The initiative brought together 21 students from all UNITA partner universities and was organised within the framework of UNITA Task 2.1 – Sustainable Policies for Students and Staff. Combining institutional, cultural, educational, and sporting activities, the event offered participants a unique opportunity to explore innovative approaches to student welfare while strengthening relationships across the Alliance.
The programme began with an official welcome at the historic Rectorate of the University of Turin, followed by social and cultural activities organised in collaboration with the Erasmus Student Network Torino, including a guided city tour and informal networking opportunities.
The international UNITA students were involved in the VII edition of the SUISM Games, organised annually by the School of Sport Sciences of the University of Turin (SUISM): they competed together with approximately 250 UniTo students in athletics, basketball, beach volleyball, and other team-based activities. Through sport, both UniTo and UNITA participants experienced first-hand the values of cooperation, inclusion, teamwork, and mutual support. Among the highlights were the performances of Nada Alkhazraj (Transilvania University of Brașov), winner of the women’s 60 metres, and Chiara Bonomini (University of Brescia), winner of the women’s 1000 metres.
Alongside the sporting programme, UNITA organised a dedicated Matching Event focused on student well-being and university life. During the third day, students took part in a collaborative hackathon inspired by the bio-psycho-social model of well-being. Working in four international and interdisciplinary teams, participants addressed four key themes related to university life: green mobility, digital well-being, healthy eating, and peer-to-peer sports mentoring. Each group developed a concrete proposal designed to improve student welfare and, supported by the SMAART methodology, produced both a poster and a final pitch presenting scalable solutions that could potentially be implemented across the Alliance.
On the final day, the four teams presented their posters and projects directly to representatives of the University of Turin’s governance, demonstrating the value of student-led innovation and co-creation in shaping future university services.
The University of Turin also used the occasion to involve participants in the SAMBA Project, through the completion of the SAMBA Assessment, a survey aimed at evaluating students’ psychological and emotional well-being. The project seeks to strengthen support services and develop new initiatives promoting healthier lifestyles and preventing psychological distress among university students.
The first edition of the UNITA SUISM Games and University Life proved to be much more than a sporting event. By combining the University of Turin’s expertise in sport sciences and student well-being with UNITA’s commitment to international cooperation and student engagement, the initiative created a vibrant environment for learning, collaboration, and community building. Through shared experiences, teamwork, and intercultural exchange, participants strengthened their sense of belonging to the Alliance while contributing to the development of innovative ideas for the future of student life in European universities.
Students’ posters
