CoSup Kicks Off the 2024-2025 Year with Ambitious Goals

Brussels, September 28, 2024 – The first CoSup meeting of the 2024-2025 academic year took place at the European School of Brussels IV (EEB4), bringing together student representatives from across the 13 European Schools. This crucial assembly, running from 9:00 to 19:00, marked the beginning of another year of advocacy, collaboration, and progress for the European School student body.

The event kicked off with an official welcome from the CoSup presidency—Alexandru Ifrim, Olivia Lecaillet, and Sarnath Gesquiere—who outlined the objectives for the year. These goals were firmly rooted in continuing to strengthen the student voice and fostering cross-school collaboration on key issues like educational reform, events and activities, and student well-being.

Highlights of the Day

The meeting covered a comprehensive agenda with key discussions and decisions that set the tone for the upcoming year. Among the most important items were:

• Introduction of CoSup 2024/2025: Following the Presidencies introduction, the newly elected CoSup representatives each introduced themselves in a round-table-manner.
• Internal Elections: Various positions were filled, including the Public Relations Team, Head of Environment, and the IT Team. These roles are instrumental in managing CoSup's communication, environmental initiatives, and digital infrastructure which all have played a more and more important role for CoSup in the past year.
• 2023-2024 Follow-up and Internal Matters: The presidency presented the state of CoSup’s finances, touched on topics they would like to follow-up on and closed open topics from the prior term. The meeting also explored potential budgetary allocations for future projects. These financial budgeting topics will be approved at the first meeting in the new fiscal year 2025. Byron Springer, Last year's President also was there to share input on some points that will play a major role such as the new "Mission and Vision for the Euroepan Schools" Task Force.
• Points raised by Representatives: A series of points where raised by the various representatives from the different European Schools which opened the floor for discussions on issues, ideas and projects that CoSup will potentially address and tackle this term.

A notable initiative discussed was Euronight, a flagship event aimed at bringing the European School community together. CoSup representative Camélia Ahissin Tossa (MAM) will be leading this events newest edition.

Focus on Sustainability and Innovation

Sustainability emerged as a core theme, with the Head of Environment who is now tasked with developing a comprehensive strategy for increasing environmental consciousness within the schools. The IT group will now see to expanding digital initiatives from CoSup even further following the imense investement done by last year's Head of IT, Francisco Carriço who also joined the meeting periodically as a Special Guest.

A Year of Collaborative Ambitions

With a dynamic and committed team, CoSup is set to continue advocating for the needs and aspirations of European School students, working closely with school administrations, teachers, and the broader European School community.

Nella Nissinen, last year's President from the Pupils Committee of LUX1 who is now an Alumni and attended the meeting as an observer, expressed optimism for the year ahead: "They are all excited to work on projects that make a difference. CoSup has an important role in shaping the European School experience, and it is committed to making this year one of positive change."

This meeting set the stage for a year of action and innovation, and with a motivated team at the helm, the future looks promising for CoSup and the European Schools.

Stay tuned for updates on upcoming CoSup events and initiatives throughout the year.

— Nada Ismail, Head of Public Relations