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garagErasmus Annual Meeting 2026: co-creating the future of mobility

garagErasmus at the OCEANS Conference in Stockholm

which took place in Stockholm on 20–21 June. It was a valuable opportunity for us to reconnect, reflect and reimagine what we can achieve as a network.

This event was more than just a formal gathering; it was a true moment of exchange and shared vision. We focused on key themes such as employability, cultural exchange and international collaboration, discussing how international experiences can boost employability, build intercultural skills and strengthen global collaboration.

The active involvement of ESAA’s sister organisations strengthened the collective message: we are building a stronger, more inclusive and impactful network.

A powerful reminder from this meeting: mobility isn’t just movement: it’s transformation.

Erasmag is officially out!

You can follow the work of our reporters on our social pages Instagram and TikTok.

The project is promoted by garagErasmus, University of Pavia and Gruppo SAE.

Our Network Manager, Carlo Bitetto, has presented ErasMAG to the EC2U Alliance, that is gathering at the University of Pavia.

The European Campus of City-Universities (EC2U) is a multi-cultural and multi-lingual Alliance consisting of eight universities from diverse regions of the European Union: the Universidade de Coimbra, the Gheorghe Asachi​ Technical University of Iași, the Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, the Johannes Kepler Universität Linz, the Università degli Studi di Pavia, the Université de Poitiers (Coordinator), the University of Salamanca (Universidad de Salamanca) and the Turun yliopisto – University of Turku.

How to include, not only Erasmus, but also PhD students in the ErasMAG project, has been one of the topics discussed by the alliance.

Stay tuned for the press conference presenting the project, to be held at the University of Pavia on 14 October 2025!

#erasmag #erasmus #university #universityofpavia

Echo-Cultures: Tips for an Eco-Friendly Summer (Sustainable tourism edition)

Dreaming of a greener holiday? Start with these easy tips:

1. Respect culture and people

Every place has its own customs, and it’s always best to know them and show respect.

It’s a great idea to learn a few basic words in the local language.

2. Support local businesses

When you travel, choose local shops, guides and activities.

It helps the local economy while preserving the character of the place.

3. Use sustainable transports

Choose the most sustainable transport options, like public transport, whenever you can.

This reduces CO2 emissions and helps minimize the poor air quality that comes with mass tourism.

Let’s travel responsibly and leave a positive footprint this summer!

See the project

garagErasmus Participates in the EMA General Assembly 2025 in Paris

The two-day Assembly gathered representatives from across Europe and beyond for a dynamic programme of plenary discussions, thematic workshops, and collaborative strategy sessions. Topics ranged from sustainable leadership and diversity in mobility to innovative alumni engagement and cross-organizational cooperation.

garagErasmus contributed actively to the dialogue, sharing its vision for empowering the Erasmus Generation and deepening its longstanding commitment to supporting international talent. The Foundation highlighted the importance of synergy among ESAA partners and the need for strategic partnerships that can foster sustainable and inclusive mobility ecosystems.

By participating in the EMA General Assembly, garagErasmus reaffirmed its role as a catalyst for international cooperation and as a dedicated advocate for the values of Erasmus: openness, opportunity, and unity in diversity.

garagErasmus launches two new Focus Group within his network

On the occasion of the 2024 Higher Education European Networking Summit and in collaboration with the European Commission, garagErasmus established two new Focus Groups.

The first is a Policy Focus Group composed of two members from the garagErasmus Secretariat, five representatives from gE4 local communities, and five representatives from higher education institutions (HEIs). This group will be responsible for shaping, promoting, and implementing strategic initiatives that support the organization’s mission to enhance educational outcomes across Europe.

The second is a Focus Group on European Universities Alliances which will be established to explore the functioning and impact of European Universities. It’s objective is to provide the Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture (DG EAC) with reliable insights into the real-world operations of these institutions. The group will examine how mobility budgets are allocated within standard university agreements and alliances, and assess the influence of being part of a European University Alliance on funding evaluations by National Agencies (NAs). This work aims to support evidence-based decision-making and improve policy implementation across the European Higher Education landscape.

gE joined BRIGHTS partners in L’Aquila to discuss future steps towards HEIs in sustainability

to discuss the state of the project and the next steps to take this year towards promoting sustainability in Higher Education Institutions and make them protagonists in achieving the SDGs. 2024 will be the most important year for the project, with many results to be published such as open access material and courses on the SDGs for students, teachers and staff, in order to improve HEIs’s role in achieving a more sustainabile society.

See the project

ErasMAG – Call for ERASMUS REPORTER

Written by students, for students, ErasMAG offers first-hand insights, tips, and advice to help others discover what life in Erasmus destinations is really like.

You can become an Erasmus Reporter if you are a/an:

  • Erasmus student: University student participating in an Erasmus exchange during the second semester of 2024/2025. 
  • International student: Student that have been living abroad in their academic career.
  • Erasmus Alumni: Former Erasmus students that decided to move to their Erasmus city.
  • Storyteller: Students who enjoy writing, sharing their experiences, and giving practical advice.

This is your chance to share your story and make a difference!

See the Call for Erasmus Reporters
Apply before 28/02/2025

garagErasmus at the Politico Editorial Office in Brussels

Laurens Cerulus, Cybersecurity Editor and Deputy Tech Editor, explained to participants how processes work in the editorial department, but also what challenges and opportunities are currently arising, especially related to AI. This meeting also served to establish and strenghten links between Politico and garagErasmus. Finally, participants were shown around the editorial offices. 

Valentina Presa of gE attends PEACE TCA organised in Lisbon

” part of PEACE-Participation Erasmus Alumni for Civic Engagement,  held in Lisbon. Organized by the Erasmus+ National Agency for Education and Training (ANE+EF) and the Italian Erasmus+ Agency INDIRE, the event gathered participants from 17 countries to discuss democracy, civic participation, and peace.

The event opened at Lisbon Higher Education School with addresses from Cristina Perdigão, Director of ANE+EF, and Sara Pagliai, Director of INDIRE. Sessions included discussions on Portuguese democracy, led by Inácia Rezola, and promoting civic engagement in Erasmus+ projects, with Joana Freitas of SALTO Participation and Information.

Valentina Presa intervened in the panel on ambassador networks featuring alongside Nicole von dem Bach (German Erasmus+ Agency), Rita Dias (ESN), presenting garagErasmus and showcasing the Foundations’ activities and projects.

The final day saw participants in working groups addressing challenges to democracy and civic engagement, concluding with a presentation of each group’s insights. Closing remarks were given by Cristina Perdigão and Sara Pagliai, who announced that Rome will host the next PEACE event. The program ended with a performance by the Erasmus Orchestra at the Lisbon School of Music.

We are looking for a Project & Communications Officer

A Project and Communications officer position of 6 months is available in the operational office of garagErasmus in Brussels, at the heart of the European cluster, in a young, professional and international environment.

Location: Brussels
Start date: October 2024
Hours: Full-time

PROFILE:

  • Knowledge of the Microsoft Office Suite and Google Suite;
  • Familiarity with tasks within EU project management;
  • Familiarity with tasks within conference/event organization;
  • Familiarity with social media management;
  • Familiarity with creative tools such as Canva and/or Adobe Suite;
  • Ability to work both in a team and independently;
  • Strong written and spoken English; knowledge of French is a plus;
  • High motivation, willingness to learn and a responsible, proactive attitude;
  • Availability to travel for projects and events.

DESIRABLE SKILLS AND EXPERIENCES: 

  • Previous experience or a strong interest in garagErasmus areas of activity (higher education/economic and social innovation) and non-profit work;
  • Knowledge of other EU languages, especially French and Italian ;
  • Previous experience in EU project management;
  • Previous experience and/or studies in communication;
  • Previous engagement in NGOs or youth organisations is considered positively;
  • Basic knowledge of Mailchimp, WordPress, Canva, main Social media channels, video editing tools.

TASKS

  • Support in EU project applications & project management (implement project’s tasks, coordinate with partners);
  • Support in the organisation of garagErasmus events and activities (conferences, online activities and projects, annual meeting, events with universities, etc.);
  • Support in the drafting and scheduling of social media posts;
  • Support in the designing of visuals/video editing;
  • Facilitate the working relationship with gEMembers and ge4Cities;
  • Support in the management of relations with both public and private stakeholders, particularly in Belgium;
  • Performance of various administrative tasks;
  • Travel for projects and events. 

WE OFFER

  • CIP contract of 6 months under Belgian law (around 1200€) – with possibility to prolong the contract
  • Lunch vouchers + travel reimbursements when travelling for gE
  • Young, dynamic and growing environment

TO APPLY

Please send CV and motivation letter (max 1 page!) in English to: job@garagerasmus.org with the subject “Your name – Communication and project” by 6 October 2024; CVs will be checked on a rolling base. Starting date ASAP.

Download the PDF of the vacancy

The report on micro-credentials and lifelong learning is out!

In this report, you will find out how those digital badges are pathways to upskilling and reskilling, making skills more visible and recognized by employers.

Check out the report

Meet gE4Bucharest & its Summer Mentorship programme!

All three co-founders are certified eduk8ers, they were used to organizing training events, workshops and they loved in-person interactions. But… a global pandemics happened. So they had to adapt. This article is an interview with all there and it is meant to inspire and motivate other gE cites to share their knowledge and experience with their communities.

Serena: Tell us about the Mentorship Summer Program that you implemented after the COVID-19 pandemics started.

Miruna: So our idea was to organize online mentorship sessions on topics that are familiar to each of us. My month was July and my beloved topic is forever and always entrepreneurship. I went for a 1to1 format and my mentee was Francisca, an amazing ESN member from ESN Unibucharest. The sessions were very personalized so we adapted the agenda for each meeting according to the questions and curiosities that better fit Francisca’s needs. We talked about finding your ikigai, your purpose in life. Then we built together a lean canvas for Francisca’s dream job and we went deeper into real-life steps of opening a company. In the last session, we actually celebrated the progress and we had some guests to share with us their experiences and personal stories. It was an incredible adventure for me and now I will let my colleagues tell you about theirs. But let’s see also what Francisca has to say about it:

“This mentorship programme has been a great chance to do some introspection and get to grips with how to start an entrepreneurial journey. The one to one sessions were really practical and my mentor provided me valuable knowledge and insights about the main steps on how to start a business. Miruna inspired me and showed me that there are other alternatives for “9 to 6 life”. You just have to be determined, learn and work for your dream as much as possible.” (Francisca, July Mentee)

Serena: What about August? Who’s month was it?

Diana: For me, the mentoring sessions held in August were one hell of a ride. Together with Alexandra, a member of ESN Cluj-Napoca, we dove into the basics of social media and digital marketing. This mentorship is very close to my heart, as both me and Alexandra come from similar backgrounds. We discovered we’re from the exact same small town in Romania and majored in the same area at university, so for me it was easier to mentor her, since I had a similar path, both educationally and volunteering-wise. As her primary goal was to understand what marketing was all about, we started with a broad presentation of it, from social media, to content and even a bit of digital marketing. I put together a list of resources for her to use further along: courses she can take up, people she can follow or newsletters she can subscribe to. We also talked about ikigai and how to find her purpose in life and she took a personality test. We finished the mentorship sessions with an online ceremony for Alexandra, together with my gE4Bucharest team members.

Here I can quote some of Andreea’s thoughts: The mentorship with gE4Bucharest was an amazing learning opportunity that allowed me to get some insights from the digital marketing and social media world and managed to spark my interest for this field even more. I am also very grateful to have met Diana who did a great job with our sessions and with whom I discovered to have many things in common. It was definitely one of the best highlights of the summer. (Andreea, August Mentee)

Serena: Wow! It really sounds like an intense experience. I think it was an incredible experience for you as well, as much as it was for Alexandra. What about you, Dora? I heard that your format was quite different from the ones chosen by the other girls.

Dora: For me, the September month of the Mentorship Program was a learning experience as well, considering that I had the chance to also try something new. During the past years, I understood one of the most important things is to know how to ask yourself the questions that will help you find your path. I think most of the people already had, or will have a point in their career when they feel lost, whether it is right at the start or later on. I chose to focus on career mentorship, because I had the feeling that, during my experience as a trainer, I learned more about the importance of asking the right questions, of introspection and self-assessment. We’ve been 4 young people who discussed about their fears, but also about what they are proud of. We took our time to answer questions about ourselves, but also to check what is suitable for us on the job market, following the new discoveries we’ve made. Now I am just looking forward to seeing how my three mentees will reach the stars.

As one of the participants said: This mentorship program has helped me go through a challenging time in my professional life. As a student who just finished their bachelor and chose to opt out of a master’s degree, while focusing on my internship, I was going through a lot of self doubt at the time. Choosing to take the time to participate in this program has helped me understand what I am good at, why the job I have is actually fit for me and how to learn to avoid the impostor syndrome related to my professional life. It also helped me reconsider my professional course and understand what steps I should take and what options I have along the way so that I would achieve success and get a job that would allow me to have a content and peaceful living. I would like to thank Dora and gE4Bucharest for the time and dedication to the program. It has helped me a lot and I wish there will be further installments of it so that more people can benefit from this mentorship. (Stefan, September mentee)

Of course, Octavia added her perspective on this activity: After a study mobility for one year in Bratislava and a couple of months of lockdown, I was completely lost. So this mentorship programme came as a breath of fresh air. Back then I was really in doubt about my future and what I am actually good at. I think the most important thing when participating in such projects is to be as open as possible, because it’s a pity to waste such an opportunity.

I would like to stress out also that the programme not only made me discover some hidden interests of mine, but also gave me the context to hear some motivational stories. In the end, you realise that not everything has to be black or white and that you are not the only one trying to find the right shade of grey. (Octavia, September mentee)

Serena: Thank you very much for your input, girls! I can notice that both you and the participants really enjoyed the experience and it is totally a thing all gE cites should try!

Would you like to know more about gE4Bucharest? Watch the video below!

RUDN University interviews garagErasmus Director Carlo Bitetto

Watch this online discussion between Carlo Bitetto, Director of the garagErasmus Foundation and the Erasmus+ project coordinator at RUDN University (Moscow) Mario de Martino on the occasion of the #ErasmusDays2020.

gE4Silesia organises the Katowice Internationals World Cup 2020

The Katowice Internationals World Cup is the flagship event of the Katowice Internationals Foundation. This yearly event has the goal of promoting social inclusion and diversity through sport and multicultural integration in Silesia and Poland.

As a novelty this year, participants will have the chance to know the 20 participating countries a little bit better before the game. Their teams have made themselves known through their captains with a series of personal interviews to each one and with the objective to promote this big event that will have place on 17-18 October. 

You will find these videos on Katowice Internationals Foundation Facebook page. In addition as another novelty, we will celebrate this beautiful party in the amazing Stadion Śląski. Therefore, there is not excuse to not come this year!

The event is co-founded by ESAA and European Commission, with patronage by garagErasmus Foundation and Save The Dream.

garagErasmus moves to a new office in Brussels

The new office is easily accessible by metro (Maelbeek station) and bus (Trêves stop, lines 21, 27 & 64). Feel free to drop by our office, we will be pleased to welcome you & have a coffee.

Konstantinos Maragkos (gE4Athens): “My community is the world”

he spoke passionately about the unique circumstances in which his garagErasmus story began. Konstantinos was the inaugural winner of the garagErasmus Laissez-Passer- a prize of 3000€ which can be invested into international projects. “How could my place within the garagErasmus community have started better?” he exclaimed.  

Konstantinos used the money to develop the WeAfriHug project with his team. The project, born from interacting with the inspiring people Konstantinos met on his travels across Sub-Saharan Africa, works by providing opportunities and resources to improve the lives of young African people. “Passion was there, willingness was there, potential was there…but opportunities and information were not!” he explained. For the past 2 years, his team has worked endlessly to deliver life skills seminars, an educational camp, and civil organisation training sessions across eight African countries. 

Through education, WeAfriHug successfully fosters the relationship between Europe and Africa. They have created eight partnerships between African and European universities and six between African and European NGOs. Additionally, they have already organised multiple Erasmus+ mobility opportunities for young African people in Greece.   

So, what can we expect from gE4 Athens in the new year? On top of further developments of the We AfriHug project, gE4 Athens are cooperating with ESAA organisations to implement a new project, #MindtheGap, which aims to empower the Greek youth to act as advocates for the European Union. The key objectives of this ambitious project are…

  1. To raise awareness of Erasmus+ and to inform youth about mobility opportunities, 
  2. To boost the capabilities of youth by providing the necessary tools for the 21st century, 
  3. To engage policy makers to support Youth Action.

Speaking as a true global citizen, Konstantinos explained: ‘My community is the world. I am not only concerned about the place that I was born and raised but for the world as a whole.” 

Well done gE4 Athens! Keep up the good work. We could not be prouder!

Interview with Gev Harutyunyan

Gev spoke very fondly about the beginning of his garagErasmus story; “the day I became part of garagErasmus is very crucial to me; it opened up many opportunities. I soon realised there is a long way ahead with gE.” Gev was a finalist in the first edition of the Laissez-Passer. Although his proposal did not win, he was encouraged to establish the first gECity beyond EU borders and aim to implement his project anyway.

gE4Yerevan’s primary mission is to empower youths to achieve new professional and educational heights. They support young people by providing the necessary information about professional, cultural and educational development opportunities on both local and international scales.

This project, the Edu VanHub, was inspired by what Gev noticed during a separate outreach project carried out across rural Armenia. “I found out that young people living in rural areas are pretty much isolated; they are unaware of many opportunities which exist in education, art and culture” he explained. On returning home, Gev was determined to transform this bleak reality and, so, the Edu VanHub was born.

During the pilot phase of the project, 20 media workshops were conducted across 10 villages in rural Armenia. These workshops allow gE4 Yerevan to raise awareness of the mobility opportunities available and teach new skills. The results have been fantastic: seven participants now create video blogs; four were able to access a photography course for free; four now write media articles; and two have volunteered in gE4 Yerevan’s partner organisations.  Now, they also work online to maintain contact with those they have met and update them on new opportunities. 

In order to disseminate the vision, story and ideology of the Edu VanHub, gE4 Yerevan have so far travelled to six European countries. Now, gE4 Yerevan are implementing the Edu VanHub international phase in Ukraine; “We are super motivated to continue expanding the scale of the Edu VanHub project. The source of our motivation is the constant stream of positive feedback we receive from participants, parents, local authorities and the media.” They also plan to get involved in Erasmus+ youth exchange and ESC projects in the future.

Excellent work gE4 Yerevan! We wish you the best of luck for 2020! 

garagErasmus Annual Meeting 2026: co-creating the future of mobility

Genç Zihin Derneği (GEZIDER) joins garagErasmus as gE4Istanbul!

a Turkish youth organization founded in 2016 with the mission of empowering and supporting young people while making a positive impact in their communities. 

GEZIDER was established to support young people in conducting studies in the social, cultural, artistic, educational, and health fields. Its aims include encouraging experienced youth to mentor and guide other young people, contributing to the development of youth policies, and encouraging the entrepreneurial spirit among young people. The association also seeks to provide knowledge, skills, and attitudes in these areas, to reach out to young people across Turkey,  especially in provinces with limited opportunities, and to promote the sharing of experiences and life stories, ensuring that this knowledge and these skills are actively applied.

Moreover, the association carries out scientific, social and cultural studies in the fields of culture, arts, sports, science, individual and social development, tourism and employment at the local, national and international levels. 

garagErasmus is excited to welcome GEZIDER into its network and looks forward to the future initiatives we will develop together.

Group of the European Youth for Change (GEYC) joins garagErasmus as gE4Bucharest!

a Romanian youth organization founded in 2010 with the mission of empowering young people to create positive change in their communities. 

Although based in Romania, GEYC is active at the European level. It is the initiator and coordinating organization of the PRISMA European Network, a European wide coalition aimed at raising the quality of youth projects. Since 2023, GEYC has also held Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).

With a focus on entrepreneurship and engagement, democracy and human rights, digital and sustainability, GEYC provides opportunities through educational projects primarily targeting young people aged 14–35, as well as youth workers and teachers.

garagErasmus is excited to welcome GEYC into its network and looks forward to the future initiatives we will develop together.

ESAA Representatives Debate the Future Erasmus at gE Annual Meeting

representatives of the organisations that form the Erasmus+ Student and Alumni Alliance (ESAA) gathered for a panel discussion under the theme “Erasmus at a Crossroads: Towards and Beyond 2027.”

This exchange brought together voices from across the Erasmus+ ecosystem to reflect on the future of the programme, as Europe prepares for the next multiannual financial framework and considers how Erasmus+ can continue evolving to meet the challenges and opportunities ahead.

The panel was moderated by Toñi Caro, representing EO&H for Good, and featured contributions from Carlo Bitetto (garagErasmus Foundation), Rajon Bhuijan (Erasmus Mundus Association), Vitoria Cabral (OCEANS Network), Roshan Halkhoree (ASAF – Africa), and Nikolina Adzic (Western Balkans Alumni Association). Together, they offered diverse perspectives on the impact of mobility, alumni engagement, and the importance of inclusive, sustainable approaches to European and international cooperation.

This conference was one of many initiatives organised throughout the year to reinforce the ESAA network and to support the Erasmus Generation in shaping a stronger, more united Europe. It underlined the vital role that former Erasmus+ participants continue to play in driving civic engagement, promoting European values, and contributing to the long-term vision of the programme.

garagErasmus Annual Meeting 2025: building the next five years

bringing together participants from across Europe for a two-day working session titled “5 Years Ahead.” The event served as a strategic platform for evaluating the Foundation’s progress and collectively designing its direction for the coming years, with a focus on international mobility, skills development, policy engagement, and innovation across the network. This edition was suppoerted by the Erasmus+ Student and Alumni Alliance (ESAA).

The meeting opened with a plenary session led by President and CEO Fabrizio Bitetto, who presented the Foundation’s 2024 Annual Report along with the strategic work plan for 2025. His remarks emphasized the importance of broadening the impact of mobility programmes, fostering a more inclusive Erasmus ecosystem, and strengthening the visibility and effectiveness of garagErasmus initiatives. Following this, Toñi Caro González of Eoh For Good, independent evaluator and head of the Quality Assurance Board, presented the 2024 Quality Assurance Report. 

The programme continued with the presentation of network members. Carlo Bitetto introduced the new representatives of the gE4 network, who each presented themselves and shared updates on their local initiatives. Among them, Dr. Oleg Fetisov from the Czech Technical University in Prague announced that the next Higher Education European Networking Summit conference will be hosted in Prague in November 2025. Marco Santos from gE4Tallinn outlined projects involving youth centres, Erasmus+ exchanges, and VET partnerships. Andrei Dodea from gE4Bucharest presented activities coordinated by GEYC, while Muhammat Ali Uslu from gE4Istanbul discussed mental health and arts-focused initiatives developed by the GZ Association. Rajon Bhuiyan from gE4Luxembourg introduced a new digital platform aimed at improving connectivity across the garagErasmus network.

Later in the day, Carlo Bitetto, Network Manager of garagErasmus and Francesca Ferri, journalist of Gruppo SAE, presented ErasMAG, the Foundation’s newly launched online magazine written by Erasmus students for Erasmus students. The platform aims to amplify the voices and experiences of the Erasmus community and was developed following a storytelling training held in Pavia from 31 March to 1 April 2025. The training, organised by garagErasmus and Gruppo SAE and hosted by the University of Pavia, introduced participants to storytelling techniques tailored to the context of European mobility.

A central component of the Annual Meeting were the working group sessions, which began in the afternoon and continued into the second day. Facilitated by gE co-founder and board member Marco Mazzini, these sessions brought together participants in six groups, each focusing on key themes such as mobility, policy advocacy, skill recognition, professional development, European citizenship, and strategic initiatives. The format was designed to foster collaborative planning and to co-develop concrete project ideas informed by the Foundation’s previous work. On the second day, these working groups reconvened to refine their proposals and presented their work in a plenary session. The presentations reflected the diversity of the network and underscored the value of participatory design in shaping garagErasmus’ next steps.

A high-level panel discussion followed, bringing together representatives from Erasmus Mundus Association (EMA), OCEANS network, African Student Alumni Alliance (ASAF), Western Balkans Alumni Association (WBAA), and garagErasmus to discuss the future of Erasmus+ under the theme “Erasmus at a Crossroads: Towards and Beyond 2027.” The discussion addressed the need to increase access for underrepresented regions, promote intercontinental alumni networks, and leverage mobility as a tool for intercultural exchange and socio-economic development.

The meeting also marked the establishment of two new focus groups announced by Valentina Presa, Director of the Secretariat. One group will concentrate on policy development, while the other will explore European Universities alliances, focusing on collaboration models and resource management within inter-university mobility partnerships.

The programme concluded with the presentation of several projects supported by ESAA and developed by members of the garagErasmus network. These included Sailing Together from gE4Malaga (University of Malaga), Rural Roots, European Wings from gE4Ourense  (Bregal Association), gE4s: Empowering through the Net from gE4Verona (Oriel Association), and EUinaDay from gE4Tuscany (Lime Up). Each initiative reflected the commitment of the network to inclusive participation, sustainability, and local innovation.

Looking ahead, participants were invited to contribute ideas for the upcoming Capacity Building event scheduled in Athens on 10 and 11 July 2025. Suggested themes included design thinking, ecological strategies, professionalisation of youth organisations, digital communication, innovation, institutional advocacy, European citizenship education, mentoring methodologies, entrepreneurship models, and resource and HR management.

The Annual Meeting concluded with a renewed commitment to the values of the Erasmus programme and the collaborative spirit of garagErasmus, as well as an official welcoming to new members.  Through reflection, dialogue, and practical planning, the event reaffirmed the Foundation’s mission to advance European mobility, support the personal and professional development of young Europeans, and strengthen cross-sectoral cooperation across the continent.

Gallery – Day 1
Gallery – Day 2
Material Annual Meeting

garagErasmus 2024 Annual Meeting in Brussels

The event was an opportunity to strengthen the links between our engaged partners (institutions, Higher Education Institutions, partner associations, and local chapters) and institutional stakeholders, which were represented by over 50 participants.

This year, we saw the presence of representatives from the European Commission. Vito Borrelli, DG EAC Team Leader – Higher Education / Erasmus+, discussed the ongoing evaluation process of the Erasmus+ programme and its potential future implications. Hélène Banegas, Project Adviser – Erasmus+ International Alumni, introduced the discussion on the future of the ESAA network, of which garagErasmus is a founder. Céline Jambon, policy officer in the “Skills Agenda” Unit of the European Commission (DG for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion), closed the European Year of Skills and discussed future action points.

Day 1 – Monday, 13th of May

The event kicked off with a presentation by Fabrizio Bitetto, CEO and President of the garagErasmus Foundation, that gave an overview of the year’s activities, highlighting the addition of new gE4s, as well as the engagement of existing gE4s in various initiatives. He discusses key events and projects, including the Learning Garage and the Annual Meeting, along with participation in prominent events.

Vito Borrelli, DG EAC Team Leader – Higher Education / Erasmus+ from the European Commission discussed the ongoing evaluation of the Erasmus+ programme, highlighting efforts to improve its effectiveness and address emerging challenges. He elaborated on budgetary considerations, mobility initiatives, and strategies for promoting inclusion. Attendees engaged in a dialogue, raising questions and sharing insights on topics such as accommodation and support for disadvantaged groups.

Carlo Bitetto, gE Network Manager, introduced ErasMag, a new online platform designed for the Erasmus Generation. This platform will enable students to write articles about their experiences abroad, effectively becoming “Erasmus correspondents.” The project, developed in collaboration with Gruppo SAE, is set to launch in the coming months.

Later on, representatives from gE4Orense, gE4Cordoba and gE4Varna highlighted their activities and initiatives, showcasing successful practices within the garagErasmus network.

Participants shared proposals for enhancing collaboration and communication within the garagErasmus community, emphasizing strategic planning, resource sharing, and the creation of operational teams.

Day 2 – Tuesday, 14th of May

 The day started with a presentation by Toñi Caro, Chair of the Quality Assurance Board, which provided insights into the 2023 Quality Assurance Report, detailing gE’s objectives, financial allocations, and ongoing initiatives. She outlined the board’s tasks for the year and presented key performance indicators.

After her presentation, Martina Altea Bellinzona and Nunzia Di Francesco highlighted two projects, BRIGHTS and Digital Life Learning, showcasing their objectives, methodologies, and outcomes. Attendees engaged in discussions and posed questions about project implementation.

Later, participants discussed new project proposals, focusing on collaboration opportunities, outreach strategies, and operational planning. Ideas were exchanged for enhancing gE’s impact and expanding its network.

Carlo Bitetto presented upcoming meetings and events organized by garagErasmus, including capacity-building sessions and networking summits. He encouraged participation and engagement in future activities.

Representants members of ESAA (garagErasmus, OCEANS, ASAF, ESN and EMA) started a discussion about the alliance’s future, focusing on different topics, such as collaboration possibilities, benefits of being part of the network, and possible improvements.

The garagErasmus Annual Meeting was a unique opportunity for gE members and stakeholders to connect, fostering dialogue and collaboration. It also served as a reminder to all attendees of the importance of being active within the network and maintaining enthusiasm for its current opportunities.

Further information about 2024 Annual Meeting
2024 Annual Meeting Gallery

12 EU Civil Society organisations call for a Conference on the Future of Europe that really makes a difference!

The proposal for a “European Conference on the Future of Europe” initially put forward by President Emmanuel Macron and then taken up by the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, represents a great opportunity to reshape the future of the European Union.

The CSOs’ common key recommendations for the Conference on the Future of Europe are:

  1. An open mandate for the Conference, aimed at developing policy and institutional proposals, as well as proposals for treaty change or a new treaty framework, if considered necessary.
  2. A wide-ranging approach, looking at the scope of competences of the Union, the financing of Union policies and proposals for the democratic and efficient governance of those policies.
  3. A democratic process with wide participation and deep deliberation with individual citizens and civil society organisations from across the Union, as well as accession candidate and eastern neighbourhood countries. 
  4. A multi-step approach allowing individual citizens and civil society organisations to give input at different levels of expertise using digital tools and deliberative polling and engagement with institutional decision-makers.
  5. A clear upfront commitment by the institutions of the Union, as well as National Governments to deliver legislative proposals on all policy recommendations and initiate Treaty changes on all proposals adopted by the Conference.

The full common recommendations can be found here, and they are supported by the following civil society organisations:

European Students’ Forum (AEGEE), European Association for Local Democracy (ALDA), Assembly of European Regions (AER), Civil Society Europe (CSE), Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the EU (COMECE), European Citizen Action Service (ECAS), European Youth Forum, Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum, Fondation EURACTIV, garagErasmus Foundation, Young European Federalists (JEF) and  the Union of European Federalists (UEF).

gE at the NEO-ICP coordination meeting

Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency of the European Union (EACEA) in Brussels, where we had the chance to present 2 outstanding ESAA projects we are involved in:

  • The EduVanHub project, presented by Gèv Harutyunyan (garagErasmus4Yerevan), seeks to help disadvantaged young people living in Armenian and Ukranian rural communities acquiring media skills by building an inclusive & innovative environment.
  • The WE AfriHug project, presented by Konstantinos Maragkos (GaragErasmus4Athens), aiming to bring closer Africa and Europe by empowering youth through capacity building, creating links between the African Union & the European Union’s HEIs & CSOs.

Brexit should not jeopardise UK students to participate in exchange programmes

In 2016-17, 16,561 British students took part in the overseas programmes –such as Erasmus-while 31,727 EU nationals came to the UK. Erasmus+ is also involved in vocational training and work overseas, as well as with teachers who want to work or train abroad.

The Universities UK International and Universities UK (UUKi) re-launched their #SupportStudyAbroad campaign asking the British Government to clearly commit to fund study abroad opportunities in the upcoming years.

As a member of the Erasmus Student and Alumni Alliance, garagErasmus invites you to join this campaign for ensuring that current and future UK students still have the opportunity to participate in exchange programmes, notably Erasmus+, or to obtain funding for studying abroad in case of a no-deal Brexit.

UUKi estimates that, without the Erasmus+ funding, 17.000 British students will miss the opportunity to study abroad in 2020. Despite UK Government vows in the withdrawal agreement, it is not clear what will happen in case of a no-deal Brexit.

Launched last February, the first edition #SupportStudyAbroad campaign had a great impact, reaching almost 6,5 million people and achieving 16.56 million impressions on Twitter 2 weeks after its release.

So far, UK government showed its interest to participate in the Erasmus+ programme for the upcoming years and have guaranteed to replace grants awarded by the EU for studying abroad in 2019.

Nevertheless, a clear commitment to fund study opportunities abroad in the 2020-2021 academic year and beyond is urgently needed, either securing UK participation in Erasmus+ or providing funding for a national replacement mechanism.

gE encourages you to support this campaign by posting your support for the campaign via your social media channels, spreading the message to your (British) friends and writing to your MPs. You can find further instructions, information, a template letter to MPs and further documents on Universities UK website.

Our views on the EU Commissioner-Designate for Innovation & Youth’s Hearing

 On Monday evening, the EU Commissioner-Designate for Innovation and Youth Mariya Gabriel offered a Hearing to the members of the European Parliament ITRE and CULT Committees detailing her programme for the 2019-2024 period.

Gabriel will hold a broad portfolio that does not only cover innovation & youth areas but also other key ones such as research, education, culture, youth and sports. She will also be responsible for implementing the new Creative Europe, HorizonEurope and Erasmus+ programmes.

Gabriel’s portfolio seeks to strengthen ties between education, research and innovation (the known as Knowledge Triangle). However, garagErasmus is not yet convinced that a single Commissioner can take a leading role to effectively implement
all the above-mentioned policies. In fact, research and innovation topics and the future scope of the Horizon Europe programme almost monopolised the hearing, with limited scope for education and universities. Gabriel did not even point out neither education nor universities in the list of challenges she is seeking to face during her initial speech of the hearing.

garagErasmus also missed references to the Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs programme, as previously recommended by DG EAC’s, a tool that would be crucial to implementing our Erasmus Alumni network.

Nevertheless, the Commissioner-Designate made many references to the Erasmus+ programme during the hearing, and gave it as the example of a flagship programme of the Union, also identifying it as a tool to make young people aware of cultural diversity. She also mentioned the crucial role that thousands of unique Erasmus and Erasmus+ co-funded projects played at the time of promoting social inclusion and preventing radicalisation.

garagErasmus also celebrates Gabriel’s vows to take advantage of the additional funding for the Erasmus+ programme (EC President Von der Leyen promised to triple its funding for the upcoming 2021-2027 period, as proposed by the European Parliament in March 2019) in order to make it more inclusive towards participants from disadvantaged backgrounds – making education accessible for all, with a special emphasis to minorities – but also to students from vocational training and teaching staff, especially language teachers.

Gabriel also proposed innovative ideas, such as the implementation of a European Student Card for 2021, but no additional concrete actions were announced regarding Educational matters. Despite all her references to the European Education and University areas, she did not mention the next steps to effectively implement them.

garagErasmus is looking forward to the content and measures proposed by new European Commission work plan 2020, and also other concrete actions to implement all the Commissioner-Designate’s announcements.

garagErasmus’ views on the new European Commission’s structure

Last Tuesday, during the official presentation of her team for the upcoming European Commission, EU Commission President-Elect Ursula von der Leyen declared herself to be a “big fan” of the Erasmus programme, giving it as the example of the most successful European programme.

On one hand, garagErasmus strongly welcomes Von der Leyen’s objective of tripling the Erasmus+ programme budget for the next 2021-2027 period she entrusted to the nominated EU Commissioner for Innovation and Youth Mariya Gabriel. We are looking forward to the translation of these promises into concrete action.

The Erasmus+ programme has shaped our lives, changed our vital perspectives from the educational, professional and personal perspectives. The returns to society of its benefits are worthwhile from an economic perspective and priceless at a human aspect.

However, on the other hand, garagErasmus laments confusion over who is in charge of education, starting from the worrying fact that no Commissioner is distinctively assigned to education. We call on the European Parliament committee for culture and education to stand by Erasmus and education to keep it high among the priorities of the Commission.

Moreover, Erasmus+ and Education competences have been split between two Commissioners considering that the overview is assigned to the Vice-President-designate for Protecting our European Way of Life Margaritis Schinas, an ambiguous and broad portfolio that does not convey a clear political view and priorities.

garagErasmus considers that the new programme should put the accent on increasing employability and entrepreneurship, in an inclusive manner. 

Horizon Europe should also work with and for European Youth

garagErasmus considers that children and young people should be fully engaged both in the definition of the topics that are relevant for them and us all and in the research expected for this crucial period.

We should seize the potential of younger generations as agents for change. Without their involvement, Horizon Europe will not achieve the impact it seeks. That is why it is so disconcerting for us to see little or no mention of them in the document ‘Orientations towards the first Strategic Plan implementing the research and innovation framework programme Horizon Europe’.

Why Horizon Europe should take into account the role of children and youth?

Young people and children have a huge potential as change agents. If we invest in youth-centred R&I now, 2030 could be the start of an era of positive payback: healthy children and teenagers who are well-educated and skilled and have every chance to thrive and become constructive, engaged EU citizens contributing to society.

Furthermore, a Horizon Europe that works with and for Children and Youth could significantly contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals since Child related indicators can be found in at least 14 out of the 17 SDG’2.

A Horizon Europe programme taking into account the vision of child and youth will be also complementary to other initiatives and tools such as Erasmus+, European Youth Strategy, Education and Training 2020 and the Structural funds.

Which are the three crucial challenges where youth can play a fundamental role?

  • Youth Mobilisation against climate change. Youth across the world has the potential to catalyse change not only for themselves but for their communities and the rest of the world.
  • Health and Wellbeing: R&D actions with a focus on children and youth have the potential to deliver new knowledge and approaches to improve our future physical and mental health and wellbeing.
  • The Fourth Industrial Revolution. Youth should take part on digitalisation of our societies, jobs, education and democracies. Uptake in key enabling and digital technologies can only be achieved by involving them, making special efforts to involve girls in STEAM careers.

How can we change it?

The European Commission has just opened an online consultation: Horizon Europe Co-design 2021-2024 that can be filled as an organisation or as an individual and considering its importance we very much urge you to fill in the consultation. The more responses with our key messages the better to get our voice heard! Spread the word, invite to act!  

Instructions to participate in the consultation:

  • Please follow the link to the Horizon Europe online Consultation. Here you will find an introduction to the consultation
  • Please fill in the multiple choice sections A, B and C. In these sections are included a list of topics to be rated (no children or youth friendly!). They are the current list of topics in the  ‘orientations/strategic plan’ document that provides the draft of the Horizon Europe programme, which is the document we wish to influence. You need to rate which topics you feel are more important for the years to come.
  • For section D please tick the first 6 boxes and in the box provided for ‘general input’ please copy and paste the text below (between the two lines):

This initiative has been promoted by the University of Deusto and the University of Utrecht with some members of the Eurochild Children Council, and endorsed by garagErasmus and EDIW-Education for an Interdependent World.

The consultation will be open until 8 September 2019.

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