How to become active in EMA
As an alumni or a student of any of the Erasmus Mundus Master Courses (EMMC), you have various ways to contribute the Erasmus Mundus Students and Alumni Association (EMA).
1. Individual contributions
Contribute to the EMA Community. On the EMA Community, members inform members about various issues, such as housing, visa, job and placement opportunities, etc. EMA is only as strong as its members in terms of enthusiasm, ideas and initiatives. We depend on you!
Write articles to share your story. Any alumni or student of any of the EMMC can write your articles to share your experience from your side of the world. After editing and polishing, the article can be published in are news section and magazine. The news section can be found on the front page of the EMA website. The articles published in the news section are sent to all members in the form of newsletters every six weeks. For each issue of EMAnate, the EMA Magazine, a theme is chosen. This theme will be announced in the summer, and the deadline for the Magazine is usually early November. The first and second edition of EMAnate can be found online. If you would like your story to feature either in our Newsletter or in EMAnate, the EMA Magazine, please contact the respective teams (writing a news item or a magazine article).
Field Reporter. The EMA Internal Communication Team has set up a ‘Field Reporter’ program to help community members to find interesting events and conferences nearby for you to attend. With a convincing proposal, you will also have the chance to apply for a free entrance. ‘One issue one program’ feature in the newsletter will let you share the story about your alumni and students in your program. Please see the call on the EMA website.
Photo Competition. Organized by Magazine team, you can also send your best photos to show what you are made of in the ‘Photo Competition’ relating to the issue theme. Please contact the Magazine team when you would like to contribute to the EMA magazine Photo Competition.
Help to Promote EMA. Members of EMA have been very active in promoting European Higher Education and Erasmus Mundus generally all throughout the world! You can contribute by making students at your local university aware of the great opportunities Erasmus Mundus and the EMA have to offer. If you would like to organize a promotional activity to support EMA, please contact the Promotion team. Based upon your plans, we can send promotion material and support in other ways. EMA Regional Chapters can also support you in this task since most of them are in contact with the Delegations of the European Commission in different countries and Higher Education Institutions. For more information about EMA Regional chapters, please refer to section 3 of this document.
Attend EMA events. The EMA hosts several events at which all members are invited to participate, such as thematic conferences, the General Assembly, and several small scale events. Check the EMA website for an update on scheduled events.
2. Nominating yourself for positions in EMA
There are several positions in EMA that are open to all members, who can nominate themselves and participate in the election procedures. Calls inviting members to nominate themselves for these positions will be made through the EMA website and Newsletter.
EMA President and Vice President. All members of the EMA can nominate themselves to become President or Vice President of the EMA. The EMA President and Vice President are elected at the General Assembly. For nominating yourself to become President or Vice President to the EMA and join the Steering Committee, keep an eye out for the announcements made on the EMA website and in the EMA Newsletter (usually in March/April). For the election procedures, see the Statute. For questions, please contact the President.
Country Representative. Based on an initiative by EMA’s Job Team to create visibility and support EMA members to find jobs in home regions, the Country Representative (CR) initiative was started. Most countries have a CR to coordinate promotion, questions about student services, as well as communicating with local EC Offices. CRs serve on a voluntary basis, but are supported by EMA Jobs Team. See the Country Representative Website for more information. Contact the Jobs team if your country is not yet represented, and you would like to fill that position. Also, keep an eye out for new calls for Country representatives!
3. Joining an EMA group or team
Join one of the Service Teams. If you are to be invited for the General Assembly of EMA as a representative of your course, you will have the chance to join one of the service teams. Currently, there are seven teams for you to choose from:
- Promotion Team
- Internal Communications Team
- Magazine Team
- Conference Team
- IT Team
- Jobs Team
- Policy Team
Joining an EMA Service Team as a full rights member is only possible at the General Assembly, and following a call to all members when additional support to a team is requested (see Statute). Calls inviting members to join EMA Service Teams will be made through the EMA website and Newsletter.
It is also possible to join a Service Team as a Team Observer. Team Observers can participate in all team activities, but cannot be elected to represent the team either at the General Assembly or at the Liaison Group meetings. If you would like to be active in one of the Service Teams but don’t feel like waiting for a general call, please contact the Service Team of your interest. Do not hesitate to do so: when Team Coordinators receive many applications for Team Observers and are very excited about Observer contributions, the Team Coordinator is free to launch a call so that all Team Observers can be granted full rights in the team!
Regional Chapters. EMA regional chapters offer a common platform for interaction, communication and support for students and alumni of various global regions. EMA has established and upcoming chapters representing the following regions: China, Latin America, Africa, South East Asia, India, North America, Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), Pacific region and Europe. Chapters provide a common space for interaction based on a few activities: a) promotion of Erasmus Mundus, b) representation of student rights and concerns based on common perspectives and challenges, c) helping facilitate job integration of EMA members in home regions, and d) support cultural expression of respective home regions in Europe. Chapters primarily interact virtually, but also can meet face-to-face at regional events often conducted together with an International Higher Education fair, such as the European Higher Education Fairs, or at other Regional Networking events supported by the EMA. Furthermore, the chapters have the chance to interact with each other via the Chapters Forum that takes place virtually and face-to-face. Regional chapters are open for ALL EMA members from a particular region. To learn more, or join, contact the Vice President who will put you in contact with your regional chapter.
EMMC Alumni Associations. Next to these EMA groups and teams, you can of course join the Alumni Association of your own Erasmus Mundus Master Course. Contact your course coordinator to see if an alumni association is active in your EMMC. Course associations can also apply for small-scale funding schemes (limited funding) to support their activities, in particular if their activities are conducted together with another like EMMC.
4. Organizing an event
EMA Networking Events Scheme. If you would like to set up your own EMA networking event, you can apply for limited funding through the EMA Networking Events Funding Scheme, using the application form. In these documents, the requirements of the EMANE scheme are laid out, and the conditions under which funding may apply. An example of an event that might be funded under the EMANE could be: several Erasmus Mundus master courses (EMMCs) operated within the same city getting together for a professional or academic discussion as well as for networking, exchange of views and sharing experiences; a small conference of students in related study fields whose universities are relatively close together.
Chapter, EMMC Alumni Association or group of EMA members. Other events can be organized and funded through EMA. Groups of EMA members, whether Regional Chapters, EMMC Alumni Associations or just a group of EMA members can approach the EMA with their plans, and ask for funding. For instance, the Regional Events scheme has been set up to enable Regional Chapters to organize events where their members can meet, exchange ideas and experiences, and set up new initiatives. Groups of EMA members or EMMC alumni associations can organize Thematic events. For these events, EMA members or EMMCs will organise the conference, and EMA can provide some financial support and other help. The main organizers and funding recipients should be EMA members. For more information, contact the Conference Team Coordinator.
5. All other initiatives, ideas, and suggestions:
Contact the EMA President and how we can cooperate to make EMA stronger, better, larger and more active. We look forward to receiving your ideas!