Students Make Their Voices Heard: Aurora At The European Student Assembly 2026
Leading up to the European Student Assembly 2026, students from all over the world worked together on recommendations addressing current European challenges. From 20 to 22 April, and after four months of digital collaboration and intensive discussions, participants gathered at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, to further develop and vote on their proposals during plenary sessions.
From left to right: Lilli Fee Schulz, Lucie Badurová, Eliška Karasová and Marko Darabos.
The European Student Assembly 2026 (ESA 2026) provided students with a unique opportunity to contribute their perspectives, collaboratively develop ideas, and experience the importance of participation in shaping Europe. In addition to the substantive work, ESA 2026 also created plenty of space for exchange, new points of view, and networking with students and university alliances across Europe.
Reflections On The ESA 2026 Experience
Aurora was represented at ESA 2026 by four participants at different levels: Aurora Student Council (ASC) representatives Eliška Karasová and Marko Darabos, ASC alumna Lucie Badurová, and Aurora Student Ambassador Lilli Fee Schulz. They summarised their experience below:
Eliška Karasová, ASC Vice-president and student at Palacký University Olomouc
As Vice-president of the ASC, I had the opportunity to represent our alliance at the 5th edition of the European Student Assembly together with a colleague from the ASC. As part of an international panel focused on defence and security, I collaborated with motivated students from different parts of the world while discussing some of the most pressing challenges facing European society.
From months of collaboration to our final discussions in Strasbourg, the ESA provided valuable insight into both the topic and intercultural cooperation, which lie at the core of the project. I am grateful to have been part of such an inspiring initiative and to have met so many passionate young people committed to making a difference.
European Student Assembly 2026. Photo © Guillermo Alba Buitrón
Marko Darabos, ASC Member and student at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
I had a great time at this year’s European Student Assembly, where I discussed many current European issues. I was particularly interested in discussions on EU project funding, especially how it could be used more effectively to create real impact, particularly in light of the current defence situation and possible implications for the new Multiannual Financial Framework.
I also enjoyed talking to members from other alliances, learning how they work, how they engage students, and which methods seem most effective.
Lucie Badurová, ASC Alumna and student at Università degli Studi di Padova
I am a former Aurora Student Council Communications Officer at Palacký University Olomouc. My journey with the European Student Assembly started in 2023, when I represented Aurora as a Panel Coordinator focused on the EU’s approach to mental health. With my background in psychology and neuroscience, topics connected to the brain and mental health have always been close to me.
The experience was incredibly meaningful, which is why I was happy to return in 2026 as an alumna speaker to discuss neurodegenerative diseases and their wider impact on Europe. ESA has given me a unique opportunity to speak about topics I truly care about while meeting students from across Europe who share the same passion for change. I am very grateful for the space ESA creates for young people to share their ideas on a European level, as well as for the welcoming community that makes the experience so special.
Lilli Fee Schulz, Aurora Student Ambassador and student at Universität Innsbruck
I am an Aurora Student Ambassador from Universität Innsbruck. The past months were intensive, but above all, incredibly educational. I learned how political measures and recommendations are developed and formulated, and how international collaboration can succeed in digital formats.
It was especially valuable to engage deeply with topics shaping Europe today. ESA and Aurora allowed me to actively contribute to a process that can initiate change, and I am very grateful for this experience.
The European Student Assembly clearly demonstrated that student voices can be heard and play an important role in discussions about Europe’s future, drive transformation, and catalyse positive societal impact.