ESN Italia

ESN Italia is the acronym for Erasmus Student Network Italia, the Italian national level of the ESN network.

Erasmus Student Network is an international non-profit student association founded in 1990 by former internationally mobile students on the initiative of the Erasmus Bureau of the European Community. Its main goal is to provide activities and services for international students and promote student mobility.

ESN Italia is a second-level association founded in 1994, with 53 local sections in 48 Italian cities and over 2500 active members working voluntarily to provide services to approximately 20,000 Erasmus and non-Erasmus students arriving in Italy each year.

The sections of ESN work according to the principle of "Students helping students," aiming to help mobile students make the most of their study or internship experience abroad.

The volunteers are largely university students who have gained international exchange experience and want to share their experiences and time. They also include students who are about to have an international exchange experience and can acquire valuable skills through their work in the association.

Erasmus Student Network Italia is supported by the European Commission, the MIUR, the National Youth Agency, and INDIRE.

Internationally, ESN promotes European student mobility by interfacing with the major institutions of the European Union.

Values of ESN

• Unity in diversity: We all come from different backgrounds but share a common goal.
• Students helping students: We passionately engage in volunteering for the benefit of others.
• Fun in friendship and respect: We enjoy relationships based on respect.
• International dimension of life: We are open, mobile, love to discover and explore, cooperate, and interact to break boundaries.
• Love for Europe as a space for peace and cultural exchange: We live and benefit from the cultural richness of Europe to the fullest.
• Openness with tolerance: We understand and accept others and learn from them.
• Cooperation in integration: We share a holistic vision of internationality.

History

In 1987, the European Economic Community (EEC) approved a project to create an extensive mobility program in higher education, including the Erasmus program. In 1989, Erasmus Bureau invited 32 former Erasmus students for an evaluation meeting in Ghent, Belgium. This meeting marked the beginning of Erasmus Student Network.

This meeting marked the beginning of Erasmus Student Network. The issues highlighted during the evaluation became the key points on which the founders of ESN International would work. The main idea was based on the concept of "students helping students," a phrase that is now preserved as the motto of the organization's work.

Several ESN sections were founded in various European universities, and with funding from the EEC, an official founding meeting of ESN International took place in Copenhagen, Denmark, in February 1990. ESN International became a legal association, with Desiree Majoor from Utrecht, Netherlands, serving as the first president.

ESN grew rapidly, and by 1994, ESN had 60 sections in 14 countries. In 2004, the ESN network included 170 sections inside and outside Europe, from Scandinavia to Morocco. Since then, ESN has grown at an average rate of about 12% each year. New technologies have significantly contributed to collaboration between sections, and frequent meetings have strengthened bonds among ESN volunteers, contributing to the exchange of ideas and better quality work for a brighter future.

On November 30, 2005, ESN established its headquarters in Brussels and was legally registered as a Belgian non-profit organization.

As of November 25, 2017, the Erasmus Student Network consists of more than 530 local associations ("sections") in 40 countries and has over 18,000 volunteers across Europe.

ESN Italia

ESN Italia was founded on October 22, 1994, through the collaboration of seven sections:

• ESN Bologna
• ESN GEG Genova
• ESN Politecnico Milano
• ESN S.T.E.P. Pavia
• ESN ASSI Parma
• ESN Siena GES
• ESN Trento

Events of ESN Italia

Piattaforma Nazionale

Piattaforma Nazionale is the event hosting the General Assembly of the association. It takes place four times a year and is organized in rotation by one of the sections. It lasts for an entire weekend and usually begins with an opening conference attended by universities and local institutions.

Incontro Culturale Erasmus

Incontro Culturale Erasmus (ICE) is ESN Italia's national autumn event. ICE is considered the flagship welcome event, encompassing ESN Italia's values such as volunteering, aggregation, non-discrimination, integration, awareness, and respect for social issues. It consists of four days dedicated to culture and history, exploring Rome and its eternal beauty.

International students converge on Rome from all parts of Italy, ready to enjoy the artistic and cultural heritage of the capital with guided tours and excursions, as well as savor typical dishes and have fun together. The event takes place over a weekend, with approximately 3000 participants, young university students from around the world.

An Opening Conference kicks off the event, delving into current topics related to the world of international mobility and volunteering. On Friday and throughout Saturday, guided tours by industry professionals take place, exploring the most significant and suggestive places in Rome.

National Erasmus Games

National Erasmus Games (NEG) is a national ESN project that allows international students from across Italy to participate in a sports competition inspired by the Olympic Games. During NEG, students from Italian ESN sections compete in various sports disciplines (soccer, volleyball, basketball, and beach volleyball) representing the colors of the city where they are spending their mobility experience. The event is sponsored by various national and local institutions, including CONI.

Evento Nazionale di Primavera

Evento Nazionale di Primavera (EN) is a socialization event lasting a weekend, with the participation of about 3000 international students. It represents one of the most important moments of knowledge and aggregation for all those who live and share the Erasmus experience in Italy. It is ESN Italia's last major national event, during which international students bid farewell before concluding their exchange period in the beautiful country.