Una Europa Testimonial: Ladina Bischof and Lars Weidinger

Ladina Bischof and Lars Weidinger represent the University of Zurich (UZH) in the Una Europa Student Board, the official student representation body of Una Europa. Together, they ensure UZH students’ perspectives are heard within this European university alliance.
Ladina is a Master's student in Political Science and Archaeology and has been involved in Una Europa since October 2023. Currently, she is focusing on giving a voice to the Local Task Force on Instagram and participates in the Mobility Cluster.
Lars, a Master's student in Geography with a specialization in Geographic Information Science, joined in November 2023. He actively contributes to the Student Board’s Strategy and Action Plan working group.
As each of the 11 Una Europa member universities is represented by two Student Board members, Lars and Ladina work with an international team of 22 like-minded and talented students from across Europe. During Una Europa General Assemblies, some of the Student Board members get to meet in person. They take part in formal meetings and discussions, as well as informal interactions that build professional connections and friendships, while fostering cross-cultural understanding.
Both are also board members of the Local Task Force at UZH, a group of motivated students at each Una Europa university who serve as a bridge between the Una Europa alliance and their local student community.
During the Una Europa General Assembly hosted by the University of Zurich in June 2024, Lars and Ladina took part as Student Board representatives in governance meetings, where they had the chance to represent and share the voices of UZH students. They also met and engaged with university leaders, including Gabriele Siegert, UZH’s Vice President for Education and Student Affairs.
As Una Europa Student Board representatives, Lars and Ladina are dedicated to finding ways to strengthen the connection between Una Europa and UZH students. Their goal is for every UZH student to have at least heard of Una Europa by the time they complete their studies.
While their work can sometimes be time-consuming and has its set of challenges, Ladina and Lars make sure to have fun along the way.

How did you first hear about Una Europa and what sparked your interest in participating in the alliance?

Ladina: I first heard about Una Europa through our UZH Student Council, which was looking for new members. A friend who was already involved in the alliance briefly explained its mission and goals to me. Since Una Europa fosters international connections and aligns with my interest in international relations, especially through my studies, I saw it as a great opportunity to explore the field from a different perspective.

Lars: I first heard about Una Europa in November 2023 and was elected as a Student Board member in February 2024. At the time, I was new and looking for ways to get involved in higher education initiatives where I could represent student interests. I was immediately thrown into the Una Europa General Assembly in Dublin, where I met incredible people, had insightful discussions, and overall had a fantastic experience. That was the moment that truly sparked my interest in getting involved in Una Europa.

You are both UZH's Una Europa Student Board Representatives. What does this role entail?

Ladina: As Student Board members, we have monthly meetings with all Student Board representatives from the other 10 partner universities. In these meetings, we come together online to discuss various topics. These range from strategic planning to student engagement and different projects we are working on. Within the Student Board, there are also working groups that members can join. For example, some focus on strategy, while others work on communication, like managing our Instagram presence.

Lars: We also act as the student voice at our home university. At UZH, Una Europa Student Board members are included in discussions about student-related topics addressed by the alliance. We are involved when student input is needed, ensuring that student perspectives are heard.

What initiatives or projects are you currently working on?

Lars: Every Una Europa student board member is invited to join a working group gathering students from the partner universities. I am part of the group focusing on the Strategy and Action Plan, where we are working on the Una Europa students’ strategy for 2025 and beyond. We are also mapping out detailed steps to achieve our strategic goals. My role is to coordinate this effort alongside one of the two co-chairs of the student board.

Ladina: Currently, I am working on a project to establish an official Instagram presence for the Una Europa Student Board. The goal is to create a unified communication platform that ensures consistent messaging and branding across all 11 Una Europa partner universities. I was also involved in the accreditation process of the Una Europa  Joint Bachelor  in Sustainability (BASUS). This was interesting because I got to represent the student voice there.

You have been involved in the founding and building of the Local Task Force (LTF). Could you please tell us more about this student association?

Ladina: The LTF is a group within Una Europa that acts as a link between the alliance and students, helping to communicate opportunities, events, and initiatives to the student body, while also voicing students' concerns and feedback to Una Europa. It is important to have a LTF at UZH because it serves as a bridge between Una Europa and the students. Since Switzerland is not part of the EU, it is sometimes difficult for us to access and engage with a large alliance like Una Europa. Many students are just beginning to discover the opportunities Una Europa offers. The LTF plays a key role in informing students about these opportunities. It is crucial that this communication comes from students who are already engaged in Una Europa rather than just from the university administration.

Lars: I agree. Students are the largest group of stakeholders in university alliances, and their active involvement is essential for the long-term success of Una Europa. The goal is for university alliances to become the "Universities of the Future". For this to happen, students must continuously be included and empowered. Una Europa is already creating various opportunities for student engagement. The LTF helps ensure that this connection is strong and meaningful on our campus.

What challenges have you faced in your role and how have you addressed them?

Lars: In the beginning, getting familiar with the administrative side of Una Europa was a learning process, especially as UZH had only recently joined the alliance in 2022. But the growing involvement of staff and UZH's strong commitment to Una Europa have made a big difference and continue to support our work in meaningful ways.

Ladina: I agree. Another challenge is that as students, it can sometimes be difficult to make our voices heard within such a large and diverse alliance. While UZH places strong value on student input, the structures for student engagement might differ across universities. That’s why it’s so important for us to stay actively involved and continue strengthening student participation within Una Europa.

What has been your highlight so far as student board representatives?

Lars: Personally, the Una Europa General Assembly in Zurich in June 2024 was a definite highlight. It was well-organized, and the discussions we had were some of the most productive ones. It was also fun to guide students and staff from partner universities in other countries around Zurich and show them our city.

Ladina: It is the same for me. The General Assembly in Zurich was my first time meeting my fellow student board members from the partner universities in person, and it was great to have discussions face-to-face instead of through a screen. Seeing Una Europa come to life at UZH was very special. Next to that I have learned a lot about how European alliances function, especially financially. It has also been great to talk to students from other countries and see how their universities and systems work. It makes me feel a little more connected to the EU, even though Switzerland is not part of it.