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Charles University had a particularly strong presence at this year’s Erasmus Generation Meeting (EGM), Europe’s largest student-led conference on mobility. Its representatives contributed to several sessions organised in cooperation with the European Commission and the international section of the Erasmus Student Network (ESN). Their contributions focused on some of the key priorities of the Erasmus+ programme today, including inclusion, sustainable travel and civic engagement.
Charles University’s experience in bringing added value to international mobility attracted the attention of key stakeholders at the European level, as well as representatives of several respected universities. This year’s EGM focused mainly on the future of the Erasmus+ programme for 2028–2034 within the new financial framework and provided space for discussion on its future form, rules and values.
“It is very encouraging to see that Charles University stands out not only in terms of the number of exchange students participating in the Erasmus+ programme, but also in the quality of these mobilities. I am pleased that we can serve as an inspiration to our colleagues and help shape the future of the programme through good practice,” said Michal Vrablík, Vice-Rector for International Affairs, commenting on Charles University’s involvement in EGM.
Charles University as an Example of Effective Cooperation with ESN
The cooperation between Charles University and ESN CU Prague was one of the topics that strongly resonated at the conference. Adéla Wagnerová, President of the University’s ESN section, presented this experience as an example of good practice in a session together with Chantal Riccardi from the University of Pavia and Daniela Sauge from the University of Geneva. Their contribution offered practical advice on how to set up effective communication and mutual support between universities and ESN sections.
Through concrete examples, the presentation showed the important role ESN plays in the integration of international students. ESN connects Czech and international students, supports them in adapting to a new environment, and organises orientation activities as well as cultural and social events. In the follow-up discussion, participants shared their own experiences and challenges and jointly formulated recommendations that can be used by both ESN sections and universities.
Inclusion and Student Support as a Key Topic
The programme also included two sessions led by Barbora Obrazová from the International Relations Office of the Charles University Rectorate. The first focused on inclusion in student mobility, while the second explored how student experience can be used to promote mobility opportunities.
Barbora Obrazová presented the topic of inclusion together with Dominika Guzik, ESN Education and Youth Policy Coordinator, and Johannes Gehringer, who is responsible for student mobility within the Erasmus+ programme at the European Commission and is currently involved, together with his colleagues, in shaping and promoting the programme’s future. The session brought together representatives of the European Commission and ESN for presentations and discussion on different approaches to inclusion in student mobility.
Charles University’s specific experience in supporting students with special needs drew particular interest. Thanks to effective cooperation between the European Office of the International Relations Office and the Carolina Centre, these students receive comprehensive support, which can serve as an example for other institutions. The challenges students may face during their mobility have also been highlighted in previous interviews with Shakil Reja Efti and Tuukka Karjula published in the university magazine UK Forum.
The discussion that followed focused mainly on additional funding, preparing students for their stay abroad, and ways to make international study more accessible, including through short-term mobility opportunities.
Charles Abroad Attracted Interest as a Model for Promoting Mobility
Barbora Obrazová’s second contribution focused on the Charles Abroad platform and on using students’ own experiences to promote international opportunities. This approach attracted the interest of representatives of other universities, who saw it as a model that could be adapted to their own institutions. The discussion with students also brought valuable suggestions on how to make the platform even more relevant to their needs.
The SET Project Showed That the Journey to Erasmus Can Be Part of the Experience
The programme also included the final conference of the Sustainable Erasmus+ Travel (SET) project, in which Charles University is involved. The University was represented by Petra Šmídová, coordinator of Erasmus+ student mobility. More information about the project and its presentation at the conference is available in a separate article.
After more than two years of cooperation, the SET project will successfully conclude in May 2026. Its aim is to support more sustainable travel within the Erasmus+ programme. The project looks at how students plan their journeys, what factors influence their choice of transport, and what benefits more sustainable forms of travel can bring — not only for the environment, but also for students’ personal development.
The conference presented the project’s outcomes and the experience of the partners involved, including the European University Foundation, the Erasmus Student Network, the University of Zurich and the University of Porto. The project was also supported by the Erasmus by Train and Generation Climate Europe initiatives.
The programme was complemented by workshops on green mobility. Participants had the opportunity to hear, for example, the story of a finalist from the first round of the student competition. In a contribution titled “It’s not the destination, but the journey that matters”, he shared his journey from Spain to Umeå in Sweden. Three Charles University students are among the finalists in the ongoing second round of the competition.
The programme also included a presentation by a student involved in the Erasmus by Train initiative and a panel discussion on the future of sustainable travel within Erasmus+. The discussion also touched on the recognition of so-called green competences that students acquire during their journeys. A poster session summarising the overall outcomes of the project was also part of the conference.
Charles University as a Respected Voice in European Mobility
The Erasmus Generation Meeting showed that Charles University has a strong and respected voice in the debate on the future of the Erasmus+ programme. Its representatives did not come to the conference simply to share their experience. They actively contributed to recommendations, discussions and models that may inspire other universities across Europe. In many cases, they were invited to take part by international colleagues or representatives of major European institutions.
Cooperation with ESN CU Prague, systematic support for inclusion, the connection between the European Office of the International Relations Office, CU Point and the Carolina Centre, the Charles Abroad platform, and involvement in the SET project all showed that Charles University can bring together strategic topics in international mobility while maintaining an individual approach to the students who take part in it. This is why Charles University participates in EGM not only as an institution preparing for the future of Erasmus+, but as one that is actively helping to shape it.
Text and Photos: International Relations Office