Sinn Féin students visit European Parliament

A delegation of Sinn Féin students were recently hosted by the party's MEP, Bairbre de Brún during a two day visit to the European Parliament in Brussels. The delegation comprised of twenty seven students active in cumainn organised at Queens University Belfast, University of Ulster (Coleraine, Magee and Jordanstown campuses) and St Mary's University College, Belfast.

The delegation pictured with Sinn Féin MEP Bairbre de Brún

The visit which included an extensive tour of the European Parliament focused on Sinn Féin's engagement with the institutions of the European Union and the need for Left parties to work together to build a social Europe. Niels Jongerius of the Dutch Socialist Party addressed the young activists on how he has helped build effective and imaginative campaigns with his party s youth section, ROOD on a range of issues including the campaign to end the allocation of slum housing to students.

Bologna Process

Renato Soeira, a staffer with *GUE/NGL provided an update on the roll out of the Bologna Process which while not an EU initiative sees the European Commission aiming to make higher level educational qualifications recognisable across borders. The process has been criticised by many for turning universities into businesses or 'diploma factories' rather than places of learning. Soeira pointed out real concerns that students are being treated as customers and the the system which is over regulated doesn't allow for national differences or individual considerations. The emphasis on the attainment of vocational degrees, while not always a bad thing, has meant a reduction in funding in some non-vocational areas and has seen sponsorship by big business of the more 'employable' education programmes. He also highlighted the fact that very little debate has taken place regarding its implementation.

The delegation pictured outside the European Parliament

United Ireland strategy

Speaking on their return, delegation member Colm McCorry said: "Our activists in the universities and colleges were very glad to be given an opportunity by the Sinn Féin European Department to see the work of our party s team in the European Union which is putting a strong focus on the roll out of our United Ireland strategy."