Mediterranean Student Summit Highlights Role for Youth in Linking Academia, Society
The fourth Mediterranean Student Summit, held this month at the University of Girona, in Spain, brought together young people from across the Mediterranean region to explore their role in fostering dialogue between academia and civil society.
Organised by UNIMED–Mediterranean Universities Union and the Erasmus Student Network (ESN), the three-day event marked the 30th anniversary of the Barcelona Process, a landmark diplomatic initiative that established a framework for strengthening cooperation between Europe and countries on the southern and eastern shores of the Mediterranean.
Under the theme “From the Barcelona Process to the Mediterranean Pact: What is the Role of Students in Supporting Mediterranean Dialogue?” participants discussed how universities and students can bridge social, cultural, and academic divides.
Participants reflected on the third objective of the Barcelona agreement—rapprochement between peoples through a social, cultural and human partnership—as well as on the third mission of universities, which calls on higher education institutions to build strong connections with local communities to foster social, economic, and cultural development.
Around 25 students from UNIMED universities, alongside representatives from the Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF) and the Anna Lindh Foundation (ALF), took part in workshops, cultural exchanges, and policy discussions at the summit. Their collective recommendations will be presented to policymakers to strengthen student involvement in shaping the Euro-Mediterranean partnership.
The summit was held under the patronage of the Union for the Mediterranean, with support from the University of Girona, the European Investment Bank Institute, and the Fondation Maison des Sciences de l’Homme.