Students bring the EMERGE European alliance to life

At UBS, students bring the EMERGE European alliance to lifeAt Université Bretagne Sud, students are committed to bringing the EMERGE European alliance to life among their peers.

The EMERGE Alliance brings together nine European universities around shared values: openness, inclusion and multiculturalism. To ensure that these principles do not remain abstract, each institution relies on student ambassadors. At UBS, Guénolé and Manon were recruited by the international relations department to carry out this mission.
Their role is to inform their fellow students about the alliance and bring it to life. They are a direct point of contact for students interested in mobility, international experience or participation in alliance projects. ‘As student ambassadors, we are the link between the institution and the students,’ summarises Manon.

On assignment in Slovakia

A role of liaison and mediation, recently illustrated by a week of collective work at a partner university: In November, the two UBS ambassadors joined their counterparts at Matej Bel University in Slovakia for a week of training and exchanges. 
For Manon, this meeting marked a turning point. ‘Meeting other ambassadors and some of the coordinators in person was a great human experience.’ She also gained an insight into EMERGE's unique identity: ‘It really opens your eyes to the fact that EMERGE is an alliance of campuses on the periphery of Europe and on a human scale.’
One of the highlights of the trip was an international village where each delegation presented their region. Together with students from the University of Rennes 2, also a member of the alliance, Guénolé and Manon showcased Brittany. ‘We brought back goodies, galettes, palets bretons, kouign amann... We even danced a gavotte in Matej Bel Town Hall with people from all over Europe!’ It was a simple moment, but one that revealed the spirit of the alliance, based on sharing and encounters between students from all over Europe.

Promoting multiculturalism on a daily basis

Back at UBS, the ambassadors continue this momentum. They help welcome international students, notably by coordinating the UBS Tandem programme, assist volunteers with their procedures and help make Europe more tangible in student life. 
During the open day, at a conference for families, they explain the role of the alliance and the opportunities available to future students (hybrid mobility, short stays, internships, etc.).
Through this role, Guénolé and Manon also develop cross-disciplinary skills: intercultural communication, initiative, and the ability to work in a variety of contexts. It is a formative and engaging experience.
At UBS, EMERGE student ambassadors do not simply represent a European alliance. They bring it to life for students and ensure that this institutional project is transformed into a collective and human experience.

Photography : ©Université Bretagne Sud.