2026 (ESA26), held from 20 to 22 April 2026 at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, represented by Mr. Menelaos Papamichelakis, a PhD candidate at HOU and member of the OpenEU Student Representatives Board.
HOU’s participation took place within the framework of the European university alliance OpenEU, highlighting the contribution of open universities to the European dialogue on the future of higher education, democratic participation, and social cohesion.
ESA26 marked the fifth edition of the European Student Assembly, an initiative of the EUC Voices Erasmus+ project, bringing together approximately 250 students from 65 European Universities Alliances. The event served as a dynamic participatory democracy process, during which participants collaborated for five months in thematic panels to develop policy recommendations for the future of Europe.
The work of ESA26 was structured around eight key thematic areas:
- Strengthening democracy and bridging the gap between European institutions and citizens
- Circular economy and cross-sectoral systemic change
- Adapting European funding to social transformations
- Developing an inclusive European public transportation system
- Digital literacy and cybersecurity resilience
- Interdisciplinary collaboration and education without borders
- Intergenerational solidarity and demographic challenges
- Europe’s strategic autonomy and European values
Mr. Papamichelakis actively participated in Panel 4, “Europe Moving Together,” which focused on shaping a more accessible, safe, affordable, and interconnected European public transport system. The panel’s recommendations highlighted the need to improve accessibility for persons with disabilities, support low-income households, strengthen mobility in rural and remote areas, and enhance interoperability and transparency in cross-border transportation.
In parallel, he also contributed to the work of Panel 6, “Educating Without Borders,” which focused on promoting interdisciplinarity, strengthening cooperation among universities, expanding virtual mobility opportunities, developing joint European study programmes, and encouraging students’ active involvement in disseminating information about European educational opportunities.
The policy recommendations developed by the panels were presented and voted on at the European Parliament, where they were approved by the Assembly participants. In the next phase, these recommendations will be disseminated at local, national, and European levels, with the aim of fostering public dialogue and contributing to the development of future European policies.
HOU’s presence at ESA26 reaffirms the University’s ongoing commitment to the principles of open and distance education, accessibility, inclusion, and lifelong learning. At the same time, it strengthens the institution’s international outlook and participation in European initiatives that promote cooperation, democratic engagement, and innovation in higher education. Finally, Mr. Papamichelakis described his participation in ESA26 as an exceptionally creative and meaningful experience, emphasizing the opportunity to collaborate with students from different countries, universities, and academic disciplines. He particularly highlighted the exchange of ideas, the joint drafting of policy recommendations, and participation in a vibrant democratic process. According to his statement, the presence of the Hellenic Open University and the OpenEU Alliance in such European initiatives not only enhances the University’s international visibility but also contributes substantially to advancing a more open, inclusive, interdisciplinary, and socially oriented higher education landscape across Europe.
