Erasmus Mundus Students and Alumni Association

What Erasmus Mundus Students and Alumni Association does

Erasmus Mundus Students and Alumni Association (EMA), legally Erasmus Mundus Association AISBL, is a Brussels-registered international non-profit (AISBL) founded in 2006 that serves as the officially recognized alumni and student community for the European Commission's Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree (EMJMD) and Erasmus+ programmes. Its core constituency is the population of current and former EMJMD master's and doctoral candidates, approximately 50,000+ individuals historically, of whom ~7,000 are registered members spanning 100+ nationalities and 400+ programmes. EMA operates entirely on a volunteer basis through four pillars — Management Board, Project Leaders, Programme Representatives (128 supporting 13 EMJMs), and Country Representatives — with no disclosed paid headcount.

The association's primary product surface comprises the EMA Community Portal, a membership and collaboration platform, and EMA GENIE, a proprietary network mapping tool that helps members identify connections, mentors, project partners, and language exchanges within the alumni graph. Supplementary offerings include the Erasmus Mundus Magazine and "Humans of Erasmus Mundus" storytelling series, the annual EMA Awards, research initiatives such as the Visa Experience Survey (325 respondents in 2023-2024) and Graduate Impact Survey, and thematic projects (Cinema Paradiso, Sustainability Meets Impact, Mindful Mundus, #eSmart, EMA Days). Governance is exercised through an annual General Assembly; the 2025-2027 term installed Marvi Qazi as President and Shahin S Eity as Vice-President, though the leadership handover has been publicly contested.

EMA's business model is grant-funded and non-commercial. Revenue derives primarily from the European Commission via ESAA (Erasmus+ Student and Alumni Alliance) work packages channeled through DG EAC and EACEA, supplemented by member donations and an emerging corporate partnerships pipeline. Membership is free, and monetization of the global alumni network (e.g., talent access, employer branding) remains nascent. EMA is a member organization of the ESAA alliance alongside ESN, garagErasmus, and OCEANS, formalized by a renewed MoU in January 2026, and has recently expanded its policy footprint into the WHO Civil Society Commission and into ASEAN-region engagement through EU Delegation partnerships.

Name

Erasmus Mundus Students and Alumni Association

Legal name

Erasmus Mundus Association AISBL

Website

https://em-a.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Erasmus Mundus Students and Alumni Association (EMA) is a Brussels-based volunteer-run AISBL non-profit serving as the officially recognized alumni community for the European Commission's Erasmus Mundus programmes, connecting ~7,000 registered members across 100+ nationalities through its Community Portal and EMA GENIE network mapping tool, funded primarily by EU grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Brussels

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. European Commission / ESAA Funding: EMA operates under contract with the Directorate General for Education, Culture, Youth and Sport (DG EAC) and receives funding through the Erasmus+ Student and Alumni Alliance (ESAA) work packages. Activities such as member experience sharing sessions are funded by European Commission grants through EACEA.
2. Member Donations: EMA accepts donations to support operations. The association offers a 'Support the Future of EMA' page for members to contribute financially.
3. Membership Contributions: Membership is granted upon registration via the Community Portal in accordance with EMA Statute and Internal Regulations. While membership may be free, it generates a community of engaged alumni.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

EMA is the official international non-profit association representing students and alumni of Erasmus Mundus Joint Master and Doctoral programmes, providing global community networking, advocacy, and professional development services. It operates a free membership model accessed through a customized Community Portal and the EMA GENIE network mapping tool, complemented by events (EMA Days, General Assemblies, webinars), awards, research initiatives such as the Visa Experience Survey, and partnership programs connecting members with universities and corporate partners.

Product overview

EMA operates as a volunteer-run international association offering a suite of platforms, programs, and initiatives for Erasmus Mundus students and alumni. The core offering includes the EMA Community Portal—a membership platform for networking and collaboration—and EMA GENIE, a network mapping tool for personal and professional growth. Supplementary offerings include the annual EMA Awards, the Erasmus Mundus Magazine with its Humans of Erasmus Mundus storytelling series, and the EMA General Assembly as the governing decision-making body. EMA also conducts research initiatives such as the Visa Experience Survey and Graduate Impact Survey through its Policy & Quality Assurance Unit, while the Partnership Development Unit manages partnerships, corporate relations, and the Engagement Lab for innovative community projects. The association runs various project initiatives including EMA Days, poster competitions, and thematic projects addressing sustainability, digital skills, and mindfulness.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• EMA Community Portal A customized virtual membership and collaboration platform for Erasmus Mundus students and alumni, providing membership management, event listings, polls, photo albums, member directories and engagement tools. Available to eligible EMA members via self-registration.
• EMA GENIE Network Mapping Tool A digital network mapping tool that visually maps connections among EMA members, enabling members to find Erasmus Mundus graduates in their city, search for language exchange partners, locate mentors, and identify project collaborators. Targeted at eligible EMA members who complete the GENIE onboarding survey.
• EMA Awards An annual awards program that recognizes EMA members for outstanding contributions to the EMA community and broader society. Awards are presented at the General Assembly.
• Erasmus Mundus Magazine An online publication featuring stories, news, and updates about the Erasmus Mundus community, including the Humans of Erasmus Mundus storytelling series documenting personal journeys of graduates.
• EMA General Assembly Annual (and extraordinary) assembly serving as the highest decision-making body of EMA, where members vote on the association's path, elect leadership, and decide policy.
• Visa Experience Survey A research survey documenting the visa application experiences and challenges faced by Erasmus Mundus participants, used to inform mobility policy advocacy under the EMA for Equity initiative.
• Strategic Partnerships and Stakeholder Engagement Training Program A 12-month certified training program for EMA Country Representatives consisting of three training sessions to build skills in private-sector partnership development and stakeholder engagement, delivered by the PDU Engagement Lab.

Quantifiable outcome

• 7,000+ members connected through the EMA Community Portal
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.

• ESN (Erasmus Student Network)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 April 2026EMA participated in the Erasmus Generation Meeting (EGM) 2026 as part of the ESAA delegation with ESN. ESN organizes EGM, Europe's largest student-led conference on internationalization of higher education. EMA contributes to panels on visa challenges and student mobility.
• ESAA (Erasmus+ Student and Alumni Alliance)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 January 2026EMA is a member organization of ESAA, joining with Erasmus Student Network (ESN), garagErasmus, and OCEANS. ESAA is a strategic alliance funded by the European Commission to strengthen cooperation among Erasmus+ alumni organizations. The alliance signed a Memorandum of Understanding in January 2026 formalizing renewed commitment to closer cooperation while respecting each organization's unique missions.
• EU Delegation to the PhilippinescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 August 2025EMA Country Representative Philippines conducted a courtesy visit with EUD Philippines to discuss strengthening ENFP and CHED cooperation in higher education, academic mobility, and capacity-building initiatives.
• Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 August 2025PUP collaborated with EMA and DLSU on the EU Delegation visit, representing higher education institutions in the Philippines.
• De La Salle University (DLSU), PhilippinesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 August 2025DLSU collaborated with EMA and PUP on the EU Delegation visit to strengthen EU-Philippines academic cooperation.
• WHO Civil Society CommissionflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2025EMA was officially accepted as a participant in the WHO Civil Society Commission, following involvement in the WHO Youth4Health network hosted by WHO Europe. This enables EMA to attend general and ad hoc meetings, contribute to working groups, and participate in global health policy discussions.
• 10BillionflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 May 2025EMA and 10Billion signed an MoU to enhance cooperation in peacebuilding (facilitating dialogue between members from communities that would otherwise not interact), capacity building (upskilling youth, particularly EMA members), and longtermism (exploring future scenarios for sustainable impact). The signing took place during the Erasmus Mundus Annual Conference and General Assembly in Paris.
• EU Delegation to Lao PDRcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 April 2025EMA Country Representative for Lao PDR participated in Erasmus+ Information Day organized with EU Delegation, Ministry of Education and Sports, and National University of Laos to promote Erasmus+ opportunities.
• National University of Laos (NUoL)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 April 2025Host institution for Erasmus+ Information Day where EMA representatives shared Erasmus Mundus experiences and information about EMA.
• Erasmus+ National Offices (NEOs) and National Focal Points (ENFPs)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 March 2025EMA participates in NEO-ICP-ENFP meetings alongside 250 delegates from over 145 countries, contributing to discussions on mobility implementation and strengthening cooperation between regions.
• EU Delegation to ASEANcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 March 2025EMA participated in a seminar hosted by the EU Delegation to ASEAN on EU-ASEAN youth perspectives during Malaysia's 2025 ASEAN chairmanship. Discussions covered higher education, science, technology, and innovation cooperation.
• EM-ACT (Erasmus Mundus Association for Consortia CooperaTion)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 January 2025EMA collaborates with EM-ACT, an association of Erasmus Mundus consortia. The partnership includes representations at annual meetings and discussions on academic innovation, joint degree frameworks, and global academic partnerships. EMA has partnerships with 13 EMJMs and 128 Programme Representatives supporting these collaborations.
• garagErasmuscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of ESAA member organizations, collaborating on alumni engagement and mobility advocacy initiatives.
• OCEANS NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of ESAA member organizations, working together on Erasmus+ alumni cooperation and partnership building.
• ASAF (African Students and Alumni Forum)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerESAA cousin organization representing African student and alumni interests in Erasmus+ mobility discussions.
• WBAA (Western Balkans Alumni Association)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerESAA cousin organization participating in annual meetings and collaborative initiatives.
• MCAA (Marie Curie Alumni Association)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEMA explored synergies with MCAA at ESAA Annual Meeting 2026 regarding mobility, skills development, research, and international cooperation.
• Country Representatives (EMJMD programmes)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEMA has partnerships with 13 EMJMs and 128 Programme Representatives who serve as liaisons between the association and specific programme cohorts.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• AIESEC: Global youth-led organisation facilitating international exchanges and leadership development. Comparable in mission (global youth mobility and networking) and volunteer-run governance model, but operates as a much larger, broader umbrella than EMA.
• Institute of International Education (IIE): Long-established US-headquartered organisation administering international scholarship and exchange programmes (Fulbright, etc.). Comparable as a globally networked alumni/exchange platform, but with a paid professional staff model rather than volunteer-led.
• European University Foundation (EUF): University-led network advancing student-centred mobility and digital transformation under Erasmus+. Comparable as an EU ecosystem actor in the mobility space, but institutionally anchored rather than alumni-anchored.
• European Students' Union (ESU): Umbrella organisation representing national student unions across Europe; engages with EU policymakers on higher education and mobility. Comparable as an advocacy stakeholder in the Erasmus+ ecosystem, though representing current students rather than alumni.

Direct peers

• Marie Curie Alumni Association (MCAA): Alumni association for Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) fellows, structurally analogous to EMA — both are volunteer-led, EU-affiliated alumni networks serving highly mobile international research/graduate cohorts.
• Erasmus Student Network (ESN): The largest student organisation supporting Erasmus+ mobility in Europe; an ESAA co-member with EMA. ESN focuses on current exchange students while EMA focuses on Erasmus Mundus master's/PhD alumni — together they cover the full mobility lifecycle.
• garagErasmus: An ESAA member organisation engaging Erasmus+ alumni around entrepreneurship, employability and innovation. Directly comparable as a fellow ESAA alumni-engagement body operating under EU programme funding.
• OCEANS Network: ESAA member organisation focused on Erasmus Mundus and Erasmus+ alumni cooperation across specific regions. Direct peer in the same EU-funded alumni coordination umbrella.
• African Students and Alumni Forum (ASAF): An 'ESAA cousin' organisation representing African Erasmus+ students and alumni. Highly comparable in mission, structure and EU-affiliated funding model, but with a regional focus.

Regional players

• Western Balkans Alumni Association (WBAA): ESAA cousin organisation for Western Balkans Erasmus+ alumni. Comparable in mission and operating model but focused on a specific EU neighbourhood region rather than the global EM cohort.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/erasmus_mundus
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@ErasmusMundusAssociation
• Facebookfacebook.com/erasmusmundusassociation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/338588
• Instagraminstagram.com/erasmusmundus

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles20 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Erasmus Mundus Students and Alumni Association