| MONTHLY NEWSLETTER - February 2026 |
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Dear ESTers,
welcome to the February issue of the European Student Think Tank - dedicated to sharing the relevant news and updates, publications and events from the EST Community.
DON'T MISS THE LATEST NEWS! Follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, X, TikTok, Facebook and Spotify. |
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We kicked off this 2026 with our first Townhall Meeting: gathering 150+ students and young professionals from 40+ countries in one buzzing (virtual) space.🌍
It wasn’t just a welcome session. It was a reset, a realignment, and a reminder of what we’re building together. We introduced the vision for the months ahead, shared how EST is evolving, and opened the door to concrete ways members can step up and get involved across departments.
Most importantly, the Town Hall Meeting set the tone for a collaborative and impact-driven year. The questions, ideas and discussions showed exactly what makes EST different: a community that doesn't just talk about impact, it creates it.💪
As our President, Elizaveta Barabanova, put it: "We want for the organisation to be one community and contribute to make youth policy making a relevant factor in a a global context"
Grateful to everyone who joined and excited for everything we'll build together this term. 🤩 |
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EUROPEAN POLICY PRIZE 2026 IS HERE!🏆 Call for Policy Papers! |
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THE EUROPEAN POLICY PRICE IS OUT NOW!!🤩
After the UN’s 80th anniversary, global politics feels anything but stable: rising geopolitical tensions, pressure on international institutions, and growing cracks in the rules-based order. The EU faces a critical test: how to translate its principles into influence and leadership in shaping the future of UN reform.
In light of these challenges, we are proud to announce this year's EPP competition theme: "The UN80 Initiative and the Future of Multilateralism: a European Perspective".
This is where you come in.🫵
📝 Choose one of the competition questions.
💡 Develop your recommendation
📕 Submit your policy paper.
Join Europe’s next generation of changemakers!💡 All the details are on our website—just click the button below.⬇️ |
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These past months have taken EST across Europe. Here's a a look back at our recent participations: |
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EU PROJECT DESIGN HACKATHON |
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We were proud to participate in “Built in the Garage: EU Project Design Hackathon,” hosted by the Garage Erasmus Foundation in Vicenza.
Over two dynamic days, civil society organizations from across Europe collaborated to design innovative project proposals for Erasmus+ and CERV calls.
The event addressed key thematic areas such as youth engagement, civic participation and micro-credentials, all united by a shared goal: shaping meaningful impact through collaboration. 🫂
👉 Click here to see more!
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SCHOOL OF THINKTANKERS 2026 💬 |
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For 5 action-packed days in Barcelona, 38 think tank professionals from 20 countries came together for the 10th edition of #SchoolForThinktankers, organised by On Think Tanks and hosted by Fundació Bofill. EST proudly joined as one of only three student-led think tanks, bringing fresh ideas to the global conversation.
From hands-on workshops on fundraising, leadership, how AI is reshaping the sector to mastering research communication for real policy impact, the week was all about collaboration, bold ideas and building partnerships that last. 🤝
Had the opportunity to visit CIDOB (Barcelona Centre for International Affairs) and Fundació "La Caixa" that offered valuable insights into how policy engagement and research connect in practice.
Shoutout to the OTT team and Miguel Toscano for representing EST and bringing our student voice to this milestone edition.💙 |
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👉 Discover more by clicking here! |
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THE INTERACTIVE STIMULATION MODEL ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN CONFLICT CONTEXTS |
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We are excited to share the report: "THE INTERACTIVE STIMULATION MODEL ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN CONFLICT CONTEXTS" from our interactive simulation on Human Trafficking in Conflict Contexts, hosted at the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) headquarters in Vienna last November.
Over two days, 25 students and young professionals stepped into the shoes of policymakers, tackled real trafficking scenarios, and developed policy solutions to address one of today’s most urgent global challenges. 🫱🏼🫲🏾
🔗 READ IT NOW! |
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