E.C: DG XXII "Information campaign on Socrates Programme by students Socrates promoters with AEGEE and ESN as partners" (2000), co-funded by the E.C. DG EAC within the SOCRATES Programme information providing for student and youth organisations on their role within the society and self-government of student associations" (2000), co-funded by the E.C. DG EAC within the Youth for Europe Programme

SPECIFIC TASKS WITHIN "SPOT PLUS":
ESIB will be the leader of Work Package 5: "Testing and Running of Pilots". Moreover, during the desk and field research, ESIB will activate its European-wide network of students in order to collect the necessary information. It will also participate in the animation of the communication platform, raising awareness among its members. ESIB will also have an important role as far as dissemination is concerned.