European University of Post-Industrial Cities

📣 LAST 5 DAYS!
❗Deadline: 1 December 2025
📆 Conference Dates: 17-19 June 2026 at Koç Üniversitesi University (Istanbul)

🌆 Within the context of post-industrial urban transformations, the conference examines how institutions address rising socio-spatial inequalities, unequal access to health and social services, and the complexities of governing increasingly diverse and superdiverse populations. It emphasizes the relationship between institutions and urban change, exploring how they can adapt to evolving urban realities while navigating the tensions between inclusion and exclusion.

✍️ The event will bring together scholars, policymakers, and practitioners to advance transdisciplinary approaches, co-creative methodologies, and policy-relevant research. The conference is now accepting proposals for individual paper presentations, full thematic panels, workshops, roundtables, and book talks.

📝 Further information on topics, submission process and other details in our bio

📣 LAST 8 DAYS! Call for Papers and Proposals | The 2026 UNIC Thematic Conference
❗ CfP Deadline is 1 December 2025.

📆 Conference Dates: 17-19 June 2026 at Koç University Istanbul

🌆 This conference examines how institutions strive to respond to the challenges of growing socio-spatial inequalities, uneven access to health and social care, and the pressures of governing increasingly diverse and superdiverse urban populations, including how everyday encounters with institutions in clinics, schools, welfare offices, neighborhood councils, streets, platforms, and housing systems shape well-being and belonging.

📛 Building on UNIC’s Thematic Lines 4 (Justice, Security, and Institutions) and 6 (Health and Well-being), the conference is organized around two key thematic streams—focusing on justice, security, and institutional dynamics, and on health and well-being in post-industrial urban settings—with Superdiversity serving as a transversal theme that highlights questions of inclusion and belonging in post-industrial cities.

✍️ We invite multidisciplinary contributions from across, but not limited to, the social sciences, law, health, education, and urban studies. The conference is now accepting proposals for individual paper presentations and full thematic panels, but also workshops, roundtables, and book presentations.

📝 For details, themes, and more information. check the link in our bio. Help us spread the word to your networks!

The UNIC HEI Award 2025 call is now officially closed!

A big thank you to everyone who applied! We received a number of inspiring and high-quality applications this year. The Award Board will now begin the evaluation process, and we look forward to announcing the winning course in December.

Stay tuned for updates!

🧩 Day 2 of at

Thank you all for collectively working on placing the last puzzle pieces of the UNIC working Conference and helping to unlock the future of UNIC👏

On Day 2 we had the pleasure of hosting keynote speaker Sébastien Vauzelle, Head of the Secretariat, United Nations Local2030 Coalition, who spoke about localizing and potentializing Agenda 2030.

”Universities play a key, catalytic role in connecting cities, mobilizing citizenship, and making possible co-created visions of transformation.”

UNIC alliance coordinator Semiha Denktaş led a panel discussion with Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Redesigning the Post-Industrial City (RePIC) alumni Martino Zibetti and Johanna Bartsch on how they utilise their training from the Joint Masters Programme and their thoughts on being a European citizen.

“RePIC has given me a great network and has shaped a lot of what I do. I was inspired by the City Labs and use the methodology in my continued work”, said Martino Zibetti.

📸: Gorka Nalda

Day 1 of

✨ We are happy to have kicked off the first day of the UNIC Working Conference - Unlocking Transformational Value, hosted at the beautiful historical Bilbao campus of University of Deusto.

A warm thank you to the opening session speakers who gave a heartfelt welcome to the city of Bilbao together with reflections on everything that the UNIC alliance has achieved so far, and thoughtful insight on how we can look ahead and create long lasting collaboration between our alliance universities and cites. 

Voices from the opening session:

”The mission of UNIC is more valuable than ever, as it contributes to the resilience of Europe.", Annelien Bredenoord , President of the Executive Board of UNIC and Erasmus University Rotterdam.

”Let us continue building bridges between the cities and universities to create growth, inclusion and innovation.” Juan Maria Burto, Mayor of Bilbao.

“Only together can we achieve a shared vision of transformation, opportunity and belonging, Juan José Etxeberria Sagastume, Rector University of Deusto.

"UNIC is a good example of how to connect a university's local mission to a true pan-European vision" Sara Urionabarrenetxea, Director of University Planning and Academic Organization, Basque Government.

Keynote speaker Josep Maria Garrell, President of European University Association offered perspectives, analysis and recommendations regarding the European Universities Initiative.

“Its transformative potential is huge, and it is imperative that the Initiative succeeds! Europe cannot afford for it to fail.”, Josep Maria Garrell.

Thank you to all the participants and organisers of the first day's parallel sessions, World Café and General Assembly. We are looking forward to the following days of deepening discussions and knowledge sharing together!

📸: Gorka Nalda

🎉 The first RePIC cohort celebrates graduation!


The UNIC alliance marks a significant milestone today: the first cohort of students in the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Redesigning the Post-Industrial City (RePIC) have successfully completed their studies! This pioneering cohort, which began in 2023, consisted of twelve students from seven countries, each with diverse and interdisciplinary academic backgrounds.

🎓 They completed the demanding programme within the standard four-semester timeframe and earned the joint degree Master of Science (M.Sc.).

💪 The first of many, and a landmark achievement in European university collaboration. Huge congratulations to all the RePIC students, and to everyone involved in the programme across the alliance.

📸 Ruhr University Bochum UNIC@RUB (European University of Cities in Post-Industrial Transition)

📣 Call for Papers and Proposals | The 2026 UNIC Thematic Conference!
❗ CfP Deadline is 1 December 2025.
📆 Conference Dates: 17-19 June 2026 at Koç University Istanbul.

🌆 This conference examines how institutions strive to respond to the challenges of growing socio-spatial inequalities, uneven access to health and social care, and the pressures of governing increasingly diverse and superdiverse urban populations, including how everyday encounters with institutions in clinics, schools, welfare offices, neighborhood councils, streets, platforms, and housing systems shape well-being and belonging.

📛 Building on UNIC’s Thematic Lines 4 (Justice, Security, and Institutions) and 6 (Health and Well-being), the conference is organized around two key thematic streams—focusing on justice, security, and institutional dynamics, and on health and well-being in post-industrial urban settings—with Superdiversity serving as a transversal theme that highlights questions of inclusion and belonging in post-industrial cities.

✍️ We invite multidisciplinary contributions from across, but not limited to, the social sciences, law, health, education, and urban studies. The conference is now accepting proposals for individual paper presentations and full thematic panels, but also workshops, roundtables, and book presentations.

📝 For details, themes, and more information: link in bio | Help us spread the word!

🎖️ University of Oulu awarded UNIC Joint Master’s Programmes RePIC and SEOS in the category of "Succeeding Together", at the Opening ceremony of the University in September!

💪 According to the award citation, the programmes – created through collaboration between European University UNIC as well as several faculties and units of the University of Oulu – are a pioneering demonstration of multidisciplinarity, international appeal, and the ability to succeed together. These programmes enable students to study at several universities during their master’s degree.

Solution Designer Johanna Liimatta (left), Doctoral researcher Melinda Russial, Project Manager Marian Tumanyan and Professor Helka-Liisa Hentilä are very grateful for the award and recognition from the University of Oulu. They send their sincere thanks to all UNIC partners involved this achievement case.

Read the whole news article from our website at unic.eu/news

🏙️ Sanctuary has been an essential response to provide protection, shelter, and solidarity for “unauthorised” migrants, particularly in the face of increasingly restrictive migration policies.

⚡ Join us for a special UNIC CityLab on "Sanctuary Cities", which brings together researchers, activists, and professionals to explore how policy changes, grassroots movements, and localized action are rewriting sanctuary across Europe. RSVP now!

🎙️ Target Audience: Researchers, municipal actors, service providers, students

🗓️ 13 November 2025, 10:00- 13:00 CET
📍 Online on Teams
📝 Link in bio

⚡ OCTOBER 27-29! Sign up for the next UNIC Lightning Bites!
💡 Bite-size online talks, an hour a day, on creative sectors and artistic methods

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UNIC Lightning Bites: Creative Sectors and Engaging Artistic Methods in the Post-Industrial City
October 27-29 (Mon-Wed 13:30-14:30 CET)
Online via Zoom
📝 Link in bio
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Join us for an inspiring UNIC Lightning Bites session exploring the role of art, culture, and creative industries in renewing urban landscapes.

This CityLabs Lightning Bites series features short, impactful talks from diverse perspectives, addressing creative sectors and engaging artistic methods in renewing urban landscapes.

Hear from a diverse set of speakers on issues ranging from the transformative power of theatre to speculative design and fashion as a site for experimentation. ⚡

❗ LAST WEEK TO REGISTER!
📍 [17.10] An interactive UNIC workshop on belonging and meaning

💡 Join us for a workshop in which we highlight communication as a tool for inclusion. Through presentations, personal insights, and interactive exercises in small groups, we will come away with a better understanding of the obstacles to mutual understanding and learn how to create meaning and belonging through communication.

When: 17 October 2025 | 10:00 - 13:00 h CET
Where: Online on Zoom
Who: The workshop is open to all, targeting both academic and administrative university staff.

Certificate: Participants will receive a certificate of participation

📝Link in bio!

🌟 New Course Spotlight! 🌟

Encapsulated Aromas: Chemistry of Flavour Spheres*
Ever wondered how science shapes the taste and smell of the foods we love? 🍓🍫🍋

This innovative course takes you inside the world of molecular gastronomy, flavour chemistry, and biotechnology. Students will explore the secrets of flavour capsules - tiny spheres that trap and release aromas in controlled ways, transforming the way we experience food.

🔬 Learn how chemistry meets gastronomy
🍴 Discover techniques used in culinary arts & the food industry
💡 Gain skills relevant for research, innovation, and market-driven product design
Whether your passion is in science, gastronomy, or sensory analysis, this course offers the perfect fusion of disciplines - and a taste of the future of food.

👉 Don’t miss the chance to be part of the next big thing in food science!

Sign in to UNIC Virtual Campus and register for the course.

Registrations deadline: October 14th, 2025, on campus.unic.eu
ECTS points: 3

*The course is part of a joint teaching activity supported by the UNIC VIP Fund, link in bio.