Proudly presenting: Our students at ESA!

Group picture of the four students who participated at ESA in front of the European Parliament

Last week, four (student) members from our European University Alliance, BAUHAUS4EU, embarked on an exciting journey to Strasbourg from 26 to 28 May — not for a vacation, but to actively contribute to a more inclusive and democratic Europe at the European Student Assembly (ESA).

The ESA, held annually at the European Parliament, brings together brilliant young minds to engage in discussions across eight diverse panels covering critical topics such as mental health, climate policy, artificial intelligence, and inclusivity.

Kartik Bist from Bauhaus-Universität Weimar shared, “Being in the Parliament was surreal—sitting in that seat and voting on policies made me feel the significance and responsibility of the democratic process.“ Lorenzo Di Piazza from Université Lumière Lyon 2 added “It was an honour — and pure joy — to have ESA 25 as my very first international adventure.” Alongside Narayana Manikanta Sunnit Satya Sai Gattupalli Eswar (also Bauhaus-Uni) and Miłosz Serafin from Uniwersytet Ekonomiczny w Katowicach, they were among the selected 230 from over 2,000 applicants.

The ESA is not just a forum for discussion. It serves as a platform for youth from various backgrounds, academic disciplines, and universities to amplify their voices and foster democratic participation.

Our students represented four different regions, honing their intercultural communication skills and actively contributing to the strengthening of a European identity. Together with students from nearly 40 different European University Alliances, they worked on solutions for the goals of BAUHAUS4EU: the transition to a resilient, sustainable, inclusive, and culturally enriching future.

Narayana Manikanta Sunnit Satya Sai Gattupalli Eswar even made it among the few coordinators and co-lead the Panel 4 “Innovation for All”, scheduling regular meetings with his group since February before everything came together at ESA: “Meeting everyone in person was an experience I’ll never forget. Together, we crafted eight solid, future-focused policy recommendations. I had the opportunity to present our recommendations in the European Parliament representing the incredible work of my panel over the past few months.”

Miłosz Serafin encapsulated the experience by stating, “The whole experience was truly unforgettable, and I am very grateful for it.”

See what they have to say about their experiences below!

Kartik Bist (Bauhaus-Universität Weimar)

The European Student Assembly (ESA) does great work in bringing together people from different walks of life to participate in policymaking. It was exciting to work with an astrophysicist from France and a lawyer from Poland while discussing innovation.

As my panel focused on diversity, the experience was particularly meaningful for me. Working in the diversity department at my university, I was able to bring forward ideas and concerns from students in Germany—contributions that could be presented to the EU Parliament.

During our forum, we had a “Village of Alliances,” where different alliances showcased their work. We set up our Bauhaus4EU alliance stand next to prominent unions that focus on various domains, including well-being, space, and urban development.

Strasbourg is a unique city with a rich cultural heritage, making it the perfect setting for such an event. Being in the Parliament was surreal—sitting in that seat and voting on policies made me feel the significance and responsibility of the democratic process.

That day, we voted on 78 policy recommendations, each reflecting on different aspects of how democracy can shape the entire continent.

It was also deeply personal to connect with people from Switzerland, Finland, and beyond. I hope our paths cross again.

Miłosz Serafin (Uniwersytet Ekonomiczny w Katowicach)

First of all, I would like to sincerely thank the Bauhaus4EU community for the opportunity to participate in the project. I believe it allowed me to grow in many areas and, most importantly, gave me the chance to meet dozens of people from all over the world. In my opinion, the ESA was very well organized from start to finish, but I still see the possibility of introducing a few changes to make it even better in the future. To sum up, the whole experience was truly unforgettable, and I am very grateful for it.

Narayana Manikanta Sunnit Satya Sai, Gattupalli Eswar (Bauhaus-Universität Weimar)

This year, over 2,300 applicants applied to the European Student Assembly (ESA), and only 230 were selected. Out of those, just 16 were chosen to be coordinators two per panel. I feel truly honoured to have been one of them.

Since February, I’ve had the privilege of co-leading Panel 4: Innovation for All, where we explored a complex yet essential question: How can the EU balance innovation and competitiveness to support sustainable economic growth?

Leading a panel of 30 bright and diverse individuals across EU was both a challenge and a deeply rewarding journey. Alongside my fellow coordinator, we scheduled bi-weekly and sometimes weekly meetings, planned milestones, and kept the energy alive, even across time zones. It wasn’t always easy, but we managed to keep the team engaged, motivated, and fully aligned.

Together, we crafted eight solid, future-focused policy recommendations. Finishing everything before the deadline was a proud moment but the real reward came in Strasbourg.

Meeting everyone in person was an experience I’ll never forget. Our team bond grew stronger each day, and what began as coordination turned into real friendship. I had the opportunity to present our recommendations in the European Parliament representing the incredible work of my panel over the past few months.

Even more exciting, all eight of our recommendations were passed with a strong majority vote.

This journey has taught me so much about leadership, risk management, adaptability, and how to bring people together toward a common vision. I’m truly grateful to be part of Bauhaus4EU and to have had this opportunity. It has been a transformational experience, both personally and professionally.

Lorenzo Di Piazza (Université Lumière Lyon 2)

It was an honour — and pure joy — to have ESA 25 as my very first international adventure. Three words capture what unfolded inside the European Parliament: Diversity, Values, Alliance. Diversity. Spread across eight thematic panels, 250 students representing a rich mix of academic paths and cultures proved that difference is our greatest strength.

Values: Every one of the 76 recommendations we adopted was rooted in a shared commitment to democracy, inclusion, and a sustainable future.

Alliance: From the first brainstorming circle to the last late-night drafting sprint, collaboration stitched us together — and even allowed me, as a member of BAUHAUS4EU, to meet colleagues from our alliance in person for the very first time in Strasbourg, despite serving on different panels.

To each delegate, mentor, and partner: thank you for your generosity of ideas and spirit. The bridges we built here reach far beyond these walls, and I’m eager to cross them with you in the chapters ahead.