The Swiss Erasmus Student Network ESN held the first of three National Platforms from 20th-21st October in Basel. ESN Switzerland, whose objective is including to promote the social and personal integration of SEMP (ex-Erasmus) exchange students, is supported by Movetia. 


At the National Platform (general meeting), volunteers assembled from all over Switzerland, from the fifteen sections of ESN Switzerland. There, ESN Switzerland and ESN International projects, the plans of the National Board (board of administration), the budget for the academic year and general topics regarding mobility in Switzerland were presented and discussed. In addition, there were workshops, in which the participants were able to improve their soft skills, learn more about various topics such as health or stakeholder management and hold discussions about mobility, events, projects, integration, the future of ESN and so on. Of course, there had to be a supporting programme too, during which the participants were able to get to know each other better and explore Basel.

A highlight of the National Platform was the flag parade for the 30th anniversary celebration of the Erasmus Programme. On Saturday, at lunchtime, all the participants, equipped with flags from all over the world, set off from the Kollegienhaus (main building) of the university and walked through Basel until they reached Erasmusplatz. With that action, they showed the city and Switzerland how important diversity, integration and mobility are.