ESN - AEGEE agreement

PREAMBLE

Through this Letter of Intent the Comité Directeur of AEGEE Europe and The International Board of ESN intend to develop a mutual cooperation between AEGEE and ESN.

AEGEE

AEGEE (Association des Etats Généraux des Etudiants de l'Europe) is a voluntary, secular, nonprofit, not linked to any political party association represented by students in Europe. AEGEE promotes an unified Europe without prejudices, strives for creating an open and tolerant society of today and tomorrow as well as fosters democracy, human rights, tolerance, cross-border cooperation, mobility and European dimension in education.

ESN

Erasmus Student Network (ESN) is a voluntary, secular, non-profit, not linked to any political party association represented by students in Europe. Our mission is to foster student mobility in Higher Education under the principle of Students Helping Students. Our vision is: "Erasmus Student Network cooperates with the European Institutions and other relevant bodies and policy makers in the ambitious project of creating and fostering the development of a society based upon mutual knowledge, respect, trust and therefore peace among individuals, groups, communities, peoples and countries.”

STATEMENT OF INTENTION

The similarity in the structure and the objectives, between AEGEE and ESN, leads to the intent to develop mutual cooperation in the following fields:

KNOWLEDGE SHARING

  • Corporate and institutional fundraising methods (Responsible persons in Comité Directeur and The International Board of ESN)
  • Network development matters (AEGEE Network Commission and ESN Network Administrator and ESN Country Development Working Group)
  • Promotion and encouragement for cooperation between AEGEE Antennas and Local ESN Sections. This should be achieved through joint grant applications, common projects etc where both associations exist (eg: AEGEE Dresden - ESN Dresden); and encouraging the creation of the other partner organization where only one of the two is present.
  • Administrative organisation (e. g. hired personnel)
  • Organisational development

    • (Comité Directeur and The International Board of ESN)

    EDUCATION

    • Involvement in educational issues on both international and local level
    • Specific cooperation on non-formal education work (recognition and promotion) on both international and local level.

    EXCHANGES WITH PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS

    • Joint initiatives and support of each other’s initiatives through e.g. the Brussels NGOs Platform
    • Discussion of other common bilateral interests, with action being taken following agreement between AEGEE Comité Directeur and The International Board of ESN
    • Encouraging the identification of local issues, for which joint actions may be taken between AEGEE Antennas and Local ESN Sections (e.g. visas, university support)

    SPECIFIC PROJECTS

    AEGEE and ESN are partners in their flagship project for the year 2007, which are “Education Unlimited” from AEGEE side and “20 Anniversary of Erasmus Programme” from ESN side. Both organisations agree to ask each other support and try to give the maximum cooperation possible in the development of their projects. Specific project base partnership are however to be signed case by case.

    The cooperation and all joint projects should not violate guiding principles of any of either partner. It is desirable that each organisation appoints a Contact Person towards the other organisation. Apart from constant contact between Contact Persons, meetings at each other’s General Meetings, or whenever felt necessary, should be convened, in order to discuss and review progress and upcoming work, or for any other relevant matters.

    The intent envisaged in this document should be reviewed by both parties on an annual basis, before the 1st of January each year.

    Theijs van Welij
    Giorgio Marinoni