Unite! defines its strategic future at the XIII Dialogue in Turin
From February 9 to 12, Politecnico di Torino hosted the XIII Unite! Dialogue, the event with over 300 participants.
More than 300 representatives from the nine partner universities (students, faculty, and staff) gathered in Torino for the XIII Unite! Dialogue to design the Alliance's roadmap toward 2030.
Under the topic "From a short-term Erasmus+ project to a long-term alliance for EU competitiveness," the community worked on the funding proposal for the 2026-2028 period and the deep integration of Alliance activities within each home university.
Highlights of the Programme
The Dialogue’s agenda centered on transforming Unite! into a single, cohesive university system capable of acting as a catalyst for change in European higher education. This vision was presented by Rectors Stefano Corgnati (PoliTO) and Vivien Quéma (Grenoble INP), Unite! President, who emphasised the Alliance's role in driving EU competitiveness.
This strategic evolution was further enriched by the active participation of the SURE! student association, whose debate sessions positioned the student voice as the primary engine for addressing modern social and technological challenges.
Complementing these perspectives, Vice-Rectors adopted participatory methodologies, such as fishbowl discussions, to analyse the vital synergies between research, innovation, and education. Together, these collaborative efforts aim to strengthen Unite!’s impact as it transitions into the new 2028-2034 European framework.
A Symbol of Unity
As a tribute to the Alliance's values, the art installation "The Unite! Constellation" was inaugurated at the Politecnico headquarters.
"We are like stars, united in a single constellation. At this pivotal stage in the Alliance, we must be bold and shaped a shared vision for the universities for tomorrow. As one university system spanning multiple countries, our collective voice is stronger and more recognisable".
Next Steps
The Dialogue concluded with a call to action and integration by PoliTO Vice-Rector Elena Baralis. Working groups have already entered the final phase of the new Erasmus+ proposal and the rollout of the Unite! Widening training and hackathon programme.
