ESN Minho - Erasmus Student Network Minho

Erasmus Student Network (ESN) is a non-profit European wide student organisation. Its goal is to support and develop student exchange. It is composed of over 12000 members from more than 426 local sections in 36 countries in Higher Education Institutions, including universities, polytechnics, and university colleges. ESN is organised on a local, national and international level. The network is in with almost 150000 internationally minded students. ESN Minho is one of the ESN's local sections aforementioned, responsible to represent the needs and rights of foreign and exchange students at Minho University, thus providing opportunities for cultural understanding and self-development of these, as well as assisting those same students in their social and practical integration and adaptation to Portugal, specifically to Braga and/or Guimarães. Our organisation also promotes and motivates the local students about the positive points and self-development of those who are looking for an exchange, as well as help them in the process. Since we deal with a different range of nationalities, coming up from every corner of Europe and World, our cities and us are faced with a multicultural and diverse atmosphere. This multicultural atmosphere that comes from the diverse nationalities allows us to self-construct ourselves as open-minded individuals through the with other cultures and realities. Also, it’s our objective to establish a good communication between the diversity of the international students with the local students and vice versa, with the local reality and local culture reinterpreted by foreign views. Some usual activities organised by us to promote an open diversity and a good integration among the students includes, for example, welcome activities (informal and formal) opened to all the students, cultural activities as the participation of the exchange students in several traditional Portuguese events, trips to show our country to the foreigners, sport and musical activities, creation of an “exchange band” composed with exchange students, activities that try to mix the culture of the exchange students with the locals, voluntary services, informative meetings, special training courses, etc. One of the aims and principles of ESN Minho is to create values of volunteering and active citizenship, and also to promote European themes for debate and general issues. We are proud to create every year a true family with local and international members at our cities, destroying stereotypes and promoting the diversity concept throughout all ages.