The European StuÂdent Think Tank (EST) was founÂded in 2010 to serve as a platÂform to inform stuÂdents about and involve them in the EU policy-making proÂcess. It is based on the belief that stuÂdents can meanÂingÂfully conÂtribÂute to this proÂcess by applyÂing their acaÂdemic skills and knowÂledge. The importÂance of this visÂion was recogÂnized when the EST was awarÂded the CharÂleÂmagne Youth Prize by The NethÂerÂlands in 2011. Through its webÂsite, events, and its netÂwork in the European Union's (canÂdidÂate) memÂber states, the EST provides stuÂdents with a platÂform for their ideas and quesÂtions. We are a non-partisan, non-profit, and non-governmental organÂizÂaÂtion (NGO) that aims to incorÂporÂate as many stuÂdents, disÂcipÂlines, and viewÂpoints as possible.
What we do:
We execute our misÂsion of encourÂaging actÂive parÂtiÂcipÂaÂtion of stuÂdents in the EU's policy proÂcess in three ways:
- PubÂlicÂaÂtions: We pubÂlish blogs, artÂicles and acaÂdemic papers on EU-related issues.
- Events: We host lecÂtures as well as policy-generating events in which we bring together stuÂdents, scholÂars, and poliÂcyÂmakers to debate European policy.
- NetÂwork: We bring together stuÂdents with simÂilar interests and forge perÂsonal relations.
As a young organÂizÂaÂtion, the EST is conÂstantly evolving and expandÂing – in the future, we hope to expand the scope of our activÂitÂies to include, for instance, the organÂizÂaÂtion of conÂferÂences and colÂlabÂorÂaÂtion with proÂfesÂsional think tanks.