THE STUDENT ROAD TRIP 2.0 AT UNIVERSITÉ PARIS-SACLAY: STRENGTHENING EUGLOH STUDENTS CONNECTIONS
The event gathered student representatives from Porto, Hamburg, Munich, Szeged, Lund, Alcalá, and Paris-Saclay Universities, who participated in a series of workshops, training sessions, and discussions about student collaboration. These sessions focused on student engagement, conflict management, and building meaningful, European cross-campus connections. The workshops provided a platform for students to share experiences and best practices, strengthening their roles as active contributors to both local and international university life.
In addition to the training sessions, participants had the chance to visit the Orsay Valley and Saclay Plateau campuses, reflecting the diversity of university spaces. In addition, a rich cultural programmme was organised with the support of the EUGLOH Cultural Corridors initiative—an innovative project aimed at promoting student creativity and civic engagement through sustainable connections between universities and local communities. Highlights of the cultural programme included a theatrical performance of How to Become a Parisian in One Hour? at the Théâtre des Nouveautés, a visit to the Louvre Museum, and a boat tour along the Seine on the iconic Bateaux Mouches.
As Maria Rakotoarison, EUGLOH Student Ambassador at Université Paris-Saclay, shared:
Although I am from Paris-Saclay, I felt like I visited all the universities in the EUGLOH alliance during this RoadTrip. It was an exchange that was interesting not only on a cultural and professional level, but also personally. It’s an event that truly marked my journey with EUGLOH. Thank you for this opportunity—I’m looking forward to discovering what comes next!
The Student Road Trip 2.0 was a resounding success, providing a unique platform for students to collaborate, exchange ideas, and immerse themselves in the cultural life of Université Paris-Saclay and France. The event not only deepened the sense of community within the EUGLOH network but also emphasised the importance of student involvement in shaping the future of higher education.
Clara's Story:
The Student Road Trip to Paris-Saclay University was the perfect mix of interactive workshops and fun cultural activities for me. The atmosphere was very welcoming and everyone seemed to be interested in getting to know each other on a personal level while sharing our knowledge and experiences as part of the EUGLOH community.
This trip made me realize that there are more ways to shape our university life than I expected. And that there are many other students who are eager to do so. A moment when this became particularly visible was the butterfly workshop, in which we split up in groups to brainstorm challenges and solutions for different topics - we came up with loads of ideas in quite a short amount of time. Some topics, such as visibility among students, came up on several occasions. It was surprising to learn that different student boards share very similar challenges and it was interesting to exchange ideas on how to confront them.
Besides workshops, we were invited to several cultural activities which I really enjoyed - from learning how to become a real Parisian to visiting the Louvre. My favorite memory of the trip is the boat tour on the Seine on the last afternoon. By then everyone had gotten to know each other pretty well and we were simply having a good time cruising past the most beautiful monuments of Paris along the river.
I am a relatively new member of EUGLOH. After the Student Road Trip, I feel very motivated to become more engaged. First, because I am inspired by the many ideas and want to be part of the change. Also, because I like the sense of community among people with different academic and cultural backgrounds. And finally, because I am curious to visit other universities within the EUGLOH network and take advantage of being able to study while discovering a new city.
Ángel's Story:
Attending the Student Road Trip to Paris‑Saclay was an invaluable opportunity to exchange ideas and explore ways to strengthen the EUGLOH alliance.
We made different workshops where we work in teams to foster collaboration between universities and develop new solutions to common problems at local and international level.
Besides the workshops, we were invited to cultural activities in Paris, such as a visit to the Louvre, a “European Experience” or a boat trip through the Seine. These moments allowed us to connect on a personal level—far beyond our roles in the alliance.
I really liked Munich’s workshops, where we were divided into teams, each one representing a university and we should create an alliance. It made me realize the challenges and the importance of working all together.
As my first EUGLOH activity, this road trip exceeded all expectations. I discovered a welcoming, dynamic atmosphere, met inspiring colleagues who quickly became friends, and gained fresh perspectives on teamwork and international cooperation. I’m excited to bring this energy back to my Local Student Board and continue contributing to shape the future of the alliance with fresh ideas and stronger connections.
This text is part of the “My EUGLOH story” series, in which members of the EUGLOH community talk about their EUGLOH experience.
