EMA Represented at ASAF Annual General Forum (AGF) 2025 in Cape Town

July 2025 - The Erasmus Mundus Students & Alumni Association (EMA AISBL) was represented at the 5th Annual General Forum, and 4th Public Conference of African Students & Alumni Forum (ASAF) held on 9-10 July 2025 in Cape Town, South Africa.

Former EMA Vice-President (2023-2025), Mr. Ruturaj Trivedi attended the gathering as EMA's official representative, following a decision by the EMA Management Board 2023-2025 in March 2025.

The ASAF AGM brought together student leaders from across Africa to discuss governance, regional cooperation, and organizational development. The event featured plenary sessions, breakout discussions, and a cultural evening celebrating African diversity.

EMA's Message of Collaboration

On behalf of the new EMA President, Adv. Marvi Qazi, and Management Board 2025-2027, Mr. Trivedi delivered a message of openness and partnership to the ASAF board and membership. He emphasized that EMA maintains a highly open door policy and is committed to true cooperation with all Erasmus Mundus sister and cousin organizations worldwide.

"We wish to see more Africans in EMA because EMA is global and it makes sense to connect," Mr. Trivedi conveyed, underlining EMA's vision of transcending geographical boundaries. The message concluded with EMA's guiding principle:

"Think local, Act global!"

Key Observations and Learning Opportunities

Mr. Trivedi noted several similarities between ASAF and EMA operations, including agenda formats, breakout session structures, and the use of live streaming for broader participation. The ASAF Annual General Forum demonstrated strong transparency practices, with the board presenting internal governance documents, including their code of conduct, for member voting.

The assembly also addressed common challenges faced by international student organizations, including technical considerations around electronic voting systems and the ongoing discussion about voting rights for members participating remotely – issues familiar to the EMA community.

A notable feature of ASAF's governance structure is the inclusion of regional reservations and rotation systems in their governing documents to ensure diversity and representation. The organization is also actively working on disability inclusion initiatives.

Strengthening Pan-Continental Partnerships

The event provided valuable networking opportunities, with Mr. Trivedi promoting EMA and its membership program to the students and alumni in African Union. As a result of these efforts, EMA has received new Country Representative applications from several African countries, strengthening the bridges between EMA and ASAF.

Looking Forward

EMA values international cooperation and learning from fellow ESAA organizations worldwide. The insights gained from ASAF's General Assembly will contribute to ongoing discussions about EMA's own governance practices and organizational development.

EMA extends its gratitude to ASAF for their hospitality and looks forward to continued collaboration between our organizations.

The full live stream of the ASAF AGM is available on YouTube.