Fondazione ENDISU was one of the core partners of the ESC- European Student Card, the pilot project that led to the creation of the ESC, which is currently one of the three building blocks of the ESC Initiative. The project started in September 2016 that ended in August 2018.

The strategic partnership was led by the French coordinator CNOUS – Centre national des œuvres universitaires et scolaires, and further composed by: CROUS Besançon – Centre regional des œuvres universitaires et scolaires and CROUS Strasbourg-Centre regional des œuvres universitaires et scolaires in France; EDUCatt – Ente per il Diritto allo Studio Universitario dell’Università Cattolica, ESU Padova from Italy; Deutsches Studentenwerk and Studierendenwerk Karlsruhe in Germany and CSSI – Confederation of Student Services in Ireland.

The project aimed at simplifying the student mobility within the European area, primarily developing a framework and common standards for interoperability between HEI systems.
The interconnection of HEI’s information systems allowed the recognition of student status and identity through the European Student Card which can be used and accepted in the European Education Area. This procedure facilitates access to services provided on campus. At the local level multiservice cards exist: they offer a rich variety of services through the cooperation between different institutions and student service providers.

The ESC project was based on the existing systems and skills developed in each country on the student card. This interface adheres to data protection regulations and generated a digital identity certifying the status of student. It is potentially available for all students and free, and gave potentially access to the rights and services linked to the student status.