Fighting Prejudices through Intercomprehension and Interculturality
From July 15 to 20, the University of Pau and the Adour Region (UPPA) hosted the Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) “Fighting Prejudices: Intercomprehension and Interculturality” on its Pau campus. This program, which brought together students and teachers from across Europe, aimed to promote intercultural communication and international cooperation. For a week, participants had the opportunity to develop their intercomprehension skills through workshops combining theory and playful practice, led by teachers from the UNITA alliance. In addition to these workshops, the program included various cultural and collaborative activities, such as a thematic tour of Pau focused on Street Art, allowing students to discover the city from a different perspective. The association Préjugix was also invited to give a one-day workshop to raise students’ awareness of the fight against prejudices, encouraging new perspectives on others and combating discrimination. Throughout the five days, participants and speakers communicated using their native Romance languages, leveraging intercomprehension strategies. This mode of communication offers several advantages, particularly by including students who do not have a strong command of English and may not be eligible for traditional mobility programs. Daniela Nelva, a German professor at the University of Turin, highlighted the importance of this initiative, the result of a collaborative effort between ten professors from four universities, brought to life following a matching event in Turin. She emphasized that the close ties between the University of Turin and UPPA, strengthened by the UNITA alliance, facilitate the emergence of such projects. “Students are encouraged to reach out to others, leading to lasting friendships,” she explained, adding that this format enables short-term mobility, ideal for a first experience and immersion in a multicultural group. “This experience truly helps to build Europe between people,” she concluded. For Yoleine, a UPPA student pursuing a diploma in Logistics and Transport Management, the BIP was an enriching experience. Having already participated in a BIP in Zaragoza, she saw this format as an opportunity to travel and meet students from across Europe. Sheila, a third-year law student at the University of Zaragoza, appreciated the theme and intensity of the program. Having previously participated in a BIP in Timișoara, she noted that the short format allows her to balance mobility with a busy schedule. This BIP once again demonstrates the impact of international collaborations and the role of the UNITA alliance in promoting the values of multilingualism and interculturality. By enabling students from various nationalities to work together and learn about each other, these programs foster personal enrichment for students and professional growth for the associated professors.
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
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.
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
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.
UNITA at the EAIE Conference and Exhibition in Toulouse, 2024
For the first time, UNITA will participate at the EAIE Conference and Exhibition, that will take place between 17-20 September 2024, in Toulouse, France. This is Europe’s biggest event dedicated to the internationalisation of higher education, covering all important topics in the field, as well as exhibitors from all over the world. It is an important opportunity for showcasting best practices, training, networking and deepening international cooperation overall for all participants and their respective institutions. UNITA’s first major exhibition presence will provide a unique opportunity to connect with European and global partners. Thus, our participation at the EAIE 2024 will offer extensive opportunities to connect with other alliances and partners from the UNITA Geminae network. It will, simultaneously, be an opportunity to develop new avenues for collaboration for UNITA and to support the growth of our alliance’s international dimension, in Europe and beyond. Putting UNITA on the EAIE programme map UNITA will be represented on the EAIE conference programme by alliance partners’ representatives, showcasing once again the cooperation of our members for the common goals we set for our European University. An important aspect of our presence in Toulouse is that fact that UNITA will be present in the session “UNLOCKING GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES: OUTREACH PROGRAMS WITHIN EUROPEAN UNIVERSITIES ALLIANCES” with Francisco Do Adro zooming in on the best practices and cooperation with non-EU partners, in a cross-alliance collaborative presentation with two other alliances. Connecting with partners in Europe and beyond UNITA is organizing bilateral meetings in the space B01. Priority will be given to discussions with GEMINAE partners. Additionally, on Wednesday, 18th of September, at 15h30 local time, we will organize a UNITA GEMINAE connecting event with a chocolate tasting. Moreover, on Thursday, at 15h30, anyone willing to find out more about our alliance can participate in a Discover UNITA raffle based on the business card received during the event at our booth. Looking ahead to the next EAIE Conference and Exhibition in Toulouse, and taking into account the success of the FOREU project dedicated to the creation of a community of practice for European Alliances #foreu4all, UNITA strongly believes in the the critical importance of collaboration across alliances for good practice exchanges and in the visibility of European Alliances as flagships of European Higher Education. The context offered by the EAIE can definitely help us reach these goals, which focus on the bigger picture of the European Universities Initiative and underline the quality and competitiveness of European higher education at global level. For UNITA is important to underscore for the public the critical role of the European University Initiative (EUI) in shaping the future of higher education in Europe. More than 20 alliances will be represented at the EAIE in Toulouse and this is just the beginning. We look forward to further strengthening European Alliances status as challenging entities within the global higher education landscape. In fact, this presence at the EAIE will amplify the dissemination of knowledge about the European Universities Initiative and their impact on enriching the value of European higher education and its the internationalisation. The results will surely follow. We look forward to seeing UNITA’ impactful work reach new audiences at EAIE 2024 in Toulouse. To check the full programme go on: https://www.eaie.org/events/toulouse.html
2 UNITO students and 1 from UVT win the My 3min PhD Thesis UNITA competition
superlead temporário On Thursday, 18 candidates from 8 universities belonging to the UNITA alliance competed in the final of the second edition of My 3min PhD Thesis UNITA. The students were welcomed on Monday at the Université de Pau et des Pays de l’Adour (UPPA) for an intensive week (Blended Intensive Programme) of drama, public speaking and communication classes. The competition, which was broadcast live, helped to decide between the candidates. First prize went to Rebecca Sabatini, from Università degli Studi di Torino (UNITO) for her thesis: “Exposing humans: Mummies, rituals and heritage-making” Second place went to Irene VIOLA, also from UNITO for her thesis: “Establishment of an in vitro model to study autophagy during early placenta development in sheep” Finally, third place went to Karla CSUROS, from Universitatea de Vest din Timișoara (UVT) for her thesis: “Get to Work! A Corpus-Based Inquiry into the language of Contemporary American Workplace Sitcoms” Friday was dedicated to a leisure activity, giving the students a chance to take a breather after the competition and enjoy some last moments with their mates. All the candidates’ video presentations will soon be available on the UNITA YouTube channel. UNITA thanks all the participants: Daniel ALÁEZ GÓMEZ (UPNA), Amelia TOTH (UVT), Samuele SUTERA (UNITO), Carmen RODRIGO CARBÓ (UNIZAR), Muhammed AMINU (UPPA), Praveena PACHAIAPPAN (UNIBS), Mariana FIADEIRO (UBI), Manuel SOTO RAMOS (UNITBV), Laura LARRODERA (UNIZAR), Liuder Isidoro RODRÍGUEZ COCA (UNITBV), Olivia RENARD (UPPA), Rafael LOPES (UBI), Ana Laura GIAMBELLUCA (UPNA), Alejandro FRESNEDA CRUZ (UNIZAR), Francesca TANGHETTI (UNIBS).
BIP-Blended Intensive Program “Environmental Issues in the European Union” at UVT: A Week of Intensive Studies and Educational Visits
În perioada 19-28 iunie 2024, Facultatea de Drept din cadrul Universității de Vest din Timișoara a organizat și găzduit Blended Intensive Program intitulat „Environmental Issues in the European Union”. Acest eveniment a reunit 25 de participanți din 6 universități, oferindu-le o oportunitate unică de a explora diverse perspective asupra problemelor de mediu în contextul Uniunii Europene. Programul a inclus o componentă online, desfășurată între 19 și 21 iunie 2024, unde participanții au avut ocazia să se familiarizeze cu temele și conceptele principale înainte de a se întâlni față în față. Această fază introductivă a oferit o bază solidă de cunoștințe și a facilitat discuțiile interactive și colaborările ulterioare. Componenta la fața locului s-a desfășurat între 24 și 28 iunie 2024, la Universitatea de Vest din Timișoara și a inclus vizite de studiu la Institutul de Cercetări Avansate de Mediu (ICAM) și Curtea de Apel Timișoara. Studenții au luat parte la dezbateri, studii de caz și prelegeri pe tema BIP-ului și au avut experiența unui proces simulat.