The European University of Post-Industrial Cities

Acronim: UNIC

Project reference number: ERASMUS-EDU-2023-EUR-UNIV-1

Project budget: 14.399.036,47 EUR

Source of funding:  The project is funded by the Erasmus+ program

Project duration:  01.10.2023. – 30.09.2027.

Project partners:

The UNIC consortium consists of

• Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR, Netherlands), project coordinator

• University of Deusto Bilbao (UDEUSTO, Spain)

• Ruhr University Bochum (RUB, Germany)

• Koç University Istanbul (KU, Turkey)

• University of Cork (UCC, Ireland)

• University of Liège (ULiège, Belgium)

• University of Oulu (UOULU, Finland)

• University of Zagreb (UNIZG, Croatia)

• Malmö University (MAU, Sweden)

• University of Lodz (UniLodz, Poland)

Associates on TTF: Prof. Katarina Nina Simončić, Ph.D.

Project summary:

The European University of Cities in Post-Industrial Transition (UNIC) is a European alliance of ten universities located across Europe. The aim of the UNIC project is to foster knowledge development and co-creation through collaboration, innovation and inclusion for societal impact and improvement.

Building on the foundations of the existing and expanded UNIC consortium, knowledge development and co-creation correlates with six specific objectives:

1. Shaping a truly collaborative governance model for UNIC

2. Fostering inter-university mobility and fostering innovative approaches to teaching and mobility

3. Collaborating with cities, communities and stakeholders for transformative innovation and societal impact

4. Strengthening the capacity for collaboration between cities and university administrations/shaping innovative, connecting, inclusive and sustainable policies at our universities

5. Building communities of researchers and educators on the topic of post-industrial transition

6. Increasing understanding, raising awareness and encouraging/raising commitment to UNIC activities and values.

UNIC will organize activities in the field of education and research in the next project period, including city labs (CityLabs), micro-credentials, mobility offers, doctoral studies and other research programs, and university policies.

The project will have an impact on multiple target groups, such as students, academic staff, residents of post-industrial cities, national and regional government agencies, businesses and non-profit organizations. In total, a potential 20 million people (students, doctoral candidates and citizens) will benefit from the UNIC approach.

UNIC outputs include new agreements and governance structures, as well as the creation of new infrastructures such as the UNIC Teaching and Learning Centre. Furthermore, seven Thematic Line Communities will be established to foster collaboration on various enduring challenges facing cities in post-industrial transition.

Project website: https://unic.eu/en