Erasmus Student Network - History of ESN

History of ESN

In 1987 a plan to create an extensive mobility scheme for higher education was approved by the European Community. One part of this was the Erasmus programme - exchange programme for students in order to provide the opportunity to spend part of their studies abroad.

In 1989 the Erasmus Bureau invited 32 former Erasmus Students for an evaluation meeting in Ghent, Belgium. This meeting was a starting point for Erasmus Student Network. The problems that became obvious in the evaluation were the main tasks for the founders of ESN International to work on. Behind all this stood the idea "students helping students", which is remained the most important motto in the work of ESN.

ESN sections were founded in various European universities and with financial support from the EC a meeting for the official founding of ESN International was organized in Copenhagen, Denmark in October 1990 with 49 participants from almost all member states participating in the programme. ESN International became a legal association. Desiree Majoor from Utrecht, Netherlands became the first president in ESN history.

By 1994 ESN had 60 sections in 14 countries and it was growing rapidly. 10 years from then in 2004 the ESN network consisted of 170 sections in and outside Europe, from Scandinavia to Morocco. ESN has been growing with an average rate of around 12 % since then. New technology has tremendously improved collaboration between sections and frequent meetings strengthen the ties between ESN members as well as serve the possibility to change ideas and work together for a better future.

Inside the network the greeting "Pallomeri!" is widely used. What does it mean? Originally it has a funny meaning: the pool filled with small coloured balls in the shopping centres where kids can play. In ESN the meaning is: Pan- European Association Leading Local Organization Making Erasmus Richer Inside. This new meaning was originally presented and invented by Matteo Baggio during AGM IX in Graz, 1998, even if the Erasmus Student Network is currently helping all the exchange students, not only the ones involved in the Erasmus programme.