UNIC Strategic Conference

The UNIC Strategic Conference will be hosted by Erasmus University Rotterdam in Rotterdam, the Netherlands from 17-19 October.

The purpose of this conference is to discuss and agree upon the future of the European University of Post-Industrial Cities. The conference will include plenary sessions, networking sessions, and in-depth, interactive workshops that allow all partners to provide their inputs on the proposals developed by the Development Teams.

Below is the agenda for the Conference.

Monday 17 October

09:30 – 11:00 Welcome and networking session at Erasmus University Rotterdam

11:00 – 11:30 Coffee Break

11:30 – 12:30 Woudestein Campus tour

12:30 – 14:00 Lunch

14:00 – 15:00 Opening

15:00 – 16:00 Plenary Round Table I: The Future of the European University

16:00 – 16:15 Coffee Break

16:15 – 17:15 Plenary Round Table II: UNIC Mission 2024-2030

17:30 – 19:00 Reception for UNIC Family (informal)

19:00 – 21:00 Dinner for Rectors (special invitation only)

Tuesday 18 October

08:30 – 09:00 Coffee Break

09:00 – 10:30 Parallel Session I: UNIC General Assembly Meeting for Rectors, General Executive Office, and Chair of UNIC Student Board

09:00 – 10:30 Closed Parallel Session II: City Representatives

10:30 – 11:00 Coffee Break

11:00 – 12:00 Plenary Session: Collaborative Teaching and Research

12:00 – 13:30 Lunch

13:30 – 15:00 Parallel Lab Sessions: How do we create institutional catalysts for change?

• Urban Resilience & Smart Cities

• Sustainability & Transition to Greener Cities

• Superdiversity and Inclusion

• Entrepreneurship

• Health and Wellbeing

• Culture and Arts

15:00 – 15:30 Coffee Break

15:30 – 17:00 Parallel Lab Sessions:

• How do we co-create for the public good? Developing, streamlining and consolidating UNIC CityLabs and Engaged Research activities

• How do we create an innovative, flexible and inclusive learning experience? Developing education and mobility

17:00-19:00 Private Reception for Rectors and City Representatives hosted by Municipality of Rotterdam (formal)

17:30 – 19:00 Optional: City Walking tour

Wednesday 19 October

08:30 – 09:00 Coffee Break

09:00 – 10:00 Plenary Session: Organisational Cultures – Student, City, and Faculty Engagement

10:00-11:00 Parallel Lab Sessions:

• City Engagement 1: Strategies and working structures of city cooperation

• Faculty Engagement 1: Incentives for faculties motivation

• Student Engagement 1: Enhancing involvement of Student Board and UNIC students

• Student Engagement 2: Teaching activities & learning formats from students’ perspectives

• Faculty & Student Engagement: Structural-administrative frames: recognition and flexibility in curricula

11:00 – 11:30 Coffee Break

11:30 – 12:30 Parallel Lab Sessions:

• City Engagement 2: Involvement of CSOs and other civil society actors

• Faculty Engagement 2: Matchmaking and collaboration of academic staff

• Faculty Engagement 3: Building UNIC organisation and governance structures

• Student Engagement 3: Creating mobility from students’ perspectives

• Enhancing UNIC Communication: cross section topic

12:30 – 14:00 Lunch

14:00 – 15:00 Plenary Round Table Feedback Session

15:00 – 15:30 Coffee Break

15:30 – 16:30 Plenary Round Table Feedback Session cont.

17:30 – 20:00 Closing party

Thursday 20 October

09:00 – 12:00 UNIC4ER Task Force Meeting (closed meeting - invitation only)

09:00 – 12:00 Student Board Meeting @ Community for Learning & Innvoation (closed meeting - invitation only)

12:00 – 14:00 Virtual Campus Meeting (closed meeting - invitation only)