From 26–28 May, over 220 students from across Europe met at the EU Parliament in Strasbourg for the 4th European Student Assembly, EUC Voices’ flagship event. One of the delegates representing the Unite! alliance was Maciej Kisielewicz from Wrocław University of Science and Technology.
This prestigious event marked the culmination of several months of online collaboration. Participants took the seats of Members of the European Parliament and, after structured debates, formulated policy recommendations on some of the most pressing challenges facing Europe today. – Taking part in the European Student Assembly 2025 in Strasbourg was a breakthrough experience for me – both personally and academically – says the Wrocław Tech student.
For three days, I had the honour of sitting in an MEP’s seat in one of the chambers of the European Parliament, alongside more than 220 students from 189 universities. Representing the voice of the young generation of Europeans—those who think about the future of the continent beyond national borders—is a unique responsibility. I worked on the panel dedicated to inclusive innovation. As an engineer and a young researcher, I know how incredibly important this issue is. The opportunity to translate technical knowledge into the language of legislative recommendations was immensely enriching.”
What impressed me most was the diversity of perspectives – conversations with fellow students and PhD candidates from Finland, Austria, and Italy showed how different the local challenges are, and yet how much we have in common. I returned to Poland full of energy and with a strong conviction that the decisions made in Brussels and Strasbourg truly can – and should – be shaped by the voices of students and young scientists. I strongly encourage all students of Wrocław University of Science and Technology to follow the recruitment for the next edition of ESA. It’s a unique opportunity to meet inspiring people and see that our ideas can genuinely shape the future
– Maciej Kisielewicz, Wrocław University of Science and Technology
The opinions of other participants are equally enthusiastc:
Taking part in this event and spending time in Parliament truly motivated me for what’s ahead. It makes you want to get more involved and keep making your voice heard — especially on crucial topics like artificial intelligence, where the input of scientists is essential. Even if it doesn’t always come naturally to engineers or researchers, it’s also important for them to engage in public debate. And on a European level, it’s even more vital: Europe allows these discussions to be brought to the highest level and to influence decisions that affect all of us.
I feel that we don’t have enough student interaction on a pan-European level, so any chance to get a more global perspective during one’s studies is worth taking! The ability to do all of this in person at Strasbourg was the cherry on top – you get so much more perspective for the parliamentary decision-making process when you’re actually in the parliament surrounded by people from 27 member states.
Bringing together students from 31 countries and 189 universities, the Assembly reflected the richness of Europe’s diversity. Collaborating in multicultural teams and leveraging diverse academic backgrounds, each panel presented innovative solutions and underscored the power and relevance of youth voices in shaping the future.
More than just a one-time event, ESA fosters a lasting community. Students become part of an expanding Alumni Network, several members of which returned to Strasbourg to share inspiring testimonies about how they continue to drive positive change within their fields and local communities. Unite! was represented by six selected students, in addition to two students from the SURE! initiative.
Caption: Representing Unite!, the student delegation. From left to right: Maciej Kisielewicz (Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Poland), Niklas Hamberg (Aalto University, Finland), Elisabeth Gnadlinger (Graz University of Technology, Austria), Francesco Picarelli (Politecnico di Torino, Italy), Eda Ceren Tuncer (Technical University of Darmstadt, Germany), Yann Salvignol (Grenoble INP – UGA, France).
Each student made a valuable contribution to their panel’s recommendations and benefitted from the unique professional and personal experience offered by ESA. The Village of Alliances provided an opportunity not only to showcase the work and initiatives of the Unite! Alliance to students, but also to engage with and exchange perspectives with representatives from other European University Alliances. This setting fostered meaningful dialogue, comparison of best practices and potential future collaboration.
The role of the alliances is a central pillar of the EUC Voices project, as cross-university collaboration is essential to breaking down borders and fostering a sense of European unity. ESA is a proudly inclusive initiative, with Alliances covering travel and accommodation costs to ensure that every student, regardless of background, has an equal opportunity to make their voice heard.
The 76 policy recommendations will be published soon, and we invite you to explore them for a glimpse into the students’ more optimistic vision for the future of Europe. If you would like to take part in next year’s event, stay tuned for the opening of applications and seize the opportunity to sit at the decision-making table and join a vibrant, open-minded community of Europeans.
*PHOTO CREDITS: @fusingphoenix @celment.producties Maciej Kisielewicz
