Global Student Forum

05/06/2026

Last few days had important conversations at the World Bank in Paris. Here, the board of the Global Partnership for Education came together to discuss financing of education. The Global Student Forum was represented by Executive Director .blasius serving as Technical Advisor to one of the civil society constituencies.

You might wonder why we as students don't have a seat at the board of our own, and this we have wondered too. We are working to improve that and make the Global Partnership for Education a true partnerships. But until then, we are supporting the work through civil society group 1.

Thank you to Plan International, Save the Children, Oxfam and all the others who are making it possible.

16/05/2026

The Global Student Forum invites PhD and doctoral student representatives from around the world to join a global networking meeting on the state of PhD students today.

Across countries and institutions, PhD students are facing growing pressures linked to funding, wellbeing, working conditions, academic freedom, supervision, and uncertainty about future careers in academia and research. At the same time, doctoral representatives and organisations continue to play an important role in defending student voices and improving conditions for doctoral candidates.

This meeting will create a space for doctoral student representatives to connect across borders, exchange experiences, discuss common challenges, and explore opportunities for collaboration and collective advocacy.

Sign up:

The Global Student Forum invites PhD and doctoral student representatives from around the world to join a global networking meeting on the state of PhD students today.

03/05/2026

On campuses and in communities, student journalists report on issues that matter, question authority, and create space for debate. They are often among the first to raise concerns, highlight injustice, and bring forward student perspectives that would otherwise go unheard.

But student journalists also face growing challenges. From censorship and institutional pressure to harassment and limited protections, their work is not always recognised or safeguarded.

These pressures reflect broader trends affecting press freedom globally, but they also shape the everyday realities of students and student communities.

Supporting student journalism means supporting independent thinking, accountability, and participation. It strengthens student voice and contributes to more open and informed societies.

On World Press Freedom Day, we recognise the role of student journalists and the importance of ensuring they can work freely and safely.

01/05/2026

On International Workers’ Day, we highlight a critical moment in students’ lives, the transition from education to work.

For many students, entering the labour market today means navigating uncertainty, underemployment, and increasing precarity. Unpaid internships, short-term contracts, and unstable conditions are becoming a common starting point.

08/03/2026

International Women’s Day.
Women’s rights mean little if they cannot be defended.

Today, women and girls around the world have only 64% of the legal rights of men. In nearly 70% of countries, women face greater barriers to accessing justice, whether because of cost, discrimination, or weak institutions. For the 676 million women and girls living near active conflict zones, justice systems are often absent entirely.

For students, these realities are not distant issues. They shape access to education, safety on campus, and the ability to participate equally in society.

Universities and student movements have long been part of the struggle for equality. From fighting discrimination to defending academic freedom and safe learning environments, students play a vital role in advancing gender justice.

On International Women’s Day, the Global Student Forum stands with student unions and student leaders worldwide who are working to ensure that education systems are places of equality, safety, and justice for all.

Rights must be protected. Justice must be accessible. And students must be part of the action.

06/03/2026

GSF Steering Committee Member Falit Sijariya met with Felipe Paullier, Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs at the United Nations, at UN Headquarters in New York.
The meeting focused on deepening synergies between student-led movements and UN institutions, and advancing shared ideas on structurally embedding youth participation in multilateral processes.

Felipe’s approach to democratising youth voices rather than gatekeeping access remains closely aligned with how the Global Student Forum thinks about meaningful student representation.
We look forward to bringing some significant ideas to life together soon.

24/01/2026

For the International Day of Education, the 2026 Youth Report, Lead with youth, developed by the UNESCO Global Education Monitoring Report and the UN Youth Office, has officially been launched at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris.

Global Student Forum proudly supported the development of the report, and our Executive Director, Jacob Blasius, joined the high-level launch and spoke alongside UN leadership, including the UN Deputy Secretary-General and the Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs.

The report provides the first global measurement of youth and student participation in education decision-making. It is a powerful tool for advocacy, accountability, and change.

Read more: https://www.globalstudentforum.org/international-day-of-education-2026-new-youth-report-calls-on-the-world-to-lead-with-youth/

23/01/2026

📣 OUT NOW: the 2026 Youth Report, Lead with youth, by the UNESCO and UN Youth Affairs marks a transition point for global education governance.

The report introduces a new global indicator measuring youth and student participation in education legislation and policymaking, providing the first comparable evidence of how participation is embedded in national education systems.

The central finding is clear: education systems that fail to integrate youth voices meaningfully limit their own capacity for reform, resilience and long-term relevance.

➡️ Explore the report: https://bit.ly/2026youthreport-pub

19/01/2026

January is packed with key moments for students and education worldwide, including the International Day of Education 2026, where UNESCO and global partners place youth and students at the centre of education policy and decision-making.

Check out our event calendar for more information: https://www.globalstudentforum.org/events/

05/01/2026

The Global Student Forum has published a statement expressing grave concern over recent military developments in Venezuela, including the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and assertions by the United States of interim control over the country.

As a global student movement, we are deeply concerned about the consequences for students, education workers, and academic institutions. Military action and political instability put student safety at risk, disrupt access to education, and undermine academic freedom and the right to education.

GSF calls for:
• Immediate de-escalation and an end to military action
• Full respect for Venezuela’s sovereignty and international law
• Urgent engagement by the United Nations through diplomacy and independent fact-finding
• Global solidarity from student unions and academic communities

🔗 Read the full statement on the Global Student Forum website: https://www.globalstudentforum.org/statement-on-the-situation-in-venezuela/