The ATHENA European University Alliance is excited to announce its upcoming virtual event, “It’s Your Education! It’s Your Europe!” aimed at promoting student engagement in the European Parliament elections and fostering informed citizenship within the university community.
The event, organized by the Student Board of the ATHENA Alliance, will take place on May 15th, 2024 at 15:00-16:00 CET and will be held online via Zoom to accommodate participants from universities across the alliance. Under the slogan “It’s Your Education! It’s Your Europe!”, the event aims to empower students to actively participate in shaping the future of Europe by exercising their right to vote in the upcoming European Parliament elections.
Meet the Keynote Speaker and the Panelists
Featuring a dynamic panel discussion with policymakers, educators, and student representatives, the event will explore key topics such as the impact of EU policies on higher education, strategies for promoting voter engagement among university stakeholders, and avenues for collaboration between academia and policymakers to advocate for inclusive and accessible education within the European Union.
The keynote speaker for the event is Antonio López-Istúriz White, a member of the European Parliament since 1997. Presently, he serves as the Chairman of the Delegation for Relations with Israel and is a member of the Committee of Foreign Affairs, also serving as a substitute on the Subcommittee on Security and Defence.
The virtual event moderator, María Pardal Piñeiro, holds a Master’s degree in European Union Economics and Politics. She is currently pursuing her PhD in Political Science and International Relations at the University of Minho in Portugal and is affiliated with the Center of Political Science Research at the Universidade do Minho, focusing her research on the impact of the (re)emergence of populism on democratic countries.
Joining her on the panel are Evangelia Georgitsi, Communication Officer at the Representation of Greece, European Commission; Nikolas Moraitakis, Senior Advisor/Manager, EU Programmes, the region of Crete; Guillaume Frison, Directorate General for Communication, Youth Outreach Unit, European Parliament; Umberto Masi, President of the Lithuanian Youth Council; Efthalia Chatzigianni, Vice-Rector of Internationalization at the University of Peloponnese (EUNICE Alliance); and Asimenia Sakouli Vice President of ESN Greece.
Become active participants in European democracy
“The ATHENA Alliance is committed to fostering collaboration and innovation in higher education across the European Union,” said Dr Eglė Girdzijauskaitė, Head of Communication for the ATHENA European University Alliance. “Through events like ‘It’s Your Education! It’s Your Europe!’, we aim to empower students and university staff to become active participants in European democracy and shape the future of Europe.”
With an expected attendance of approximately 300 students from universities across the ATHENA Alliance, the event promises to be a platform for meaningful dialogue and exchange of ideas among students, staff, policymakers, and other stakeholders passionate about European democracy and education.
Event Agenda:
Introduction by the moderator (María Pardal Piñeiro).
Opening Keynote (Antonio López-Istúriz White (Member of European Parliament).
Panel Discussion: It’s Your Education, It’s Your Europe!
Panelists sharing the insights on the role of education in shaping European identity, the impact of EU policies on higher education, and the significance of student engagement in the democratic process.
Interactive Q&A session with the audience.
Closing Remarks by the moderator.
Stay tuned for more updates!
To register for the event, please visit this link.
