UNICA reflects on how campus design reflects universities’ community engagement in new article for the City Science Initiative (CSI)

26 May 2026 | From partners - From UNICA

What does university architecture tells us about the changing mission of Higher Education? This is the question at the heart of a new article authored by UNICA in the most recent recent report by the City Science Initiative (CSI) titled “Blueprints for messy cities”. The publication was presented last 22 May at the annual City Science Initiative (CSI) workshop in Thessaloniki. During the official launch, CSI Chair Marie Arche presented the first copy to Maria Yeroyanni, Senior Expert for the policy R&I agenda ‘ Innovating Cities’, on behalf of the European Commission.

Building on the concrete spatial transformations of UNICA member universities, the article titled “From co-existence to co-creation: examples of the transformative university-city relationship in the UNICA network” examines how universities and cities are becoming increasingly intertwined and mutually supportive spaces.

[Universities] are not merely in the city; to be truly relevant, they must be of and
for the city, aligning their teaching, research, and service missions with
urban challenges.

Through the examples of the Vrije Universiteit Brussels & Université libre de Bruxelles, the University of Cyprus, the University of Sarajevo, and Nova School of Business & Economics, the authors conclude that the relationship between universities and cities is moving “from coexistence to cocreation.”

About the City Science Initiative and the publication

The City Science Initiative is a European Commission-led platform that brings together cities, experts, and EU services to strengthen cooperation between science and urban policy, supporting evidence-based solutions to urban challenges and fostering a European network of City Science Officers. Learn more

“Blueprints for messy cities” is the fourth report published by CSI. The publication gathers essays that focus on the scaling up, sustainability and impact of the Initiative, as well as case studies captured in the now traditional yellow pages. The report is divided in five chapters, authored by researchers and professionals of cities, showcasing the international and multisectoral take of the initiative.