Where does the heart of young Europe beat?
Where do young adults want to live and work in Europe today? Reflections after the Euro Vibe broadcast with Professor Izabela Grabowska, Kozminski University, EUonAIR, CRASH
The latest Euro Vibe broadcast explored a topic that increasingly shapes the future of the European labour market and education: the changing preferences of young adults regarding where they want to live, work, and grow. The discussion highlighted that the young generation is building a new model of success – more sustainable, inclusive, centred on human relationships and quality of life rather than solely on traditional economic indicators.
Professor Izabela Grabowska pointed out that classic migration destinations such as Berlin, Lisbon, or Paris are giving way to new, often smaller and more people-friendly cities. Young people choose Tallinn, Porto, or Vilnius, as well as medium-sized cities in Poland, which offer good infrastructure, a safe environment, access to culture and nature, and a better work–life balance. Increasingly, what matters is not just how much one earns but in what conditions one lives, and what opportunities for development and social connections a given place provides.
Professor Grabowska also confirmed that educational mobility experiences play a major role in shaping life decisions. Erasmus+ and shorter forms of mobility – so important for Generation Z – are becoming key tools for expanding one’s horizons. The mobility of Generation Z differs significantly from that of earlier generations: it is more frequent, more flexible, shorter, and closely intertwined with the digital world. Young people do not go abroad once every few years; they travel repeatedly, in various forms of mobility, testing different locations and lifestyles. This makes their preferences more complex and dynamic than ever before.
Importantly, the discussion also underlined an observation that is central from the perspective of CRASH research and projects such as EUonAIR or My Mobility. Young adults from smaller towns now show real agency and an increasing awareness of their opportunities. They want a diverse life, exposure to different cultures and environments, and mobility – regardless of its form – becomes a tool for building their professional and social identities. It is clear that expectations towards cities and universities are rising, and the diversity of experiences has become one of the key elements of their development.
In the context of urban, educational, and university policies, this means moving away from thinking about mobility as a one-time trip. Holistic Mobility, developed within EUonAIR and supported by the My Mobility Assessment, offers a systemic approach that incorporates mobility capitals, emotions, relationships, competence development, and the reintegration process after returning home. Only such an approach can respond to the needs of the young generation, which expects not only the opportunity to go abroad but also support throughout the full mobility cycle.
The Euro Vibe discussion makes it clear that the future of European mobility will be driven by the values of the new generation: sustainability, authenticity, social relationships, a culture of collaboration, flexibility, and the ability to choose. Where young people want to live, work, and develop themselves reflects their aspirations for a more diverse, enriched, and conscious life. Europe that responds to these needs will be the Europe capable of retaining and attracting talent in the coming decades.
https://www.polskieradio.pl/czworka/audycje/eurovibe,11666/odcinek/berlin-lizbona-paryz-czy-moze-tallinn-gdzie-mlodzi-chca-zyc-i-pracowac-w-europie-mowili-o-tym-prof-i-grabowska-m-satala-b-krupa-i-h-skoczowska,fd8b3957-9330-4e2f-90a1-cc5c766de497
