More than 150 students from 15 universities across the United States and Europe recently gathered at Academic Building One in Alexandria to debate, negotiate, and collaborate to address current policymaking issues within the European Union.

It was all part of EuroSim, an annual conference organized by the Trans-Atlantic Consortium for European Union Studies and Simulations that provides students with first-hand knowledge of European Union politics and real-world policymaking skills.

A group of people in formal attire conversing in a modern, sunlit indoor space.
Students socialize between EuroSim sessions. Photo by Craig Newcomb for Virginia Tech.

This year marked the first that Virginia Tech’s Center for European and Transatlantic Studies, a Jean Monnet Center of Excellence, hosted the event after joining the consortium in 2023. The event, which is the oldest student simulation of its kind, alternates between U.S. and European locations. It was founded in 1988 by SUNY Brockport, a public university in New York, and is open to graduate and undergraduate students from participating universities.

The simulation draws from actual European Commission proposals that are adapted for students to debate and revise throughout the event. This year’s theme focused on economic competitiveness, particularly Omnibus 1, an initiative aimed at simplifying companies’ business reporting obligations related to sustainability.

A woman speaks at the front of a classroom to a seated audience, holding a microphone.
More than 150 students from 15 universities across the United States and Europe travelled to Alexandria for the event. Photo by Craig Newcomb for Virginia Tech.

Chad Hankinson, a lecturer in the Department of Political Science and associate director of administration and strategic planning with the Center for European and Transatlantic Studies, directed the April 9-12 event. He first participated in the conference in the 1990s as an undergraduate at SUNY Brockport.

Beyond policy knowledge, Hankinson said students gain experience working in a multilingual and multicultural environment where communication styles and cultural expectations often differ.

Woman in a striped shirt smiling and engaging with others in a conference setting.
Students assumed real-life personas of individuals across various European Union governing bodies, nongovernmental organizations, and media roles. Photos by Craig Newcomb for Virginia Tech.

“It does help develop real-world skills that we hope, as with any experiential learning exercise, can be applied at other points in life,” he said.

Hankinson said the international nature of the program differentiates it from other simulations that are only open to domestic students. It’s also unique for its comprehensiveness, he said. Unlike simulations that focus solely on the Council of the European Union or the European Parliament, EuroSim assigns students the roles of real-life individuals across multiple EU institutions, such as European Parliament, the European Council, the European Commission, and positions within nongovernmental organizations and the media.

Two people sit attentively, engaged in a discussion, wearing lanyards and taking notes.
During the four-day event, students debated and revised actual European Commission proposals that were adapted for EuroSim. Photo by Craig Newcomb for Virginia Tech.

“It allows them to step out of their comfort zone in terms of how they think about policy and see policy from someone else’s perspective,” he said. “I don't think that we do that enough here in the United States anymore, and it's why we have the kind of political polarization that exists.”

Ten Virginia Tech students attended the event. Gianluca Ghinazzi, a senior double majoring in criminology and international relations, acted as Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Along with polishing his debate skills, he said the conference helped him understand how policies and amendments are written.

“My favorite parts were the non-format meetings,” Ghinazzi said. “They allowed me to get to know the other participants better, but also to understand how states work ‘behind the scenes’ to reach a consensus.”

A large group of students dressed in business attire sit at connecting tables. Each have laptops in front of them. A large projector screen is at the front of the room.
This year marked the first that Virginia Tech’s Center for European and Transatlantic Studies has hosted the event. Photo by Craig Newcomb for Virginia Tech.

Political science graduate student Miabella Wehri '25 has attended the conference since her junior year at Virginia Tech. She earned her bachelor’s degree in philosophy, politics, and economics. This year, Wehri served as the U.S. student director, working behind the scenes to support other participants.

“I would describe this experience as completely transformative,” she said. “I was never so exposed to people coming from all over the world working together toward one common goal.”

After graduation, Wehri plans to move to Washington, D.C., where she will put the skills that she has learned to use as she pursues a career in transatlantic affairs.

“Besides the various academic benefits, the greatest part for me is the lifelong friendships I have made during my time in EuroSim,” she said.

The Center for European and Transatlantic Studies is now recruiting students for EuroSim 2027, which will be held in Ljubljana, Slovenia, in January. Students can contact Hankinson or Yannis Stivachtis, the center's director, for more information.

Modern building at Virginia Tech with blue glass and gold panels, people gathered outside.
Students gather outside of Academic Building One in Alexandria, where the event was hosted by Virginia Tech's The Center for European and Transatlantic Studies. Photo by Craig Newcomb for Virginia Tech.

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