Exploring the World of Risk: Students Take On FERMA Forum 2026!
From 4 to 6 October 2026, 20 university students got a firsthand look at the world of Risk Management by taking part in FERMA Forum 2026 in Rotterdam, Europe’s premier gathering for risk management and insurance professionals. Organized by FERMA, the event brought together thousands of experts for three intensive days focused on learning, exchange, and networking.
This year’s theme, “Widening the Lens: From Risk Insight to Strategic Foresight”, invited participants to look beyond immediate challenges and consider how emerging and interconnected risks are transforming organizations and society.
For the young participants, the experience was even richer: through the FERMA Forum Students Program — organized by FERMA in collaboration with EucA and sponsored by Howden — students followed a tailored guided pathway to discover the industry’s dynamics and its many career opportunities up close.
Across the three days, students immersed themselves in the key topics reshaping the profession: from the opportunities and risks of artificial intelligence to climate threats, supply chain resilience, business continuity, crisis management, cybersecurity, and the complexities of today’s "polycrisis" landscape.
However, FERMA Forum was not just about listening and theory. The program offered a unique opportunity to connect directly with risk managers, brokers, and insurance professionals from across Europe, giving students the chance to ask about their daily work and explore various potential career paths.
A dedicated workshop hosted by Howden added a strong practical dimension, showing that there is no single predetermined career trajectory in the insurance world. The initiative combined technical insight with career guidance, helping students reflect on their future and build their first professional contacts.
To ensure participants were fully prepared for these interactions, EucA conducted two practical workshops focused on networking strategies and optimizing their LinkedIn profiles. Thanks to these sessions, students gained key tools to present themselves effectively to the job market and connect confidently with the experts they met throughout the event. Indeed, from the opening reception aboard the Oceandiva to plenary sessions, workshops, and informal conversations with professionals, Rotterdam proved to be the ideal bridge connecting today’s leaders with the next generation of talent.
For EucA, initiatives like the FERMA Forum Students Program represent a crucial opportunity to take students beyond the university environment and launch them into the markets of tomorrow. Through experiential learning, professional orientation, and international networking, participants discovered a dynamic sector and began imagining the role they could play as future leaders within it.
A heartfelt thank you to FERMA and Howden for their collaboration and sponsorship respectively and for making this event possible.
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