EUROPEAN UNIVERSITIES ALLIANCES PRESENT AT THE EAIE CONFERENCE 2024: Pioneering Journey to Transform Higher Education
Over 20 Alliances, representing more than 200 higher education institutions, will converge in Toulouse for the first time around the European Commission’s booth within the European Association of International Education’s Conference from 17-20 September, 2024. SAVE THE DATE A total of 18 sessions offered by European Alliances within the programme, along with a dedicated side event, will provide a comprehensive opportunity to delve into the reality of this pioneering initiative. Friday September 6 2024 — How is Higher Education shaping the fu-ture of Europe and charting new pathways for global collaboration? The European Association of International Education’s Conference in Toulouse, France (17-20 September, 2024) will provide a unique oppor-tunity to explore answers to this question, and many more, with real-life examples, testimonials, and facts. This is the very first time that the European Universities Alliances, a flagship initiative of the European Commission and its European Education Area since 2019, will come together and present themselves in a united way at a major international conference, giving the opportunity to the international HE community to better understand the dimension of the European Universities Initiative, which is co-funding today a total of 64 Alliances. By showcasing their collaborative efforts and dynamizing a series of joint activities European Universities Alliances will take the stand as pioneers of a new paradigm of cooperation in Higher Education, paving their way to a leading role in shaping the global landscape of academia and research. They will also provide insight into their contributions as key actors in a transformative approach aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), viewing Higher Education as the catalyst for building a more resilient, sustainable, and equitable society. Inspired by the EAIE Conference’s theme En Route!, the Alliances will disseminate their objectives and actions, share the impact created, and communicate information regarding the results achieved by them on topics such as mobility or new joint programs. They will also present the steps taken toward the innovative and unprecedented European Degree, a new type of degree awarded jointly by a group of universities across Europe and automatically recognized in the EU. All these efforts will underline an inspiring model for transnational collaboration even amidst challenging times of global conflict. The Alliances are also offering, as part of the EAIE conference’s programme of activities, a series of sessions covering a wide range of subjects, demonstrating their commitment to innovation in higher education and research (see some highlights of sessions on page 3). Highlight on the Globalization Potential of Alliances Prior to the initiation of the EAIE Conference, there will be an opportunity to witness the Alliances in joint dialogue at a special side event hosted by the Université de Toulouse and la Région Occitanie on September 17, 2024, at the Hôtel de Région Occitanie from 08:45 to 13:00. Titled “Internationalisation of European Universities Alliances: the new frontiers”, the event will explore why and how European Universities Alliances build strategic partnerships with institutions and stakeholders beyond the European Union. A plenary session will discuss strategies and approaches and present case studies about how alliances can forge successful international connections. Two other sessions will examine partnerships with Ukrainian institutions amidst conflict and post-war reconstruction, as well as cooperation with African partners. This gathering aims to facilitate dialogue between Alliances, Non-European higher education institutions and European, national and regional policymakers to explore which are the current state of play and the possible pathways of alliances’ internationalisation. * * * The European Universities Alliances are a flagship initiative of the European strategy for universities. They encompass 64 European Universities alliances with more than 560 higher education institutions of all types, from all across Europe. Check the full list of Alliances by country: https://education.ec.europa.eu/education-levels/higher-education/ european-universities-initiative/map The EAIE Conference is the most important event dedicated to higher education in Europe and the second largest in the world. Its recent venues have been Barcelona (2022) and Rotterdam (2023), where the number of exhibitors and visitors exceeded 5000 participants each year showing that transnational cooperation is now a growing sector of influence and action in a more and more globalized and interconnected world of higher education systems. More info and full programme: https://www.eaie.org/ events/toulouse.html HIGHLIGHTED SESSIONS OFFERED BY EUROPEAN UNIVESITIES ALLIANCES EAIE Conference, Toulouse. 18-20 September 2024 Check the full programme of sessions at EAIE: https://www.eaie.org/events/toulouse/programme/schedule.html Check the list of sessions proposed by the European Alliances: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1_CHS43- HAJ2C-GzOJ_jWdpdOaYQ9h9bHnsxnmutYVmk/ edit?gid=0#gid=0
European Universities Student Ambassador Forum
UNITA will be present from the 12th to the 14th September 2024. The 2025 European Universities Student Ambassador Forum (EUSAF) will take place at SGH Warsaw School of Economics on 12-14 September 2024. Developed within the EUC-Voices project consortium and coordinated by SGH Warsaw School of Economics, EUSAF is a platform for students from European Universities Alliances (EUAs) to share their views, experiences, and ideas on the current and future state of higher education (HE) in Europe. EUSAF aims to foster student engagement, identity, and a sense of belonging within and across EUAs, as well as to provide input and recommendations to EUAs and other stakeholders. EUSAF is composed of selected student representatives from each EUA, who are called Ambassadors. The student Ambassador selected to represent UNITA is Fatima Zahra Mangouchi, studying Medicine and Surgery at the University of Turin. .Ambassadors meet 3 times per year (each cohort), both online and in person: EUSAF in-person meeting 2024 will take place from September 12 to 14 (Thursday – Saturday). Ambassadors will meet to discuss to various topics related to student engagement and the role within the European University Alliances such as: Workshops and seminars will also be provided during in-person meetings to strengthen the students’ capacities to play a more prominent role in the process of shaping the future of Alliances. Networking events to be included in the agenda will further enhance the interaction between students and allow for more profound and sustainable exchange of best practices and experiences. As a result of the EUSAF a comprehensive report reflecting the outcomes of its activities and discussions will be prepared. The report will consist of four sections: The report is intended to serve as a valuable resource and reference for EUAs and other stakeholders, as well as to inspire and motivate other students to get involved in EUAs and HE in Europe. More info can be found here: https://eucinitiative.wordpress.com/join-the-ambassadors-forum/ EUSAF handbook: https://eucinitiative.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/eusaf24-handbook.pdf Agenda
Open Positions at UNITA-Universitas Montium, IT Department
We are excited to announce two open positions at the European Alliance, UNITA-Universitas Montium. We are seeking qualified candidates for the following roles: 1. Service Manager of the Applications Developed for the European University «UNITA Universitas Montium» 2. Head of Development of the Applications Developed for the European University «UNITA Universitas Montium» The full call for these positions, including detailed job descriptions and requirements, available here:- Service Manager – Head of Development To apply, please send your resume and a cover letter via email to unita@e-uvt.ro (mailto:unita@e- uvt.ro) by the 9th of August, 2024. If you have any questions regarding these positions, feel free to contact us at unita@e-uvt.ro (mailto:unita@e-uvt.ro). The interviews for the open positions will take place on the 21st of August, 2024. We look forward to receiving your applications!
Lorenzo and Anna Sofia: A month of rural exploration in the land of Lăpuş through UNITA Rural Mobility
Lorenzo Bottino, a graduate student in Sociology, and Anna Sofia Monticelli, a student in Intercultural Communication, from Università degli Studi di Torino, lived an unforgettable experience at Groșii Țibleșului, in the county of Maramureș, in this summer. The two, who are passionate about local culture and traditions, chose to participate in the Rural Mobility programme within UNITA University Alliance, in order to explore rural life for a month. The Rural Mobility programme provides the students of all partner universities with the opportunity to experience everyday life and practices of rural communities through internship programmes. The purpose of this programme is to discover how the locals live, to understand the dynamics of social interactions and to contribute to the capitalization on the cultural heritage of the region. “We were warmly welcomed by the community of Groșii Țibleșului, a small place, but full of heart and traditions. A walk here is a journey through time and cultures, revealing the wisdom and beauty of simple village life. Past and present harmoniously intertwine, keeping traditions alive and treating visitors like family members. The people we met made us feel at home and live another reality, changing our perspective” said the two students. The Village Hall of Groșii Țibleșului supported this initiative which contributed to the promotion of the commune and its traditions. Part of the Italian students’ adventure in the Land of Lăpuș is documented on the Facebook and Instagram pages LapusXplorers. Watch the video»
Beyond borders in Europe with BIP UNITA Borders
34 students from different European countries took part in the second edition of the UNITA Borders Blended Intensive Program from July 12 to 19, organized by the University of Turin in collaboration with Saarland University of the European Alliance Transform4Europe. The students, coming from UNITA Alliance universities and six other European universities, participated in the second edition of the UNITA Borders Blended Intensive Program which took place at the campus Luigi Einaudi from July 15 to 19. This is one of the first initiatives proposed by the European Alliance UNITA together with universities belonging to other European alliances: in particular, the BIP was organized with the University of Saarland, which is part of the Transform4Europe (T4EU) alliance. The results of this cooperation can be seen in the number and diverse backgrounds of the participants: a group with an international and multicultural background that allowed everyone to have an important experience in the internationalization of their studies. BIP UNITA Borders focuses on the cultural, social and political importance of borders in the context of the transformations the world is currently witnessing. The concept of “border” was approached with a multidisciplinary approach through the participation of 11 faculty members from various universities of different countries and disciplinary fields. The discussed topics ranged from the physical wall as a boundary between countries, to the metaphysical wall of identity and citizenship; from the externalization of borders, to the forms of art and activism that arise in the context of the border; from the border in the field of political science, to the border in the field of philosophy. This interdisciplinary approach allowed students to reflect on the border without limiting their thoughts to their fields of expertise. The Erasmus Blended Intensive Programs (BIP) allow for an experience of internationalization that combines short physical mobility (usually one week) with virtual mobility. The BIP Erasmus programs proposed by UNITA aim to bring together groups of students from at least three universities belonging to the UNITA alliance with the goal of exploring issues from a European approach. Watch the UNITA Borders BIP video presentation and learn how to participate in the UNITA BIP programs.
Innovation Prize 2024
The latest edition of the Innovation Prize ended with the announcement of the 3 winners during the final conference of the Re-UNITA project, held in Pau on the 2nd of July. This year, 16 projects from the 6 universities belonging to the UNITA Alliance were presented, covering a wide range of fields from sport to renewable energy and languages. Three of them have been awarded. The project that won first place is MUS-ESP, and it’s from the University of Zaragoza (UNIZAR), in Spain. The primary goal of this project is to develop and refine a comprehensive educational methodology that utilizes a progression of phantoms, ranging from simple models to highly realistic anatomical replicas, for training medical students and professionals in ultrasoundguided procedures. These phantoms are meticulously designed to replicate human soft tissue and anatomical structures, providing a realistic and safe environment for skill acquisition and practice. Second place went to the Pav-OK! project, the result of research carried out at the University of Beira Interior (UBI) in Portugal. The Pav-OK! solution is as an innovative technological approach to digital and intelligent pavement data inspection and processing. The project aims to overcome the limitations of traditional methods and fill the gap in planning the diagnosis of the condition of municipal and airport pavements by taking advantage of new technologies and Artificial Intelligence (AI) potential, providing so a technologically advanced solution at a lower cost. The solution incorporates image data capture and recording, laser and georeferencing devices, and can be classified as a low-cost multifunctional mobile system with semi-automatic data processing. Finally, the third prize went to Tips – M, a project from the University of Turin (UNITO). The project is aimed at the development of stable thin-film mini-module architecture based on hybrid perovskite photoabsorber for internet of things (IoT) application. This device could be integrated into window blinds or window glasses to provide power for small-scale electronic devices, including microcontrollers, detectors, sensors, and indicators. It could be very helpful for usage in remote mountain locations, providing power to smart-home systems and weather and air quality monitoring which is located far from the electric grids. Congratulations to the three winners of this year’s edition, and to all the participants who submitted their projects during the 3 competitions. Once again, they demonstrated the dynamism of the students and researchers of the UNITA Alliance in terms of research and scientific innovation. *Re-UNITA is a project funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 programme. To know more about the projects: https://www.research.univ-unita.eu/en/news/re-unita-innovation-prize-discover-the-2024.html
UNIGHT – European Researchers’ Night 2024
Europe’s largest event on research is back in Turin on Friday, September 27 and Saturday, September 28, 2024 For the third year, the European Researchers’ Night – UNIGHT in Turin is organized by the University and Polytechnic of Turin in collaboration with the Royal Museums and the UNITA – Universitas Montium Alliance, under the patronage of the City of Turin and the Piedmont Region. Following the success of the 2023 edition, the event will be held again in the striking setting of the Royal Museums in Turin on Friday, Sept. 27, from 5 p.m. to midnight, and Saturday, Sept. 28, from 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. The event will take place along seven thematic routes from Piazzetta Reale to the Royal Gardens among open-air workshops, science cafes and games for all ages, while on the Roman theater (Museum of Antiquities) there will be shows and musical performances. Topics will range from climate change adaptation to human health, from cultural heritage to the frontiers of research, with the aim of encouraging active participation in the improvement of knowledge and its impact on our daily lives and respond together to the important future challenges affecting our health and that of the planet. UNITA will join UNIGHT in Turin with several activities: The planned activities have been co-designed by multidisciplinary teams of researchers from Turin’s universities and several research centers who have been working since January to share their research with the public through fun and stimulating activities. UNIGHT also involves other places in the city: many museums open until midnight such as the Xké? Curiosity Lab, the “Arturo Graf” University Archives and Historical Library at the Rectorate of the University of Turin, and the “Luigi Rolando” Anatomy and “Cesare Lombroso” Criminal Anthropology University Museums. UNIGHT 2024 will also take place in the University of Turin venues in Cuneo and Savigliano. Follow updates on the UNIGHT program on the website https://unightproject.eu/en
UNITA PhD International Talent Challenge | Announcement of the winning teams
As part of the Re-UNITA – Research for UNITA project, the six partner Universities launched, in June 2023, an international competition open to PhD students enrolled in any PhD Program at Re-UNITA Universities (UBI, UNITO, UNIZAR, UPPA, USMB and UVT). In a first phase, stakeholders from the territories of each UNITA university participated in local workshops, to propose global challenges in the respective scientific areas – Circular Economy, Cultural Heritage and Renewable Energy. Subsequently, the International Juries voted and defined one challenge for each scientific area. In a second step, 13 teams of PhD students from Re-UNITA Universities applied for the competition. The teams, composed of 2 to 5 members, had to choose one of the proposed challenges and then work for six months to develop innovative projects with solutions to the chosen challenge. Three teams stood out – one in each scientific area – and won the competition: – Circular Economy: Project “The transition from linear to circular economy in the Faget area through industrial symbiosis”. UVT PhD Team: Alexandra Burdulea, Paul Handro, Amelia Laura Maris and Elena-Alexandra Sinoi. – Cultural Heritage: Project “The Unita Move App (TUMA)”. UPPA PhD Team: Noémie Rivière and Elodie Rivière. – Renewable Energy: Project “Zero net energy residential green buildings”. UBI PhD Team: Hugo Antunes, João Dinis, Pedro Andrade and Pedro Barandier. Congratulations to the winners and to all participants!! Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/5GqqnNgEpT0
Languages Staff Week Romance.pt with partners from UNITA Alliance at UBI
This week the University of Beira Interior (UBI) welcomed 11 participants from some of the UNITA Alliance partners, namely USMB, UPPA and HES-SO for a Staff Week of Intercomprehension in Romance languages. É a segunda vez que a UBI é anfitriã desta iniciativa onde o grande propósito é fazer jus a um dos pilares da UNITA – a Intercompreensão. Foi uma semana de partilha intercultural e linguística, em que os participantes tiveram a oportunidade de aprofundar conhecimentos sobre a Língua e a Cultura Portuguesas e adquirir competências de intercompreensão. Não só as aulas fizeram parte da agenda deste evento, mas também a visita ao Instituto Politécnico da Guarda (IPG), igualmente parceiro da UNITA. Na cidade da Guarda, além de conhecerem as instalações do IPG, tiveram oportunidade de participar num “World Café” – conversa informal sob o tema da Cidadania Europeia e visitaram, ainda, o centro histórico da cidade. Todos os envolvidos adquiriram competências de compreensão oral e escrita da Língua Portuguesa, bem como vocabulário para se poderem expressar em Português. Estes cinco dias foram, sem dúvida, uma experiência que todos gostariam de repetir.
ONLINE TRAINING COURSE ON IC TO BECOME IC TEACHERS:
Service Manager of the Applications Developed for the European University «UNITA UniversitasMontium» Head of Development of the Applications Developed for the European University «UNITAUniversitas Montium» 2. registration open until 31st may The University Language Center of Turin (CLA-UniTO) is planning an onlinetraining course as partof the European Alliance “UNITA-Universitas Montium” program to become a teacher inIntercomprehension. The course aims at developing teaching skills in intercomprehension. Romance languages teachersand professors are welcome to participate, but also university students who are interested in foreignlanguages teaching. 1. The course will be online-only (Italy time zone) from 11 June to 25 July 2024 . Participants will beentitled to a final digital certification: Open Badge Formazione per Insegnanti di Intercomprensione The class will include a min. of 15 participants. PARTICIPATION FEE: €250 Registrations are open until the 31st may 2024 here More info»