The European Student Assembly (ESA) has established itself over the years as a recurring and well-recognized forum for student engagement at the European level. With each edition, it continues to bring together students from different countries to reflect on shared challenges and contribute to ongoing policy conversations, reinforcing its role as a space for dialogue, collaboration, and civic participation.
In its latest edition, six EELISA students have taken part in this gathering representing the Alliance and contributing to this ongoing story of collaboration and impact. Ana Tenorio, a Mechanical Engineering student from the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, is one of the selected students, and she has shared with EELISA her perspective on what it means to be part of this initiative:
Being selected to participate in the European Student Assembly (ESA) 2026 was an incredible opportunity and an experience I will always value. Out of more than 3000 applicants, only around 250 students were chosen to attend, making it both an honor and a responsibility to represent my university and contribute to European-level discussions.
My journey began weeks before arriving in Strasbourg, working remotely with an international team as part of Panel 2 on Circular Economy. Within the panel, we were divided into smaller groups to develop policy recommendations. My team focused on “Design for Repair,” a topic closely aligned with my academic background in Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Design and Product Development.
Through weekly meetings, discussions with experts, and collaborative drafting, we explored how product design decisions directly influence sustainability. We realized that many products are currently not designed to be repaired, leading to unnecessary waste. Our proposal focused on making repairability a structural requirement through better product design, showing how engineering decisions can have a real impact at a systemic level.
Arriving at the European Parliament in Strasbourg made the experience even more meaningful. Sitting in the hemicycle, where European decisions are debated and voted on, was truly impactful. It gave me a deeper understanding of how institutions operate and how complex policymaking can be. Presenting and voting on proposals using the official system made the experience feel both real and empowering.
Beyond the academic aspect, one of the most valuable parts of ESA was the international environment. Working with students from different countries, cultures, and perspectives challenged me to think differently and communicate more effectively. It made me realize something very important: the world belongs to all of us, if we want to achieve meaningful progress we will need to reach agreements, and to do that, we must learn to understand and truly listen to each other.
At the same time, sharing these days together in Strasbourg made the experience even more special. Between sessions, we had the chance to explore the city, continue our conversations in a more relaxed way and build genuine connections. I leave ESA not only with new knowledge, but also with friendships that I truly value.lenged me to think differently and communicate more effectively. It made me realize something very important: the world belongs to all of us, if we want to achieve meaningful progress we will need to reach agreements, and to do that, we must learn to understand and truly listen to each other.
All in all, this experience was not only academic but also personal. It showed me that small decisions, especially in design and engineering, can scale into meaningful change, and it reinforced my motivation to use my technical background to contribute to more sustainable and responsible solutions.
I am deeply grateful to EELISA and ESA for making this opportunity possible. It has been an inspiring experience that strengthened both my professional interests and my personal growth. I highly encourage other students to apply and take part in such a unique initiative.
Ana Tenorio
Ana is a fifth-year student from Spain in Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Design and Product Development at Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM). She combines technical thinking with creativity and has a strong passion for design, innovation and creating meaningful impact through engineering. She is particularly interested in sustainable product development and using design decisions to create more responsible and meaningful solutions.