We are pleased to invite Finnish higher education staff from international offices, student services and IT departments, as well as representatives of student organisations, to ESCI Day Finland on 19 November 2025 in Jyväskylä.

The on-site event offers a unique opportunity to stay informed, exchange experiences, and build connections across roles and institutions – all in support of the European Student Card Initiative.

Meet key actors in person – including representatives from the European Commission!

Materials

ESCI Day Opening keynotes

Session A - EWP - the present and future

Session B - The european student card - what it is and how to join

Session C - Interoperability and ESCI in European University Alliances

Session D - European student identifiers - what are they and what are they used for (now and in the future)

Programme

09:00 Registration and coffee (main entrance D1)

09:30 Opening of the day (Auditorium Tulikari D205, 2nd floor)

• Welcome by Minna-Maaria Hiekkataipale, Vice Rector, Jamk University of Applied Sciences and Mika Saarinen, Director of the Finnish Erasmus+ National Agency, EDUFI
• Keynote by Kaisu Piiroinen, Senior Ministerial Advisor, Ministry of Education and Culture
• Online keynote by the European Commission: Susanne Conze, Head of Unit, DG EAC
• ESCI policy and future outlook: Alexandra Licht, Policy Officer, DG EAC
• European Digital Infrastructure: Małgorzata Woźniak, EWP Relationship Manager, EWP+
• Technical developments and updates on the European Student Card: Giacomo Bulian, Senior Business Consultant, NTT Data

10:40 Panel discussion: ESCI from national and stakeholder perspectives (Auditorium Tulikari D205, 2nd floor)

• Jukka Haapamäki, Senior Advisor, Ministry of Education and Culture
• Tiina Välimäki, Coordinator of International Education Services, Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences (EWP Champion)
• Roosa Veijola, Education Policy Advisor, National Union of Students in Finnish Universities of Applied Sciences – SAMOK

11:30 Lunch (Restaurant Juvenes, 1st floor)

• Lunch is served on line 3. Reserved tables in the restaurant.

12:30 Break-out sessions (round 1)

• A: EWP – the present and future (BP05.1+BP05.2, ground floor)

  • Facilitators: Małgorzata Woźniak, EWP Relationship Manager, EWP+ & Johannes Paavola, International Relations Planner, Jamk University of Applied Sciences
  • Dive into Erasmus Without Paper (EWP) core components currently in use, including Learning Agreements, with special attention to the 95% digitalisation goal and Inter-Institutional Agreements. Get the latest updates on digital nominations, the Transcript of Records, and the roll-out plan for nominations via EWP in digital form.

  B: The European Student Card – what is it and how to join (BP13, ground floor)

  • Facilitators: Giacomo Bulian, Senior Business Consultant, NTT Data
  • Discover how the European Student Card (ESC) can empower students, validate their status across Europe, and ease access to services. The session covers ESC basics, key benefits, technical infrastructure (ESC Router), future opportunities, and the collaboration between HEIs and student unions, who play a key role in issuing student cards in Finland.

  C: Interoperability and ESCI in European University Alliances (BP14, ground floor)

  • Facilitators: Auli Pitkänen, International Coordinator, and Heta Koski, Service Manager, University of Jyväskylä 
  • Explore how to enhance the interoperability of digital services within European University Alliances. Learn about the work of KOOTuki – Finland’s national support group for the alliances – which is preparing recommendations (to be finalised by the end of 2025) to improve digital services and interoperability for Finnish HEIs. Hear also practical examples from the FORTHEM Alliance on collaboration around ESCI and EWP.

  D: European Student Identifiers – what are they and what are they used for (now and in the future) (BP15. ground floor)

  • Facilitators: Alexandra Licht, Policy Officer, European Commission & Heidi Säävuori, Specialist and Antti Turpeinen, IT Specialist, University of Helsinki
  • Learn how the Erasmus Student Identifier (ESI) connects to student mobility and how this unique identifier enables the seamless digital transfer of student data across higher education institutions in the EWP network. Hear what ESI is, how it is assigned, what makes it essential, and its potential benefits.

13:30 Moving to the next session and a coffee break in Round 2 rooms 

13:50 Break-out sessions (Round 2) in the same rooms as Round 1.

14.50 Ending the break-out sessions and moving to the auditorium

15:00 Conclusions and wrap-up (Auditorium Tulikari, D205, 2nd floor)

• Session facilitators
• Maija Airas, Head of Unit, Finnish National Agency for Education

15:30 End of programme

Participation: Free of charge | On-site only

Language: English

Join us also the day before: On 18 November, you are warmly welcome to attend the Erasmus+ Impact Seminar (in Finnish), focusing on the theme “Digitalisation as a Builder of an Inclusive Europe”. More about the seminar.

We look forward to seeing you in Jyväskylä!