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1. Welcome

Dear ESNCard holders & Dear ESNFriends,

ESN is happy to inform you on many developments that have been going on in the last month:

Soon, it will be other hands writing this newsletter, as this board is stepping down after a year of hard work but also much, much fun. But don't worry, the next board will be helping you organising your international life with as much effort as it does now.

Many of of our sponsors are helping you as well to continue being a sucessful international student or future employee: check out the new offers of Deutsche Bank, SkyEurope Airlines and Careers in Europe.

Finally, we're inviting anyone who's interested, to write about the hot topic of modern society in the Balkan region in an open essay competition.

Enjoy reading the newsletter. For the last time, this Board of ESN International wishes you a nice continuation of your studies and a successful career.

Always ours,
Davide, Ewa, Tomaso, Corinne and Jakob

Contact: secretariat@esn.org
ESN c\o CRUI - CNR
Rue du Trone, 98
B-1050 Brussels
BELGIUM
Tel.: +32 (0) 2 2902 271
Fax.: +32 (0) 2 2902 280
Mob.: +32 (0) 485 924 512

For any questions regarding your subscription or to unsubscribe please contact the network administrator at na@esn.org.

2. ESNLive: Annual General Meeting in Prague.

On this very event, hosted by ESN for ESN, most of the sections of our 31 countries gather to celebrate but also to discuss.

This year, we chose the marvellous city of Prague as the host, thanks to the work of ESN ISC-CTU Prague and the 300th Birthday of Czech Technical University Prague.

In Prague, many of the 240 sections gather, to talk about the future vision of ESN, to exchange experiences and learn from eachother. Also, the new board will be elected, to take over the fabulous job that the 2006-2007 board did.

Of course, so many young people from all over Europe, gathering during 4 days in a top location, results in many excellent parties, amazing excursions and a Eurodinner where each country presents its culinary specialities.

The Zoo of Prague also celebrates along, by dedicating one new-born giraffe to their guests and baptising it with a reference to Desiderius Erasmus.

Finally, to close the event, ESN is invited in the German embassy for a galadinner, celebrating both the German presidency of the European Union, and 50 Years of the Treaty of Rome. On Tusday March 27, the Erasmus Van is leaving from Prague to Vienna as a start of the Erasmus Days Around Europe. See you somewhere on its route!

3. Topic of the month: Erasmus One: Friendship is the experience!

More and more internet groups, blogs, photo-sharing websites are being created, so people can have an online memory or friendships. In this case, Erasmus One combines all these things in order to create a vast database where erasmus students can post their pictures, blogs, memories, parties etc.

Reading ErasmusOne, you really have the feeling that Europe is becoming a village and Erasmus students are connected somehow by doing the same parties, trips and above all, sharing the same friends.

This site gathers young people who are planing their exchange, are already abroad or came back and want to share their experience.

4. Our partners introduce:

Deutsche Bank Italy

Talk for free with Deutsche Bank Italy and Skype!

Are you an Italian university student studying abroad or a foreign university student studying in Italy? Deutsche Bank, the large international bank with more than 250 branches in Italy, has launched an exclusive offer for you!
Open online a new db Partner Studenti checking account, and you will get 1.000 minutes of free conversation with Skype, to call all ordinary phones worldwide with no fee. db Partner Studenti is the right solution with a lot of advantages:

• FREE checking account,
• FREE access to your cash at more than 350 Deutsche Bank ATMs in Italy,
• FREE PagoBancomat (check) card,
• FREE on line banking & trading services (db Interactive)

Click here (web site in Italian language) to know more about this offer and begin to talk for free with your friends worldwide!

5. Get Involved: An open essay competition

"Evaluating Intervention: Local perspectives on democracy-building in the Post-Yugoslav countries and territories"

The current situation in the Western Balkans poses a simple question: does foreign democracy assistance work? Many international evaluations judge this assistance as successful, based on indicators such as increased civic participation, reduced incidence of inter-ethnic violence, socio-economic progress, and increased capacity in civil society. Yet others argue that these projects are failing, citing the decline of reformist parties and the return to prominence of nationalists.

Between the rhetorical extremes which see in the Balkans either triumphant success or abject failure, and which draw sweeping policy prescriptions from these conclusions, the on-the-ground realitiesas witnessed and experienced, in particular, by citizens of the states and territories whose futures are under discussionare often ignored or marginalized.

The essay competition, with the theme "Evaluating Intervention: Local perspectives on democracy-building in the Post-Yugoslav countries and territories," aims to address this issue.

Essays should be 6,000 to 7,000 words in length, and can be submitted in English, or any of the languages of the region. They encourage submission in electronic format, but will also accept hard copies. They will accept co-authored essays. As part of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund focus on "pivotal places," we primarily welcome papers addressing issues around democratic transition in Bosnia-Hercegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia.

Essays can be submitted in English, Macedonian, Albanian, Serbian, Croatian or Bosnian, at http://watsoninstitute.org/muabet/contest.html

6. What's going on in Europe besides ESN?

Do you have the skills and the drive to start or pursue an international career?
Are you willing to meet some of the best international recruiters in an exclusive environment?
Do you have the sell-confidence to go through a rigourous screening process?
Can you demonstrate academic or professional excellence in engineering, sciences, business, law, HR, IT, finance?
If so then, the Careers in Europe Event is for people just like you!

Careers in Europe Events bring together graduates and professionals from all over Europe with leading multinational companies for face-to-face interviews. Companies such as Procter & Gamble, BMW, Areva, Microsoft, Reuetrs will interview you to offer the most exclusive international career opportunities on the market today.

If you do not want to limit your career to restrictive borders, sign up today on www.careersineurope.com/apply. Application deadline is March 23.

Your participation in the event could be a cornerstone in your life.

More information on www.careersineurope.com.

Please forward this email to your friends who are also interested in an international career.

Kind regards,

Stephane Wajskop
Managing Director