We are now seeking a student to represent UCD on the Student Board of our European University Alliance, Una Europa. Apply by 30 May.
What is Una Europa?
(opens in a new window)Una Europa is an alliance of 11 research-intensive universities, including UCD, who share the common goal of developing a truly European University of the Future. The University of the Future will be a truly inclusive and innovative environment, where research is linked to transnational teaching and learning, with interdisciplinary collaboration among students, staff, and researchers across member universities. Una Europa focuses on six priority areas: Cultural Heritage, Europe and the World, Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, Future Materials and Technologies, One Health, and Sustainability. Guided by its 2030 Strategy, Una Europa seeks to transform higher education and research in Europe by promoting inclusivity, sustainability, and international collaboration.
What is the Una Europa Student Board?
The Una Europa Student Board is a central student-led governance body within the Una Europa alliance, representing the collective voice of students from the 11 member universities.
Comprising two student representatives from each university, the Student Board engages with key stakeholders to ensure student perspectives are integrated into decision-making processes, and it advocates for the student voice to be heard and reflected in the work of the Alliance.
The Student Board also works closely with Una Europa Local Task Forces (informal groups of students on campus; at UCD this group is known as the Una Europa Student Association) at each university to implement student-led projects and foster local engagement, collaborate with the central Student Engagement Team on co-creating and promoting alliance-wide student initiatives and to act as a link between Una Europa students and staff.
What is the election process for UCD representatives to the Una Europa Student Board?
UCD representatives to the Una Europa Student Board will be elected for a mandate of one year, from 1 August 2025 until 31 July 2026. One representative (executive) comes from the UCD Una Europa Student Association while the other (deputy) from the UCD Student Union. While both representatives share the same tasks, responsibilities and rights, they are welcome and encouraged to divide portfolios between themselves upon election based on their experience, expertise and interest.
Can I apply to be the executive UCD representative to the Una Europa Student Board?
Are you currently a full-time, degree-seeking UCD student? Will you also be a full-time, degree-seeking student in the 2025/26 academic year? If the answer to both questions is yes, then you are welcome to apply. Students of all study cycles (undergraduate, master’s, PhD) and all study programmes are welcome to apply.
What is expected of me?
Interested students should be available for the full mandate (academic year 2025/26), including the summer, i.e. from 1 August 2025 to 31 July 2026.
Interested students should take into consideration that this is a voluntary role that will require approximately 2-3 hours of volunteering per week and that some European travel is required for this role (Student Congress in autumn, and two General Assemblies in autumn and spring). The full costs of travel will be covered by UCD Global.
Interested students are encouraged to read Annex I (see link below), where they can find a full task description for the position and objectives of the Student Board.
How can I apply?
The call is now open for the executive UCD representative to the Una Europa Student Board.
Interested students are invited to read the task description in Annex I and to apply by 30 May 2025, 23:59 by sending their CV and motivation letter (max 2 pages for the letter) to (opens in a new window)unaeuropa@ucd.ie.
In the letter, state your motivation for applying for the role and outline your interest in the internationalisation of higher education, with up to three points you would like to focus on during your mandate. Applicants are encouraged to refer to their previous experience participating in Una Europa activities as well as previous volunteering and / or student representation experience, if they possess any.
Late applications and / or applications fully written by using AI tools will not be accepted. If you choose to use AI tools to assist in drafting your application, ensure that the final submission reflects your own voice and ideas.
UCD Una Europa Team is committed to providing equal access to opportunities for all UCD students, ensuring fairness and equality in our selection process. We encourage students from all backgrounds and levels of experience to apply. Students facing health, social, economic, and other barriers who believe they may experience challenges in volunteering under the specified circumstances are encouraged to contact (opens in a new window)unaeuropa@ucd.ie before applying.