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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.

 Multiplier events realized in Brussels

The two events took place at the representation of the Regione Lombardia in the morning, and at the office of the Académie d’Enseignement Supérieur (ARES) in the evening. The two occasions brought together a diverse audience representing various institutions, universities, associations, and companies coming from all over Europe.

On the occasion, Martina Altea Bellinzona showcased the results of the BRIGHTS Project to the audience. During her presentation, she gave an insight, elucidating the project’s objectives, and outlining the steps undertaken by the project partners to achieve them. Participants gained valuable insights into the methodologies employed and the research results, anticipating the forthcoming final conference of the BRIGHTS project.

See the project

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

The final report for strategic up-skilling and reskilling has been published!

Due to its engagement in lifelong learning and in education, the garagErasmus foundation is pleased to share the report with you.

The report gives an insight into the significance of strategic investments in human capital to drive economic growth, achieve sustainability goals, and mitigate social disparities, focusing on up-skilling and reskilling actions to build a European skills economy.

Through a comprehensive study conducted during one year across 39 countries, the report identifies common partners and trends in skills and highlights different approaches for up-skilling and reskilling, emphasizing the importance of collaboration between the private and public sectors, lifelong learning, and green skills’ integration.

Read the “Pact for Skills”

BRIGHTS guidelines on sustainability education are out!

highlighting the critical importance of implementing innovative approaches across European universities. The project partners collaboratively developed these guidelines, analyzing data obtained from a comprehensive questionnaire distributed among various EU member states, and subsequently through a workshop held at the University of Pavia. The combined research methodology allowed for obtaining a holistic view of current teaching practices, evaluating readiness for innovation, and identifying major challenges, obstacles, and opportunities within European higher education institutions.

Read the guidelines
See the project

Digital Life Learning: student trainings continue in Athens with People Behind

The training was in collaboration with a vocational center in Athens – SVIE – with whom People Behind had already collaborated in the past. Through innovative exercises and games, trainers were able to understand how younger people perceive old age, and in turn, were able to teach techniques and methods to better approach individuals aged 65 and above, delve into their needs and integrate them into the digital world.

Throughout the training sessions, People Behind gathered useful information and experiences, that will go to the other partners of the project to improve the level of education for trainers of older individuals at a European level.

The training will be followed by the training for older people by the young students, which will take place in the next few weeks in Kypseli Municipal Market. 

gE Director of Secretariat Valentina Presa attends the event Inspiring Young Europeans organized by Fondation Hippocrène

The event was held at the Paris City Hall, and during the event our director of Secretariat assisted to the cerimony awards of the three winners of the Prix IYE. The contest aim is to support French associations in their expansion process, in order to increase their impact, their visibility, their financing and their creativity. The three associations which won the contest now have the opportunity to meet and exchange best practices with different members and partners from Fondation Hippocrène.

We are grateful to have been invited to the cerimony award and to have had the opportunity to represent garagErasmus Foundation.

Interview with Marco Cillepi, President of gE4Silesia – Katowice Internationals Foundation

Following years of commitment to Erasmus, Marco opened the first garagErasmus section in Poland when he moved to Katowice in 2011; “I decided that it was time to dedicate my time to foreigners and professionals moving abroad to work and it lead to the idea of the Katowice Internationals Foundation.” Their primary mission is promoting a strong message of integration among people. “We accept diversity and we look at it as a great asset, accepting each other with our differences is the key to make this world a better place and help others in need,” Marco explained, “Poland is living an extraordinary historical moment in terms of development and employability so every day more and more foreigners decide to come to work in this country. We want to help people to integrate with locals and increase awareness in the local community regarding different cultures and backgrounds.”

gE4 Silesia’s main project of the last two years has been the Katowice Internationals World Cup. The project idea grew naturally from the healthy international football community in Silesia. Astounded by the number of different nationalities represented at his training sessions, Marco found that football was an incredibly powerful tool for the integration of foreigners into the local community. In cooperation with his friends and cofounders, Greg Kandziora​ and Abadi Murshid, the first edition of the Katowice Internationals World Cup was launched in May 2018. After great success, a second edition took place earlier this year and plans are already underway for a third edition in 2020.

“We have had the chance to meet a lot of foreigners and locals that are coming from different backgrounds,” Marco explained outlining gE4 Silesia’s greatest achievements, “We celebrate diversity and social inclusion together with the local and international community.” The Katowice Internationals World Cup has proved to be an excellent opportunity for members of the Silesian community to build relationships, strengthen their knowledge of different cultures, and celebrate the values of sport and multicultural integration.

As well as the third edition of the Katowice Internationals World Cup, gE4 Silesia has many other projects planned for 2020 which are all closely related to sport, multicultural integration, social inclusion and the promotion of diversity. 2020 will also see gE4 Silesia complete their #100Smiles campaign- a project which promises to donate muppets (already collected from a nursery in South Africa) to local children’s hospitals and orphanages.

We are so proud of everything you have achieved so far, gE4 Silesia, and cannot wait to see what 2020 brings for you!

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.

The IYE-LABS project starts its training sessions

IYE-LABs is a transnational cooperation partnership that allows a group of stakeholders from youth, volunteering and social inclusion backgrounds to collaborate in a project aimed to foster inclusive youth environments by implementing innovative and participative practices, through developing social labs model as non-formal learning activities addressed to improving young people’s skills for civic participation and volunteering.

IYE-LABs project seeks to train 100 young Europeans to face the most pressing social, environmental and cultural challenges. Young people participating in the laboratory will experience in first person a training and self-knowledge process aimed at better understanding the dilemmas and social, cultural and environmental challenges both at a local and global level to carry out innovation and ethical actions and build local citizenship.

IYE-LABs project wants to tackle the lack of civil participation attitude among young people, the lack of youth involvement in local communities and third sector organisations and inequality and poverty, exclusion and discrimination affecting young people from disadvantaged groups. ​

This social inclusion project is intended for youngsters (18-30 years old) seeking to acquire the necessary knowledge and skills to undertake volunteering projects, empowering them to generate a leadership changing forever their lives and the social ecosystem of their cities. Youth workers, decision-makers, NGOs and social organisations will also benefit from the work process.

IYE-LABS project is led by Xul Foundation (Spain). Its fieldwork partners implementing activities and coordinating actions at a local level are Xul Foundation itself, InCo Association (Italy), Impact Hub Zagreb (Croatia), and Dinamik Development (Turkey). IYE Watchers – developing a dissemination and public awareness role, making liaison with policy-makers and being responsible for quality insurance – are Out of the Box International (Belgium), Plataforma del Voluntariado de España (Madrid), and garagErasmus ASBL (Belgium).

garagErasmus ASBL is leading communication and dissemination actions for IYE-LABs project, and is currently implementing the communication plan that had already been formulated in spring 2019. 

Launching event of gE4Brussels

On this occasion we would like to showcase the activities that the foundation carries out and to inform you about our new project: the “Laissez-Passer” of the Erasmus Generation, the passport for European talents!
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The goal of the passport is to create a connection between the Erasmus generation and privates, companies, recruiters and philanthropists that want to support the most important programme of the European Union of the last 30 years. The Laissez-Passer of the Erasmus Generation wants to involve former Erasmus and tell their stories to the civil society, helping them with the development of their professional life.

Have a look at the video to have a clearer idea of the project and don’t hesitate to reach us!

We will also present the Erasmus +Generation Online meeting point and the Erasmus app! Pass-by, meet other internationally minded MEPs, NGOs or former Erasmus like you… let’s create the Erasmus+ Professional Network together!

Milan opens its door to garagErasmus thanks to ESAA

To these and to other questions on this topic, the ESAA event organised in Milan in the conference room of 55 Milano on the 26th of October by garagErasmus4Milano & Lombardia, thanks to the support of the Erasmus+ student and Alumni association, tried to give some answers. Milan lives in a permanent contradiction: being, without doubts, the most international city in Italy able to give more professional opportunities to recently graduated people, it doesn’t look able to respond to all job requests.
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Almost 100 people, mostly former international students, gathered to follow the round-table conference about: “Milan, brain drain or talents’ attraction?” that put around the same table experts about education and professional opportunities to discuss about the future projection of the city of Milan, in terms of professional opportunities, with the moderation of Vito Potenza, Senior Partner at Potenza & Partners – Certified Chartered Accountants and Auditors firm and President of the Ethical Committee of garagErasmus.

Different opinions were underlined during the one-hour round-table conference: an important contribution was given by prof. Francesco Lenoci, who, thanks to his teaching experience at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore di Milano, is expecting the city and the politicians to do more to open professional gates to students, remarking that twenty years ago in Milan it was easier to access the job market. His view is shared by Laura Soldati, researcher, Adjunct Professor in Applied Food Science and Nutrition at the University of Milan, who is convinced that in sciences, despite the few resources available, the research done in Italy is able to elaborate remarkable results.

“Milan is an intellectual, innovative and robust business opportunity for any person who wants to be successful: young people don’t have to get scared to bet on theirselves”: this is how Marina Mele, soft skills consultant and executive coach, described the city that every hear welcomes 4.300 international students.

 “Opening my start up in Italy was not easy at all, but if I did it, it means that it is not impossible to do it!” commented Alberto Mazzetti, CEO of SOS Tariffe.it, the independent website to compare prices of ADSL, electric energy, gas, assurance, phones, mobile internet, TV and loans, that placed the motivation as the fundamental value that a young entrepreneur has to follow, that can beat all the bureaucratical and technical obstacles imposed by Italian legislation.

​“garagErasmus has come up with innovative ideas regarding how to make easier to look for opportunities to young people, starting from reuniting the Erasmus generation, both on the garagErasmus online platform and off-line, thanks to the activities done by the local association, such as the newborn garagErasmus4Milano & Lombardia”, concluded Marco Mazzini, Co-Founder & Managing Partner Smartive, Co-Founder of garagErasmus.

An important contribution to the discussion was given by Zuzana Huňková, junior recruitment specialist at Wipjobs, Polish recruitment company that received, in 5 years, more than 800 applications to work in Poland and in the Czech Republic from Italian candidates: “The higher unemployment in Italy in the last years caused a clear increase in the requests to go to work abroad from the Country; Italian candidates have as strong points the great adaptability to the new environment and the flexibility to learn new jobs. However, we notice that, even without a strong education as background, sometimes the salary expectations for the first job are not balanced”. Doors of companies are anyway open in Central European countries, especially in Engineering and Customer Service sector.

A more detailed overview of the opportunities given by Erasmus+ was explained by Alessandra Palmulli, which thanks to her recent experience in Brussels could tell what being an Erasmus+ trainer is like, she hopes that garagErasmus could become the real and natural path for every Erasmus+ participants and European citizen. The complete picture regarding EU opportunities was given by the speech of Viviana Premazzi, ESAA Board member that showed to the participants how ESAA can concretely support ideas and projects that involve European values.

“The event organised today has been done exactly to give to all of you the idea of the mission of garagErasmus4Milano & Lombardia– concluded Carlo and Fabrizio Bitetto, inspirators and founders of the local chapter – we will bring European values and opportunities to the people, organising round-table conferences, workshops, meetings. We want people in the bar on Monday morning to talk not only about our beloved football but also about Europe. Territorial institutions, the universities and the companies to be active in the project will.  There is a strong need for Europe, now more than never”.

The kick-off had all the premises to be the start of a winning project that will keep together all the actors involved in internationalisation in the economic capital city of Italy. There is something new moving in Milano and ESAA contributed decisively to it: the aim is very clear and the guys are really into the idea to bring Europe closer to people, especially to those that now are far from it

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garagErasmus4Tuscany Welcome Day in Pisa

garagErasmus4Tuscany is an initiative that aims to make international students aware of their local environment and to promote the strengths and economic potential of the territory. This Welcome Day event, as the first step of this greater initiative, gave the the chance to international students and researchers in Pisa to discover what the territory has to offer them, to make contacts with local businesses and to find present and/or future job opportunities. The message garagErasmus Foundation successfully conveyed during the event is that talents and competences gained from international experience are of great appeal to local enterprises that want to internationalise.  Similarly, as international students living and studying in the region of Tuscany, they can play a significant role in the development of our territory. During the welcome day, we presented the project goals and upcoming activities for this academic year, which include organized visits to local companies and innovative start-ups. You can download the calendar of the visits here.

Furthermore, garagErasmus presented its online platform Check-in Europe – the professional network of the Erasmus generation. Updates regarding garaGerasmus4Tuscany will be also published on Check-in Europe.

We could count with the presence of the following valuable speakers:

Roberto Barale, Deputy Dean for Scientific Research
Marco Filippeschi, Mayor of Pisa City
Cristina Martelli, General Secretary of Camera di Commercio di Pisa
Stefano Giovannelli, Director of Toscana Promozione
Paolo Ferragina, Deputy Dean for Applied Research and Innovation at Università di Pisa
Roberto Camisi, General Secretary of Camera di Commercio di Lucca
Lucia Magneschi, Council Member of Regione Toscana and Pisa City Council Member for Culture, Research and Higher Education
Marilù Chiofalo, Pisa City Council Member
Francesco Cappè, Executive Director of garagErasmus Foundation
Lia Chiara Miccichè, Director of Operations of garagErasmus Foundation

Prof. Katherine Isaacs moderated the event.

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

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

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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