Tuesday, July 7,2026 – afternoon
Pre-Conference Events
14:00-18:00 Registration is open / Briefings for speakers and moderators
17:00-18:00 First-time attendees’ session
14:00-17:00 ECStA General Assembly & Board meeting followed by evening reception (members only)
Parallel Workshops – Session 1
Wednesday, July 8, 2026
Conference Day 1
09:00 Welcome & Opening “Why the North Matters”
- Opening Key Note by Dr Dorit Stenke, Minister of Education; Science, Research and Culture of the federal state of Schleswig-Holstein – invited
- Welcome Addresses by Matthias Anbuhl, Chairman of DSW, and Bénédicte Durand, President of Cnous (Paris) (Online)
10:30 – 12:00 Panel Discussion – Student Services in Europe: towards a joint strategy?
The European Higher Education Area is well developed, and continues to grow with new initiatives such as European University Alliances, a robust Erasmus programme, now with the UK back on board, and strong values such as academic freedom, institutional autonomy, and independence of science.
But what about its social dimension? Equal opportunities, accessibility and affordability of higher education as well as student well-being and student success are an equally important part of higher education in Europe – and strong student services are crucial to achieve these ambitions.
So how can we develop? Where can and should we joint forces? Do we need a joint strategy for student services in Europe?
- Prof Dr Sunniva Whittaker, Board Member of the European University Association and Rector of University of Agder (Norway): Developing the EHEA – what are the challenges for student well-being and student success?
- Matthias Anbuhl: Shaping the social dimension of higher education in Europe – what role for student services?
- Bénédicte Durand, President of Cnous: Public Student Services Agencies – a European success model?
- Arno Schrooyen, Vice-President of the European Students’ Union: Put students at the centre of higher education and student services
12:00 – 13:30 Lunch Break & World-Café Roundtables
Discover the particular student services system, current challenges and innovations in one European country or region, such as the STW in Germany, the Crous in France, the Agencies for the right to university study in Italy and more. At each table, a student services professional will be available for informal communication, networking and finding partners for international cooperation.
Discuss current issues in student services in Germany, France, Italy, Norway, Belgium (Flanders), Ireland, Poland, and more.
13:30 – 15:00 Parallel Workshops – Session 1
Workshop 1.1 – Government Responses to the Student Housing Crisis in Europe
Workshop 1.2 – Students’ Living Conditions
Workshop 1.3 – Student Services in a Digital World
Workshop 1.4 - Policy Issues in Student Services
Student Housing
The EU Affordable Housing Plan aims to boost supply, mobilise investment, and bring about immediate support while working on reforms. At the same time, governments are spending billions on affordable housing. But how can we shape these initiatives, and how can we make sure that affordable student housing will be the result?
Dr Petra Nau, DSW Housing Director: Lessons from the “Young Living” Programme in Germany
N.N., representative of the Crous network: Student housing in France – to be confirmed
ANDISU Representative: 60.000 beds in Italy – what is the road ahead? – to be confirmed
Jakob Mæland, President, Student Service Organisation in Agde (Kristiansand): Norway’s Government Investment Programme in Student Housing and Good Practices
Mental Health
Research indicates that students’ living conditions have changed in the pandemic and the following insecurities in economics and geo-politics have aggravated a growing mental health crisis among students in higher education. How are the students doing today? What kind of support is needed?
Dr Kristina Hauschildt, DZHW Researcher: The students are not okay – what can we learn about psychological challenges mirrored in the EUROSTUDENT data?
N.N., Observatoire de la vie étudiante, France (OVE): Special focus on the health and wellbeing of students in France – invited
Digital services
Innovative examples of how to deliver student services in a digital world – Is AI the solution to it all? Examples of practical, yet innovative use of AI in student affairs and services.
Speakers to be confirmed
Management and Leadership
Student services are crucial for student access to higher educaiton, for retention and success. But rising costs, new demands, and complex challenges have stained the resources. What are the policy issues ahead and how can we secure the necessary resources for efficient services?
Speakers to be confirmed
15:00 Coffee Break
15:30 – 17:00 Parallel Workshops – Session 2
Parallel Workshops - Session 2
Workshop 2.1 – Bringing French-German Cooperation to the European level
Workshop 2.2 – Mental Health
Workshop 2.3 – Building communities and support networks
Workshop 2.4 - Sustainability in Student Services
International Cooperation
Franco-German cooperation remains the driving force behind European integration – but how can we capitalise on this foundation to further Europeanise our efforts without abandoning this strong tradition?
Innovative examples illustrating how Franco-German projects can open up new horizons
Jérémy Rossignol, Head of the Universities Department at the Franco-German Youth Office (OFAJ-DFJW)
Mathilde Jacq, Deputy Director at Eucor – The European Campus: Cross-Border cooperation for a sustainable and affordable European student life: the example of Eucor
Mental Health
Innovative examples in student counselling services, in prevention and in mental health support.
Fiona Earley, Autism Friendly Support Officer at Dublin City University: Creating an Autism-Friendly University
Lore De Keersmaecker, Psycho-educational trainer / workshop leader at Odisee: Informing students about mental health in preventive, accessibl
Further speakers to be confirmed
Social Cohesion & Inclusion
Students are well in groups – how can we build strong communities and support networks in residence and dining halls, in communal spaces, and in the academic fields?
Sebastian Parte, Social counsellor at STW Hamburg: “International Christmas Guest” – Intercultural exchange and social participation for international students
Olha Vakhrina, Specialist at Poznan University of Technology: From arrival to belonging: PUT good practices
Melanie Hall, Lecturer and Researcher at UCLL (University Colleges Leuven-Limburg): Student support services for refugees and newcomers in Flemish higher education
Management & Leadership
Sustainability in student services operations is a key responsibility for the leadership level, and requiresd a strategic approach. How can we make sure that we save energy, protect the climate, and deliver efficient services?
Clemens Metz, Managing Director of STW Breiburg-Black Forest: Imporving efficiency in student dining and housing while achieving sustainability goals
Further speakers to be confirmed
Thursday, July 9, 2026
Conference Day 2
09:00 – 10:30 Parallel Workshops – Sessions 3
Parallel Workshops - Sessions 3
Workshop 3.1 – French-German Workshop
Workshop 3.2 – Well-Being and Mental Health
Workshop 3.3 – Welcoming International Students
Workshop 3.4 - Student Services as a Profession
International Cooperation
Workshop on setting up Franco-German projects with examples of best practices
How can challenges relating to organisation, financing and project cooperation be overcome?
Speakers and good-practice examples to be confirmed
Mental Health
Innovative examples of supporting student well-being and mental health
Lea Hildermeier, Project Manager (Forum on Digitalisation in Higher Education – HFD), CHE Gütersloh: Well-Being and Mental Health in a Digital Era
Christine Bartho, Psychological Psycho-therapist at University Clinic for Psychotherapy at Christian Albrecht University in Kiel: ADHD in student counselling
Catarina Newe, Psychological Psychotherapist, University Medical Centre Schleswig-Holstein: „ACT for Health“ – group training for students
Social Cohesion & Inclusion
Innovative examples on welcoming international students, managing the integration with domestic peers, and supporting student success.
Bart Sahuc, Staff member at UCLL University of Applied Sciences: The Leuven Model: Cooperation for a nice and safe student life in Leuven.
Mathilde Jean, Deputy Director of Student Life, Crous de Versailles: Lever for supporting students in precarious situations – resources and action plans
Management & Leadership
Koenraed Keignaert, Head of Department, Student Affairs & Support at University of Antwerp: The designed Student Life Experience: An actual application of an Institutional Product-Service System
Birgit Schreiber, President at IASAS: Strengthening Student Affairs in Europe and Beyond: Professionalisation, Leadership, and Institutional Change
10:30 – 11:30 Coffee & World-Café Round-Tables on Student Services Fields
Network with colleagues in the same student services field, discuss current challenges in an informal way, and find international partners for further exchange, study visits, and cooperation.
Confirmed student services fields: Student Housing, Mental Health and Well-Being, Digital Student Services, Sustainability, Social Counselling, International Students & Exchange, Research in Student Affairs, and more
11:30 – 12:30 Parallel Workshops – Session 4
Parallel Workshops - Session 4
Workshop 4.1– Building Networks of Student Services
Workshop 4.2 – to be confirmed
Workshop 4.3 - Tackling precarious situations in student services
Workshop 4.4 - Digital Services in Counselling
Student Housing
Student Services are embedded in a landscape of educational policies, public funding, higher education institutions, regions and cities. Building strong relations with all key actors is crucial to efficient student services. How can we navigate this complex landscape?
Speakers to be confirmed
Mental Health
Severine Deliessche, Deputy Director at Crous de Lille: Student Mental Health Council: coordinating stakeholders to better support students
Tine Vanveerdeghem, Student support staff member at Artevelde University of Applied Sciences: Advancing student well-being in higher education: an integrated, preventive, and community-driven approach.
Social Cohesion & Inclusion
Prof Dr Christoph Holtwisch, Managing Director of STW Münster: Preventing homelessness among international students through the work of student services organisations
Jean-François Maynier, Directorate-General for Higher Education and Professional Integration, Ministry of Higher Education and Space: Zero non-take-up of student social rights (online)
Digital Services
Dr Christian Wiesner, Head of the Clinical Psychology Research Laboratory at Christian Albrecht University in Kiel: Artificial intelligence and chatbots in students‘ everyday lives.
Further speakers to be confirmed
12:30 Setting the course to new horizons – Interactive Conclusions (plenary)
Where do we go from here? Online live-feedback with interaction from the podium:
- Matthias Anbuhl, ECStA President and DSW Chairman
- Emilio di Marzio, ANDISU President – to be confirmed
13:00 – 14:00 Lunch break
14:00 Departure or participation in the post-conference events
Campus Tour
14:00-17:00 Student Services on the campus of Christian-Albrechts-University in Kiel
- Visit of student services facilities of STW Schleswig-Holstein on a typical large public university campus, with professional exchanges on challenges and innovations in Residence Halls, Dining Halls, Counselling Services, Child-care and more
- in parallel linguistic groups (English, French, German)
17:00 End of Conference
Friday, July 10
Post-conference event: Visit of the Hanseatic city of Hamburg
(optional, at additional charge)
08:00 – Transfer from the hotel lobby to Hamburg (by bus, approx. 90min)
09:30-16:00 – Visit of student service facilities of STW Hamburg
– Welcome and Introduciton on the student services provided by STW Hamburg
– Campus Tour of Hamburg University Campus with visit to STW dining halls, cafeterias, and central services
– Student Housing in Hamburg: visit of the „Tide“ and „Helmut Schmidt“ residence halls
– exchange with student tutors
16:00 Cultural programme (boat tour in the harbour)
18:00 End of tour / Departure or continue your individual stay in Hamburg