Next Level Skills
This strand develops critical leadership and communication competencies. It fosters personal growth, strategic action, and intercultural understanding, preparing students to lead with confidence and empathy.
Upcoming Sessions
Leadership for Student Leaders: Self and Team Leadership
Step into your leadership journey with purpose, passion, and clarity. This transformative session empowers student leaders and aspiring changemakers to reflect on who they are and how they lead—both individually and within teams. Through personal storytelling, self-assessments, and group challenges, you’ll explore leadership grounded in empathy, courage, and authenticity. You’ll discover how to align your values with your actions and develop skills to lead diverse, purpose-driven teams. Engaging with peers from Africa and Europe, you’ll share experiences, gain new perspectives, and build a foundation for long-term impact. Whether you’re leading a group or growing your own capacity, this session will help you lead with confidence, purpose, and integrity—on campus and beyond.
Goski Alabi – ACCRA
Prof. Mrs. Goski Alabi is a Full Professor and one of Africa’s leading experts in Quality Management and Leadership, and Co-Founder and President of ACCRA University College, Accra. Prof. Mrs. Alabi is an academic, a consultant and an accomplished entrepreneur and author with more than 15 years of professional experience in academia, consultancy, regulation, advocacy and business. Prof. Mrs. Alabi serves on several public, corporate and international boards and committees, She is the President of African Council for Distance Education (ACDE), the Chair of the African network for Internationalization of Education (ANIE), the West African Representative of the Executive Board of the African Council for Distance Education (ACDE) (from March 2017).
Jacob Blasius – GSF
Jacob Blasius is the Executive Director of the Global Student Forum (GSF), representing students worldwide. He previously served as a Board Member of the European Students’ Union and Chairperson of Students Organizing for Sustainability International. He has experience in international advocacy, student rights, and inclusive education and is currently pursuing an MSc in International Relations at Aalborg University.
Communication for Student Leaders
Great leadership begins with great communication. This session helps you build practical communication skills for real-world leadership in a digital and intercultural context. You’ll engage in group discussions, role-plays, and simulations to strengthen your ability to connect with others, express your ideas, and listen actively. You’ll also explore digital tools and platforms that support effective communication in student leadership. Together with peers from Europe and Africa, you’ll reflect on the challenges of virtual communication and learn how to build trust, clarity, and inclusion in your messaging. Whether addressing your student body or engaging stakeholders, this session equips you to communicate with intention, impact, and confidence.
Lamech Ang’ila – KCA
Lamech Ang’ila is Head of Alumni Relations and University Advancement at KCA University, where he leads global engagement strategies across more than 35 countries. He previously served as Dean of Students at KCA, supporting over 30,000 students, and pioneered the Department of Performing Arts, Film, and Media Studies. With a background in psychology, sociology, communication, and film, he is pursuing a PhD in Communication (Media Studies) and continues to advance youth empowerment, cultural preservation, and international collaborations through academia and filmmaking.
Tamara Ciobanu – ESU
Tamara is a 25-year-old student pursuing Sustainable Development and Environmental Management at Babeș-Bolyai University in Cluj-Napoca. She has been active in the student movement since 2017, serving as Vice President for Educational Policies and later Vice President for International Affairs within ANOSR. She is now engaged at the international level, focusing on quality assurance, academic integrity, and the European Universities Initiative.
Dealing with resistance in the Student Movement
Conflict is part of leadership—but when managed well, it leads to growth, clarity, and stronger relationships. This session helps you navigate the tensions that arise in student unions, teams, and governance settings. You’ll examine the roots of conflict, learn how to spot early signs of tension, and practice key techniques like active listening, negotiation, and emotional regulation. Through case studies and role-playing, you’ll gain confidence to manage disagreements constructively—whether among peers, with university officials, or within your own team. By developing emotional intelligence and a solutions-oriented mindset, you’ll become a stronger, more inclusive leader—capable of transforming conflict into collaboration.
Anna Weinrich – GSF
Anna is based in Copenhagen, Denmark, where she has been an elected student representative throughout her activism from a local to an international level, formerly being the international officer for The Union of Danish Upper Secondary School Students and a board member of the Organising Bureau of European School Student Unions. She just completed her mandate as a Steering Committee member at the Global Student Forum, and will continue there as policy officer. Anna is currently studying a bachelors in rhetorics at the University of Copenhagen, and has recently been elected to serve on the Advisory Council on Youth at the Council of Europe.
Communication with Decision Maker
This session empowers you with the skills to communicate confidently and strategically with institutional, community, and policy decision-makers. As a student leader, you often act as a bridge between students and those in power—yet navigating these spaces requires clarity, confidence, and diplomacy. You will explore stakeholder mapping, understand power dynamics, and learn how to tailor your message to different audiences. The session emphasizes emotional intelligence, persuasive communication, and the ethical use of digital tools for advocacy. By the end, you’ll be equipped to initiate meaningful dialogue, build professional relationships, and advocate for student needs effectively—transforming your voice into impact within governance structures.
Teresa Mwoma – ACDE
Prof. Teresa Mwoma is an Associate Professor in the Department of Early Childhood and Special Needs Education at Kenyatta University and Executive Director of the African Council for Distance Education, coordinating open, distance, and e-learning across Africa. She founded and coordinates the ECD Network for Kenya and previously managed higher education in emergencies for refugees in Dadaab and Kakuma camps. She has mentored over 40 graduate students and conducted more than 20 studies on early childhood care, education, and child protection. Her research interests include nurturing care, policy, adolescent mothers, and open and distance learning.
Cross-Cultural Communication with Stakeholders
Effective student leadership means building strong, lasting partnerships. In this session, you’ll gain practical skills to engage stakeholders across sectors—from government and civil society to private enterprise. You will explore trust-based collaboration models and learn how to lead initiatives that tackle global challenges like climate change, inequality, and social justice. Facilitated by experts from Europe and Africa and backed by the EU-funded NELS project, this session emphasizes real-world impact and inclusive development. Through group work and interactive activities, you’ll strengthen your capacity to develop multi-stakeholder strategies that go beyond transactional engagement—building shared purpose, mutual benefit, and long-term change.
Louis Brau – ESU
Louis Brau is the head of the secretariat of ESU. He previously worked as a project officer at ESU and teaches European Higher Education Policies at Sciences Po Aix. He also worked at DG EAC of the European Commission and at the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA), gaining experience with European projects from both institutional and beneficiary sides. Louis holds a double master’s degree in Political Science/European Affairs from Sciences Po Aix and a master’s degree in European Interdisciplinary Studies from the College of Europe in Natolin.
Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.
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