The Erasmus Mundus Students & Alumni Association (EMA) held its 18th EMA General Assembly and 1st Annual Conference Istanbul, Türkiye, from 24-25 May 2024, with the support of the European Union. Bringing together participants from 64 different nationalities, the two-day event truly showcased the multicultural and diverse nature of the EMA community, under the theme "Celebrating Excellence and Enriching Futures".
The event brought together representatives from the European Commission, the European Union Delegation in Turkey, Ambassadors, Erasmus Mundus consortia coordinators, Rectors, Professors, Students and Alumni of the Erasmus Mundus programmes, local stakeholders, and EMA members and volunteers. The event was a significant in-person gathering, accessible online via EMA’s YouTube channel with over 150 participants on the first day and 80 on the second,
EMA's Vice President, Ruturaj Trevedi opened the event. He was followed by EMA’s President, Dr Md. Ashiqur Rahman provided an overview of EMA’s activities in the past year and explained how attendees could benefit from partnerships and collaborations with the Association. Pia Ahrenkilde Hansen, Director General of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture (DG EAC) shared a few words via video, followed by Adrian Veale, Policy Officer for Africa & Capacity Building for Higher Education at the DG EAC, and Hélène Banegas, Project Adviser for Erasmus+ International Alumni at the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA).
The first day included of plenary sessions, updates from the EMA’s Management Board, and spotlights of volunteers and milestones of EMA projects. The Annual Conference and the first day of the General Assembly concluded with the EMA Awards 2024 Ceremony. The second day of the General Assembly saw the return of co-creation sessions for participants to engage in meaningful dialogue across various topics integral to the EMA community. There was a final panel discussion regarding EMA’s future road map, more volunteer spotlights and milestones, and the presentation of the financial report and updates to the organisation’s statutes.
Throughout the two-day event, participants networked while enjoying delicacies and exchanging small souvenirs from their home or host countries at EMA’s World Café Breaks and through the EMA Gift Exchange activity set up by the Organising Committee. The Assembly drew to a close with the EMA Cultural Evening with participants sharing and enjoying performances celebrating the community’s global representation and cultures.
We will share reflections and experiences from organisers and attendees over the next couple of weeks in our News section and communication channels. If you participated in the Annual Conference or the General Assembly and wish to send your input, email your story to editorial@em-a.eu.