jueves, 5 de noviembre de 2009

European University College Association

EUCA pushes its roots deep into the Continent's most ancient history. The connection between Europe and the university colleges, which are ever since engaged in an effort for education that goes far beyond the academic and reaches through to the student's soul, goes back to the Middle Ages. The association however which works today to extend the spirit and the advantages of collegial life comes into being only a few years ago according to Italian will and the push of an important Italian-Spanish agreement.

It is on September 2005 that the Conference of Italian university colleges ("Conferenza dei Collegi Universitari italiani" CCU) and the Spanish Council of the Superior Colleges (Consejo de Colegios Mayores" CCM), which share an identical way to operate inside the colleges, sign a protocol for the creation of the European University College Association. Since then an intense cooperation between the two institutions has begun in order to make reality of a dream of a European college network. Right from the start there has been the common will to avoid, in whole Europe, the colleges comparable with CCU's and CCM's to be cast out or confused with ECStA (European Council for Student Affairs) which gathers many residences belonging to corporations for the Right to Study which are different from the university colleges.

The protocol becomes more real when, one year later in May 2006, a letter of intent between CCU and the polish Warsaw University of Technology (WUT) is signed, with the aim to exchange experiences and practice.
In 2007 England joins EUCA with the Netherhall Education Association (NEA).

Representing 192 colleges and more then 53 thousand students, EUCA is strengthening itself and opens to new realities, beginning to involve young people in its big project. In cooperation with AESI the 1st European University Youth Forum comes to life, it becomes praise from the highest national and European institutions and brings to Rome, in June 2008, young people from all around Europe to speak about human rights, solidarity, environment, peace, cooperation and obviously Europe.

Almost simultaneously EUCA is formally born the 6th of June 2008, when the four institutions sign the Statute. The following 2nd of July the Belgian gazette (Moniteur Belge) registers and prints the document making of EUCA a non profit institution with registered office in Belgium. In Brussels EUCA avails itself of Medin Europe's cooperation.

During the first summer days the board of directors is nominated for the first three years. It is formed by Gian Luca Giovannucci (CCU, President); don José Antonio Calvo (CCM, Vice-president), Boleslaw Kuca (WUT, member); Jack Valero (Netherhall) also makes part of the assembly.

Young and therefore dynamic EUCA has for its future many ideas and dreams. For 2009 it wants to go through its path and widen its horizons offering to its students chances for exchange and cultural dialogue.