“I had an incredible experience”, “One of the best experiences in my life”, “You are leading an amazing opportunity for intergenerational exchange. Thank you for giving us a voice at the EIB”: These are the words of some of the 80 students from 24 European universities who participated in the EIB Summer School 2024, organised by the EIB Institute and held online from 24-28th June and from 29 June- 6 July onsite at the EIB campus in Luxembourg.

Many of the participating students shared this view after listening to and exchanging with EIB President Nadia Calviño who gave the open plenary keynote on the future of Europe, the Bank and its strategic roadmap. “I was delighted to welcome and spend time with students from all over Europe at the EIBI Summer School”, the President said. “It is a unique learning opportunity for these leaders and innovators of tomorrow to learn and for us to nurture long-term relationships with the universities and higher education institutions they come from”.

The Summer School offers a practical approach to multidisciplinary problems with lectures on the EIB Group’s missions and operations and seminars covering policy, financial, development and technical projects related topics. More than 30 staff members turned into an EIB Group Faculty and shared their expertise and perspectives. Participants learn what it means to be part of the EIB Group, the different career trajectories and the impact of the EIB Group across the world . The programme aims to foster long-term relationships and create a network of those interested about the future of Europe and beyond.

The EIB Summer School 2024 deepened the graduate students’ understanding of EIB Group priorities and activities, offer them the opportunity to interact with EIB Group staff and each other. Students offered their fresh unhinged perspectives and insights on how they see the role of the EIB Group evolve in the future to feed into the Institute’s new youth engagement and foresight activities.

“This was, has been and will be an unforgettable experience expanding professional and personal qualities in an unimaginable way. I had some expectations when signing up for the summer school, and I can say that all were exceeded”, concluded one of the students.

Since its first edition in 2018, the Summer School has generated an active intergenerational dialogue and enhanced the EIB Group standing as an employer of choice among students.

The following universities participated in the EIB Summer School 2024: College of Europe (Bruges), College of Europe (Natolin), Esade (Spain), Goethe-Universität Frankfurt, London School of Economics, Nova University Lisbon, Prague University of Economics and Business, SciencesPo Paris, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, Stockholm School of Economics, Copenhagen Business School, TU Delft, Università Luigi Bocconi, University of Economics in Bratislava, University of Bucharest, University of Crete, University of Cyprus, University of Helsinki, University of Latvia, University of Ljubljana, University of Luxembourg, University of Szeged (Hungary), University of Vienna and University of Warsaw.