ESN Awards is the initiative of the Erasmus Student Network that aims to provide recognition for the work our member organisations do in a span of a year. Each year our local and national organisations submit their initiatives, activities, events, projects, and campaigns that contribute to ESN's mission, vision and values across 15 different categories. The selected applicants are awarded and given an opportunity to present their submissions in front of the entire network at the awards ceremony.
The categories we award are related to the main causes, mission, vision and values of ESN. The categories are updated every year to ensure recognition of initiatives that are the most impactful in the current society. The latest categories are:
The most impactful activity, event, initiative, programme or project voted on by the network.
The best cooperation between sections and/or national organisations in the Network.
The most impactful activity, event, initiative, programme or project fostering intercultural competence and intercultural understanding.
The most impactful activity, event, initiative, programme or project that has a strategic and long-term approach to education-related topics.
The most impactful activity, event, initiative, programme or project contributing to the competence development and employability of the local and international youth.
The most impactful activity, event, initiative, programme or project contributing to environmental sustainability.
The most impactful activity or initiative collecting resources for a common cause.
The most impactful sports or well-being activity, event, initiative, programme or project that fosters a healthy lifestyle of the local and international youth.
The best HR practices, projects or initiatives focusing on volunteer management and appreciation.
The best IT-related practices, projects or initiatives.
Most impactful activity or initiative fostering the safety of our members and international students in aspects as prevention, support or protection agains risks.
The best national/regional/local training event or programme.
The most impactful social inclusion activity, event, initiative, programme or project.
The most impactful or innovative campaign that fosters a positive impact of international exchange and contributes to ESN as a globally recognised brand.
Local Sections and National Organisations representatives can submit an activity, event, initiative, programme or project that happened between the submission deadline for ESN Awards 2023 (17 February 2023) and the submission deadline for ESN Awards 2024 (31 December 2023) on behalf of their organisation.
There are four main aspects we will be looking at while evaluating the submissions: core idea, the execution, the outcome and the impact that it had on the students and society overall. The submissions are then evaluated by a jury panel that consists of the members volunteers from ESN Support Structures and from other youth organisations that are active in the field of the category that they are evaluating. Each award category consists of the top three places, as well as honourable mentions.
The awards ceremony takes place every year during the Erasmus Generation Meeting (EGM) - the biggest international conference of the Erasmus Generation that comes together to learn and discuss different topics related to the Erasmus+ programme and the future of mobility. The winners will have the chance to take their award on stage.
The Erasmus Generation consists of thousands of people from very different cultures, countries, religions, and beliefs, but all connected by something bigger than that. We are young citizens. We are volunteers.
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