35 Years of UNICA: Upcoming Events and Activities
23 January 2025 | From UNICA

Next Friday, 24 January, UNICA turns 35! Despite this being the official day, we intend to make this a year-long celebration for our community, partners, and friends. Throughout the year, we will have many opportunities to jointly reflect on shared successes, current challenges of the sector, and envision a collaborative future.
Here are a few highlights of what is coming in 2025:
UNICA Days | 26-28 February, Brussels
The second edition of UNICA’s flagship event will bring the community back to Brussels to meet stakeholders, partners, and decision-makers for high level discussions around the topic of “The role of university networks in the context of the European Universities alliances”.
The rationale behind this year’s topic lies in the ongoing reflection on how traditional networks – many of which have been created since the late 80s/ early 90s – should position themselves in relation to the EU’s pioneering initiative, the European Universities alliances. These alliances envision a unified and competitive European Education Area, fostering seamless mobility, transnational education, and joint research programs. Despite common objectives and, at times, some perception of overlapping work, the truth is that networks and alliances have very different profiles and roles in their nature, with the former being more active on advocacy and policy work, while the latter being more formal and goal-oriented. In this context, university networks play a pivotal role as enablers and amplifiers of the European Universities alliances’ objectives.
With discussion panels focusing on education, research, collaboration, pedagogical innovation, and societal engagement, a comprehensive reflection on the role of traditional networks is indeed a topic for for the 35 years of UNICA.
Learn more about the UNICA Days 2025 on the event’s official page.
35th UNICA General Assembly and Rectors’ Seminar | 18-20 June, Athens
The UNICA General Assembly, bringing together the leaders of all UNICA member universities, is the most important event in the network’s annual calendar. For the 35th General Assembly, we will be convening in Athens, where the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), will graciously host us. As usual, it will be followed by a Rectors’ Seminar, this year focused on “The key role of the Humanities in our universities”.
Despite not being a new topic, it is one that remains relevant and that is worth revisiting time and time again. The Humanities not only foster critical thinking, ethical reasoning, and cultural awareness but also cultivate the skills required to navigate our increasingly interconnected and multicultural world. In an age dominated by technological advances and economic pressures, these disciplines encourage reflection on human experience, offering invaluable insights into our past, present, and future. And what better place to go over this relevant reflection but the cradle of classical civilization itself?
Head to the event’s official page to learn more.
UNICA Rectors’ Panel in Riga | 9 April, Riga
Meeting ahead of the EUA’s annual Conference is a tradition almost as old as UNICA has been a member of the association, and this year is no exception. In the last years, it has also become a common practice for leaders of UNICA members to convene at one of the nearest universities of the conference to have a short yet insightful session on a prominent topic. This time, the University of Latvia is welcoming us on the morning of 9 April for a Rectors’ Panel on “Competitiveness & Inclusiveness in R&I in Europe: a UNICA perspective.” Keynote speeches will be delivered by Guntars Kitenbergs, Vice-Rector for Research at the host university, and Edit Herczog, Chair of the Widening Group of Science | Business and former member of the European Parliament.
30 Years of the UNICA IRO Group
Whenever UNICA celebrates a significant anniversary, so does the IRO Group! Formally established five years after the foundation of the network, the IRO Group was the first UNICA group to be formed. In 2025, the group will celebrate three decades of contributing to the advancement and reflection on international Higher Education. As tradition dictates, the IRO Group will convene for its annual meeting in the second half of the year, at a location to be determined.
Discussions on the evolving role of IROs over the past 30 years have already begun, with last November’s meeting at Bucharest University of Economic Studies (ASE), centered on the topic “Building the Ideal International Relations Office: Balancing Challenges and Tangible Results in a Dynamic Environment.”
UNICA member universities interested in hosting this year’s meeting are invited to express their interest by contacting the Secretariat at office@unica-network.eu
Special anniversary actions
What’s an anniversary without the element of surprise? Be assured we’re working on a series of special actions to mark the occasion! While we’re keeping the details under wraps for now, you can expect a selection of exciting initiatives to celebrate the journey so far. These actions will be unveiled at key moments throughout the year, adding a unique touch to our events and communications.