Student Board
The ERUA Student Board
We are the ERUA Student Board, and we are here to represent students and their interests within ERUA and beyond, whether undergraduate, master’s, or PhD student.
Image: ERUA Student Board members during the ERUA Summit 2025 at the University of the Aegean in Lesbos Island, Greece.
We are involved in ERUA’s key decision-making processes and work closely with university leaders, administration and external stakeholders to promote policies that prioritize students, diversity, and inclusion. In collaboration with the student engagement team, we (co-) organize activities to build community and we support initiatives that ensure quality education.
Usually, we meet online every month and at least once a year in person. In addition, we try to be present in the most important overall ERUA events, external network meetings and conferences, in order to be informed and to participate in (European-level-) discussions that are relevant for the students in European University Alliances like ERUA.
Despite living far from each other, we work together as a group, united by our joint vision for international collaboration and for a higher education environment that respects the various needs of students and fosters their talents.
If you have feedback or any concerns, feel free to reach out to us!
History & Structure
The Student Board was established by engaged students in October 2023 during the ERUA Summit at the University of Roskilde and acknowledged as a consortium body in January 2024. It elects three members as student representatives for the Steering Committee who also contribute their insights when the Board of Rectors asks for input from students, which has been the case for example during the establishment of a student position in the external ERUA Advisory Board. (see ERUA Governance)
Furthermore, the Student Board has initiated an alliance-wide participatory process for the Acknowledgement of Student Engagement, which led to an alliance-wide joint commitment to the ERUA Student Engagement Recognition Framework, which has been annexed to the Consortium Agreement.
Local Boards & Elections
During 2024, each university set up an ERUA Local Board, which is closely connected to or embedded in the local elected student representative structures – slightly varying between universities to match the local different realities. These ERUA Local Boards are open to all interested students of their university, they organize events at local level and support initiatives at the alliance level, and they elect the two representatives (+ one substitute) for the ERUA Student Board. The Student Board operates based on its own Rules and Regulations, which have been annexed to ERUA’s consortium agreement.
Collaboration beyond ERUA
ERUA is one of the initiators of the Student-led Community on Sustainable and Democratic Student Participation within FOREU4ALL. Connected with student representatives from other European University Alliances as well as with the European Student Union and the Erasmus Student Network, the ERUA student representatives foster peer to peer support for the establishment of democratic student representation across European University Alliances.
Student Board Members
University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC)
Javier Martín Rodríguez
Steering Committee Representative
“ERUA pushed my personal growth and helped me discover what really matters to me.”
Izan Suárez Nuez
“Being a Student Board member means student representation, involvement, and teamwork to promote international collaboration while ensuring students’ rights, quality education, diversity and inclusion.”
Substitute: Cristina Ventura Puig
Paris 8 University (UP8)
Clémentine Pourbaix
“We rise by supporting each other.”
Julia Carvalho Bandeira
“Keeping student engagement practical and inclusive”
Substitute: Jean-Paul Ahouissou
European University Viadrina (EUV)
Michalina Lorych
“Understand more. Fear less. That’s how we move forward”
Bhownit Singh
“Helping students actively shape our alliance by making international opportunities more visible and accessible and by strengthening connections across ERUA campuses.”
Substitute: Rania Sabba
University of the Aegean (UAEGEAN)
Zaftis Evangelos
Steering Committee Representative
“Making opportunities accessible to students.”
Athanasia Orfanou
“Because ERUA is stronger when students help steer it.”
New Bulgarian University (NBU)
Alexandra Petrova
Teaching Initiatives Approval Committee Representative
“Seek and create meaningful opportunities for students from students!”
Sofia Tsolova
"Universities should be the engine of social progress and bold activism. I joined the Student Board to turn students’ aspirations into institutional change through shared ideals and the policies that shape our future."
Substitute: Natali Todorova
University of Macerata (UNIMC)
Egor Smirnov
“When in doubt: þetta reddast (it will all work out)”
Waqar Younas
“I’m proud to represent student voices and actively contribute to a more inclusive and participatory academic community.”
Substitute: Uyanga Saikhan
Mykolas Romeris University (MRU)
Ekin Furuncu
“I believe education should be active, collaborative, and practice-oriented. Connecting with ERUA students allows me to expand my perspective, question my assumptions, and grow through real interaction.”
Selina Çiçek
“I want to actively represent students and contribute to improving our university community. This also gives me the opportunity to connect with students across Europe and engage in meaningful international collaboration.”
SWPS University
Zuzanna Siwinska
“Turning student ideas into real action.”
Julia Marczak
“Helping students get involved, locally and internationally.”
Substitute: Zofia Rozanska
Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them
