UNIgreen Alliance Advances Strategic Integration and Strengthens its Vision for a Green European University at the Annual Summit in Coimbra
UNIgreen – The Green European University – has taken major steps toward deeper academic, scientific, and organisational integration following its Annual Summit and International Conference, hosted from 4 to 6 February by the Polytechnic University of Coimbra (PUC). The three‑day event brought together nearly one hundred representatives from the eight partner institutions, including rectors, governing bodies, researchers, students, and technical teams.
The meetings consolidated strategic decisions that will guide UNIgreen’s next phase, as the Alliance finalises its proposal to the European Commission for the upcoming renewal period and integrates two new partners from Germany and Finland.
Strengthening the Alliance’s Strategic Direction
In her welcome address, Cândida Malça, President of PUC, emphasised that the Summit marks a pivotal moment in the Alliance’s trajectory. She highlighted the consolidation of PUC’s institutional commitment and the collective progress toward building a European University rooted in sustainability, innovation, and international cooperation.
UNIgreen’s General Coordinator, Tomás Lorenzana, underscored the strong participation of the academic community and the relevance of the Summit’s outcomes, noting that the Alliance is entering a decisive period with its upcoming renewal proposal and the arrival of new institutional partners. He reaffirmed UNIgreen’s confidence in meeting its performance indicators (KPIs) at the close of the current funding cycle.
International Conference Highlights Partnerships Driving the Green Transition
On 4 February, the Summit opened with an international conference titled “Building Partnerships between Academia, Industry and Community for the Green Transition: the Role of UNIgreen.”
The event brought together academic experts, industry representatives, and civil society stakeholders to discuss the key drivers of sustainable development.
The programme featured:
- a keynote by Prof. Carlos Henggeler Antunes (University of Coimbra, INESC Coimbra);
- a round table showcasing innovative initiatives including the ECLECTIC project, Coimbra LLM – SHIFT Coimbra, and collaborative activities carried out with CoLAB ForestWISE;
- an intervention from the President of FAIRe Portugal, highlighting the essential leadership role of students in shaping the future of European Universities.
Participants stressed the importance of strong, multi‑sector partnerships to accelerate the green transition and amplify the societal impact of higher education institutions.
Governance Bodies Align Priorities and Consolidate the Alliance’s Future Planning
Over three days, UNIgreen’s governance bodies conducted formal strategic sessions to review progress, analyse KPIs, and define targets for the next implementation cycle.
Key outcomes included:
- Integration of new partners:
- Weihenstephan‑Triesdorf University of Applied Sciences (Germany)
- Centria University of Applied Sciences (Finland)
- Election of new leadership in the General Assembly:
- President: Ragnheiður Inga Þórarinsdóttir, Rector, University of Iceland
- Vice-President: Anzalone Salvatore, Rector, HEPL (Belgium)
- Approval of annual activity reports and publication of the UNIgreen course catalogue on the Alliance website
- Presentation of the Quality Assurance Report for the last evaluation period
- Strengthening of the Student Council, which held an in‑person meeting and reaffirmed its central place in UNIgreen’s governance model
Joint thematic meetings and networking opportunities enabled partners to deepen institutional synergies and align long‑term planning for the Alliance.
Advancing Science, Research and Student Engagement
As part of the Joint Research Centres, bilateral sessions with Teaching and Learning, Knowledge Transfer, and Digital Transition Units, focused on:
- launching UNIgreen’s scientific missions,
- preparing the SURES Challenge Lab student entrepreneurship programme,
- organising scientific seminars, joint publications, and collaborative research projects,
- strengthening research‑education integration through student participation in scientific activities.
Partners reaffirmed their commitment to positioning research as a driving force of UNIgreen’s educational and societal impact.
Driving Outreach, Sustainability and Inclusion Across the Alliance
The Diversity and Inclusion Unit reported significant progress thanks to close collaboration with the Mobility Unit:
- advancement on the design of the Outreach Programme,
- validation of the UNIgreen Sustainability & Inclusion Checklist for Alliance events,
- strategic discussions to implement the Multiculturalism and Multilingualism Programme by the end of the year.
These developments reinforce UNIgreen’s mission to build an inclusive, diverse and sustainability‑driven European academic community.
Building Capacity: Training for Mobility Officers and Administrative Staff
On 3 February, ahead of the Summit, the UNIgreen Training Workshop for Mobility Officers brought together international mobility professionals from all partner institutions.
The workshop served as a strategic opportunity to:
- strengthen technical and administrative skills,
- harmonise mobility procedures across the Alliance,
- support UNIgreen’s alignment with European higher education priorities.
A Milestone in UNIgreen’s Path Toward a Fully Integrated European University
The Coimbra Summit marked a decisive step in UNIgreen’s evolution toward becoming a fully integrated, transnational European University.
With stronger governance, expanded membership, enhanced research and innovation initiatives, and reinforced student participation, the Alliance is well‑positioned to submit a robust renewal proposal to the European Commission, ensuring continuity and long-term impact through 2028.
