2023 UNIC Conference

The UNIC Conference will be hosted in Rotterdam, the Netherlands from 25-26 September, 2023. The conference is organized by the UNIC team at Erasmus University Rotterdam.

This conference celebrates the achievements of UNIC's first phase, and looks ahead to the future of the European University of Cities in Post-Industrial Transition.

You can download a full PDF schedule of the conference here. 

Monday 25 September

08:30 – 9:30 Welcome, and coffee

9:30 – 10:00 Plenary Opening

• Building a Brighter Tomorrow: Embracing the Evolution of European Universities , by UNIC Student Board Representatives
• Forging Synergies: Collaborative Community Growth , by Municipal Representative of Rotterdam
• Driven by Purpose: A Personal Journey and the Impact of UNIC , by Alliance Coordinator Prof. Dr. Peter Scholten

10:00 - 10:15 Coffee Break

10:15 - 11:30 Plenary Session I: UNIC Showcase

• Building the UNIC European University , by University College Cork & University of Zagreb
• Achieving Inter-University Mobility , by Ruhr University Bochum
• Developing the Superdiversity Academy , by Koc University
• Creating Societal Impact through UNIC CityLabs , by University of Deusto, University of Liege & University of Oulu
• Managing UNIC and Fostering Visibility through Communications , by Erasmus University Rotterdam
• Working with, not for, society (UNIC4ER), by Marco Aperti

11:30 - 11:45 Plenary Keynote

• Leading the Way: Driving Innovation and Societal Engagement through UNIC , by President of Erasmus University Rotterdam & Chair of the UNIC Leadership Board, Prof. Dr. Ed Brinksma

11:45 - 13:30 Lunch

13:30 - 14:00 Plenary Session II: Charting the Path Ahead: Unveiling the Vision for UNIC 2.0

• By Alliance Coordinator Prof. Dr. Peter Scholten, Daria Ratsiborinskaya, WP Leaders 2-6
• Official signing of the UNIC 2.0 Partnership Agreement by UNIC Leadership Board

14:00 - 16:00 Work Package Breakout sessions

 (coffee included)

• Breakout 1: Fostering Innovative Approaches to Teaching and Mobility (Deusto, RUB)
• Breakout 2: Shaping Resilient Urban Futures: UNIC Centre for City Futures
• Breakout 3: Strengthening Capacities for Future-Building Initiatives
• Breakout 4: Building Communities of Researchers and Educators
• Breakout 5: Amplifying Impact: Effective Promotion, Communication and Dissemination Strategies
• Breakout 6: Navigating the Future: UNIC Management Board’s Strategic Leadership (Leadership Board)

16:05 - 16:30 Plenary Session III: Mobilizing for Action

• Mapping Out the Roadmap for UNIC 2.0 Implementation

16:30 - 20:00 (OPTIONAL WITH RSVP, for Entrepreneurship Thematic Line)

• StageTwo Wildcard Pitch event , including networking drinks - Q Building, EUR Campus

18:30 - late UNIC Dinner and Party (on a ship!) - Board at Boompjes Ferry Terminal

• NOTE: The UNIC conference takes place at the same time as the EAIE Conference 2023, hosted at the Erasmus University Rotterdam Woudestein campus. Opportunities for further networking, roundtables, and UNIC sessions at EAIE will be listed and communicated to attendees closer to event dates.

Tuesday 26 September

08:30 – 09:00 Coffee and Networking

09:00 - 10:00 Plenary Session IV: Engaging Thematic Lines across UNIC, Part I

• Advancing Innovative Teaching and Learning Strategies
• Shaping Resilient Urban Futures: UNIC Centre for City Futures
• Strengthening Capacities for Future-Building Initiatives
• Building Communities of Researchers and Educators
• Amplifying Impact: Effective Promotion, Communication and Dissemination Strategies

10:00 :10:30 Plenary Session V: Engaging Thematic Lines across UNIC, Part II

• Advancing Innovative Teaching and Learning Strategies
• Shaping Resilient Urban Futures: UNIC Centre for City Futures
• Strengthening Capacities for Future-Building Initiatives
• Amplifying Impact: Effective Promotion, Communication and Dissemination Strategies

10:30 - 11:00 Thematic Lines Discussion: Defining key outcomes of the discussion today; what do WPs expect from TLs, and what do TLs expect from WPs + Roadmap ahead; TL sessions, and road towards TL Action Plans to be presented in Lodz in December

11:00 - 11:30 Coffee Break

11:30 - 12:50 (Optional) Thematic Lines Breakout Sessions

• Breakout 1: Superdiversity | “Building Bridges: Connecting Research and Policies on Superdiversity and Inclusion in UNIC HEIs and Cities”
• Breakout 2: Sustainability and Green Cities
• Breakout 3: Urban Resilience and Smart Cities
• Breakout 4: Justice, Security and Institutions
• Breakout 5: Entrepreneurial Learning for Innovation
• Breakout 6: Health & Wellbeing | “How urban environment characteristics modulate lifestyles”
• Breakout 7: Arts, Culture and Creativity

13:00 - 13:30 Closing Plenary

13:30 - 14:00 Lunch (optional)

14:15 - 16:00 (Optional for Teaching and Learning group) Community for Learning and Innovation (CLI) Workshop / Session

Exchange between UNIC’s Centres for Teaching & Learning

Erasmus’ Community for Learning & Innovation (CLI) targets this meeting at representatives of UNIC CTLs, but others interested in learning and innovation are also welcome. CLI will share and exchange insights and approaches on different topics such as Future Learning Spaces, the use of AI in education or experiences with online education. The session will also include a brief tour through the CLI Education Lab and studio (an optional drinks and/or dinner after the session is possible). See you at the Lab!

14:15-16:00 (Optional) Walking Tour through the Rotterdam Arboretum - RSVP with Yara van Holten at yara.vanholten@eur.nl

Wednesday 27 September

09:00 - 11:30 Post-Conference Working Session: UNIC Centre for City Futures