European Student Card Initiative: HEIs report on implementation challenges

Higher education institutions have encountered a range of problems implementing tools of the European Student Card Initiative (ESCI) including team coordination challenges, interface incompatibilities and interoperability issues with third-party providers. HEIs shared these insights during a panel discussion at the EAIE 2025 conference, held in Gothenburg (Sweden) from 09/09 to 12/09/2025.

ESCI, which aims to create a more inclusive, connected and digital European Education Area where student mobility happens seamlessly, is built on three main blocks to facilitate learning mobility:

• Erasmus Without Paper (EWP) - Connects information management systems of higher education institutions to exchange data based on shared standards;
• European Student Card - A set of visual and technical elements added to existing student cards, making them easily recognisable and validated across Europe. This facilitates student authentication and supports cross-border mobility and skill acquisition;
• Erasmus App - Provides students with useful information before, during and after mobility abroad.

Nanna…