Unite! gathered once again at Politecnico di Torino

The XIII Dialogue Unite! ended successfully. Politecnico hosted over 300 delegates from the nine Unite! partner universities for four days of activities and strategic debates: a unique occasion to discuss the futureof European University Alliances and Unite!'s contribution to the competitiveness of the European Union. These are indeed the months dedicated to preparing the 2026-2028 bridge funding proposal in response to the new Erasmus+ funding call.

“From short-term E+ project to long-term alliance contributing to EU competitiveness” was the leitmotif of this Dialogue, which welcomed Professor Manuel Heitor of IST, former Minister and Secretary of State for Science, Technology and Higher Education of Portugal (2005–2011; 2015-2022) and President of the European Commission's High-Level Expert Group for the interim evaluation of Horizon Europe. Professor Heitor emphasized the importance of us, as European citizens, learning to take risks, as failure is a step towards success, and without risk, it is much more difficult to innovate. He also highlighted global cooperation and the importance of intensifying cooperation and strengthening relations with other countries beyond Europe's borders, particularly Latin America, Africa and China.

Rector Stefano Corgnati actively contributed to the opening plenary session, engaging in dialogue with the new President of the Alliance, Vivien Quéma, Rector of Grenoble INP. The exchange focused on the role of Unite! as a catalyst in Europe and how the Alliance can transform partner universities. Both rectors stressed that the direction for the coming years must be one of unity and deep integration of Unite!'s activities with those of its partner universities.

The opening plenary session was preceded by the inauguration of the installation entitled The Unite! Constellation, created by Politecnico di Torino to pay tribute to the values of the Alliance and located in the passageway leading from the main entrance to the odd-numbered lecture halls.

"We are like stars, united in a single constellation – commented Rector Corgnati – At this pivotal stage in the Alliance, we must be bold and shape a shared vision for the universities of tomorrow. As one university system spanning multiple countries, our collective voice is stronger and more recognisable."

As evidence of Unite!'s entry into a new phase, the Dialogue hosted two plenary sessions focused on sharing ideas and opinions from the entire community on the medium- to long-term role of the Alliance in the evolving landscape of European and global higher education, but also within the upcoming 2028-2034 framework programme. The first session, coordinated by the student network SURE!, saw intense participation from the student community, which is currently actively involved in the Alliance's activities, and which proposed possible developments for Unite! in order to respond to current social, technological and institutional challenges.

The second session was structured into three different stages. First, a round table discussion on the overall landscape of the Alliances and the vision of another Alliance, ENHANCE, which also focuses on technology like Unite!. Then, a fishbowl discussion (a particular participatory methodology to encourage discussion in large groups of participants) moderated and stimulated by Vice-Rectors and Vice-Presidents of partner universities, focused on the contributions of Research and Innovation in Unite!; a further discussion on the contributions of Education in Unite!, with due attention to synergies with the previous two.

During the closing session, Vice-Rector Elena Baralis commented on the great community spirit demonstrated by Unite! and sent a powerful message, partly inspired by Manuel Heitor's suggestions, inviting the Alliance to continue its commitment to integration and “action”. At the end of her speech, the PoliEtnico Choir performed in front of the participants to convey its message of unity through music.

Professor Roberto Zanino, Rector’s senior advisor for international university networks and Unite! Key Liaison Officer for Politecnico, stated: “Now that our community is busy with the two institutional projects Erasmus+ and Widening, while preparing proposals for bridge funding and the EIT Higher Education Initiative, we have succeeded in achieving a very ambitious goal: engaging all stakeholders – students, administrators and teachers – in a discussion on the longer-term future of our Alliance and its possible contribution to the competitiveness of the European Union. The debate was very lively and well attended, and in my view, its highlights were not only thanks to Professor Heitor, who emphasised the importance of building truly attractive careers for young researchers, a goal that I believe is within Unite!'s reach, but also, and I am really pleased to say this, to the SURE! students, who really projected us 10 years ahead, making an intelligent and passionate contribution to the ongoing discussion in Unite! and developing, as they wrote, several concrete ideas “on how to push our Alliance Unite! to a global level”. Personally, I believe this is the best omen for the future of the Alliance, and I think we should really move from a phase where we worked for students to a new phase where we will work with them. I would also like to thank all the many people at Politecnico who worked hard to organise this event, which was unanimously considered a great success by all the many participants who took the time to convey their appreciation to us, and I express my deep gratitude to our Rector and Deputy Rector for their contribution and their constant support." 

During the four days of work, the Unite! governing bodies met to share their visions for the future of the Alliance and discuss the new proposal for Erasmus+ funding, which will give a new and dynamic structure to the now well-established Alliance. The communities have begun the finalisation phase of the proposal and planned their next joint activities. At the same time, meetings were held by Unite! Widening, which is now in full swing and will lead an intensive programme of training and hackathons aimed at the technical and scientific community of partner universities.