The Erasmus Student Network (ESN) has received a high distinction. It has been awarded the Charlemagne Medal for European Media 2019. This medal is the ‘smaller brother’ of the International Charlemagne Prize of the City of Aachen (Internationaler Karlspreis der Stadt Aachen). The winner of the latter in 2019 is António Guterres, the current Secretary General of the United Nations (UN).

Like its ‘big’ counterpart, the Charlemagne Medal is awarded for achievements in the area of European unity. ESN received it, according to the jury, not only because it looks after foreign Erasmus (and other foreign) students all over Europe. But in doing so, it also very practically contributes to European values and a united Europe.

The Erasmus Student Network is one of the largest interdisciplinary student organisations on our continent. It looks at exchange students, usually but not only on the Erasmus Programme and it helps them to integrate locally. The network consists of 529 sections (at universities) in 39 countries all over the world. They support about 350 000 students annually.

Announcing this year’s prize winner, the Lord Mayor of Aachen pointed out that a “period abroad spent learning and working is a whole lot more than just a subject-related part of your education. Associated with this is immersion in another culture, living and thinking and getting to know other points of view. Above all, however, it is encounters with people from different countries that often create life-long friendships and build up professional networks.”

ACA congratulates ESN on the award of the Charlemagne Medal.
More information here.

Photo source: www.medaille-charlemagne.eu