1st Edition of the Student Network of the Alliances took place at Iscte with participation of national and European representatives

Iscte and the Iscte Students’ Association (AEISCTE) hosted, on the 15th and 16th of November, the first edition of the Student Network of the Alliances (REA), bringing together students from various Portuguese Higher Education institutions involved in the European University Alliances.

Over two days, participants engaged in training sessions, round tables and debates dedicated to pedagogical innovation, student involvement in alliance governance, inclusion, and the impact and future of European Higher Education. The event was attended by several prominent figures in the Higher Education ecosystem:

  • Helena Carreiras, Vice-Rector of Iscte for Internationalisation and the PIONEER European Alliance;
  • Patrícia Pinto Rosado, President of the National Council for Pedagogical Innovation in Higher Education;
  • Ana Cristina Perdigão, Director of the Erasmus+ National Agency for Education and Training;
  • Paula Tavares, Coordinator of FOR.UE.PT – Forum of European Universities in Portugal;
  • Luís Castro, Vice-Rector of the University of Lisbon.

Also present as organisers and moderators of the various panels were Daniel Aragão, President of the Academic Forum for Information and External Representation (FAIRe), Pedro Neto Monteiro, President of the Lisbon Academic Federation (FAL), and Marco António de Andrade, President of AEISCTE. The panel “The Future and Sustainability of European University Alliances” highlighted the importance of institutional cooperation, informed student participation, and governance mechanisms that strengthen the student voice in the European Higher Education Area. On the second day, the European Students’ Union facilitated a world café-style workshop, where participants developed recommendations on the ideal structure of student representation in the alliances and the minimum levels of participation in their decision-making bodies. In the closing session, AEISCTE emphasised the value of this student collaboration network and reinforced Iscte’s commitment to continue promoting initiatives that strengthen student participation in the development of European alliances. REA 2025 was supported by the Erasmus+ National Agency, the National Council for Pedagogical Innovation, FOR.EU.PT, the European Students’ Union, and the Lisbon Academic Federation.