Coimbra Group and ESU: Strengthening a shared commitment to students
25 November 2025
On 21 November 2025, during the Coimbra Group’s High-Level Seminar “Reinventing Campus Democracy: Bridging Divides and Advancing Solutions” in Brussels, the Coimbra Group (CG) and the European Students’ Union (ESU) formalised a new chapter in their collaboration by signing a Memorandum of Understanding.
The agreement was signed by Ludovic Thilly, Chair of the Coimbra Group Executive Board, and Arno Schrooyen, Vice-President of ESU, in the presence of more than one hundred students, academics, university leaders and partners from across Europe who had gathered to reflect on the future of democratic culture on campus.
This MoU builds on many years of shared values and common purpose. Both organisations work every day to empower students, promote internationalisation, defend democratic participation and ensure that universities remain open spaces for dialogue, scientific inquiry and social progress.
“This memorandum reflects something very simple yet profoundly important: universities and students move forward together. The Coimbra Group has always believed in listening to, learning from and working alongside the student community. By strengthening our partnership with ESU, we are committing ourselves to a future in which students are co-creators of democratic, inclusive and globally engaged universities.”, said Ludovic Thilly.
By formalising their cooperation, the two organisations reaffirm their conviction that students must be active partners of universities in shaping the future of higher education, not merely beneficiaries of decisions made elsewhere.
The MoU encourages deeper collaboration on events, student engagement, shared expertise and communication. More importantly, it provides a framework for stronger cooperation at both institutional and local levels, where the impact on student lives is felt most directly.
Through this deepened collaboration, both organisations look forward to:
- fostering meaningful dialogue between students and university leadership,
- creating opportunities for joint events and exchanges,
- supporting student participation and democratic engagement, and
- strengthening cooperation at local and European levels.
The signing of this MoU marks a significant milestone in strengthening the relationship between the Coimbra Group and ESU. It recognises the essential role that student voices play in building stronger institutions and a stronger Europe.