Spring National Assembly 2025

In May 2025, Lviv became the meeting point for youth leaders and advocates of international education, hosting the Spring Assembly of Erasmus Student Network (ESN) Ukraine.

Organized with the support of the ESN Ukraine National Board and held at Lviv Polytechnic National University, the event gathered participants from ESN sections across the country, as well as international guests from Switzerland, Romania, Hungary, Italy, and Bulgaria.

The Spring Assembly aimed to facilitate strategic planning, enhance collaboration between local and national levels, and provide educational workshops for members. It also marked a major milestone: the official approval of two new full member sections, ESN IFNUL and ESN LPNU.

Lviv’s unique blend of cultural heritage, student life, and European ambition made it the ideal setting for this gathering. The Assembly allowed participants not only to engage in fruitful dialogue and learning but also to enjoy the welcoming atmosphere of one of Ukraine’s most vibrant cities.

Daily Agenda

Day 1: Opening and international dialogue

• Registration and welcome package: Participants received information materials and a detailed agenda. Organizers ensured a warm and comfortable start for everyone.
• Official opening ceremony: Held at Lviv Polytechnic National University, the Assembly was opened with a welcome speech from the Cultural Center Narodnyi Dim Prosvita and representatives of the National Board.
• Presentations and sessions:
  • "What is Erasmus+ and ESN?" by Dariia Beliaieva and Kateryna Zhdanova
  • "Amplifying Youth Voices on the International Stage" by Yurii Lomikovskii
  • "Lviv, European Youth Capital 2025" by the Lviv Youth Capital Office
  • "Scholarship Opportunities for Ukrainian Students" by IROs
  • "Welcome to Ukraine: What to do with International Students in 2025" by Kateryna Zhdanova
  • "Opportunities for Youth Provided by the EU" by Young European Ambassadors
  • Cultural awareness workshop by ESN Kyiv
  • "University Alliances in Theory and Practice" by Kateryna Zhdanova
  • Panel discussion: "New EU Initiatives and Pathways for Ukrainian Universities to Engage" by Kateryna Zhdanova and IROs
• University campus tour and icebreakers: Participants had the chance to explore the LPNU campus and take part in networking activities to get to know each other.

Day 2: Section presentations and international cooperation

• Presentation of Candidate Sections: ESN IFNUL Candidate Section and ESN LPNU Candidate Section.
• Discussions and sessions:
  • "How Local Volunteers Perceive International Cooperation" by Valerii Kholoimov
  • "Visioning Session: Bringing Mobility Back to Ukraine" by Dariia Beliaieva
  • Workshop: "How to Build an Advocacy Campaign" by Dariia Beliaieva
• International guests presentations: Representatives from Switzerland, Romania, Hungary, Italy, and Bulgaria shared insights about their sections and upcoming projects.
• Session on higher education internationalisation: A keynote presentation by Anna Melekh explored how Ukrainian universities can align with global academic standards.
• Networking and icebreakers: Engaging activities helped strengthen the bond between local volunteers and international participants.

Day 3: Section development and official decisions

• Parallel sessions:
  • "ESN International 101" for ESN Chernivtsi and ESN Kyiv
  • "Next Steps as a Full Right Member of ESN Ukraine" for ESN IFNUL CS and ESN LPNU CS
  • "How to Level Up from a CS to a Full Section" for ESN Odesa CS and Zhytomyr initiative group
• Workshops and outcomes: "Project management for beginners" by ESN Kyiv and "Design Thinking" session by Olia Pukalska.
• Official voting results: During the final plenary, ESN IFNUL and ESN LPNU were officially approved as full sections of ESN Ukraine.
• Closing and feedback: Participants reflected on the Assembly, shared feedback, and celebrated the outcomes of three productive days of collaboration and planning.