New year’s message from the UNICA President
15 January 2024 | From UNICA
Dear colleagues and friends,
As we step into a new year, I would like to start by extending my sincere greetings and wishes of a bright 2024. As we embrace the sense of renewal that comes with this time, we are also aware of both the enduring global challenges of the past and the anticipation of new ones that loom on the horizon.
The challenges we face are diverse and complex – including threats to democracy, attacks on the academic and human values, power imbalances and the pressing issue of climate change – but they all transcend borders, underscoring the importance of unity and collaboration within and beyond Higher Education.
Reflecting on the year 2023 in last year’s UNICA Annual Report, I stated that the multitude of initiatives carried out by our collective of universities illustrate our shared commitment to catalysing transformative change. This remains our commitment in the near future, as articulated in the four strategic priorities laid out in UNICA’s Strategic Plan 2024-2025.
Looking particularly to the year ahead, we are looking forward to the very first edition of the UNICA Days, on 28 Feb –1 Mar. The event is open to the whole UNICA community and marks a significant step towards shaping the future of the network. Under the compelling theme, “Navigating the Future: Strengthening Democracy through Education and Research”, this event provides an exclusive platform for the UNICA community to convene, network, and engage with key representatives, stakeholders, and decision-makers influencing Higher Education policy in Europe.
As part of our commitment to fostering active engagement and awareness within the university community, we are closely observing the upcoming European elections in June and will soon unveil exciting news about an activity related to this important event.
We are also planning manifold activities in the scope of, among others, International Higher Education, Research, and Sustainability, carried out mainly through our seven Working Groups. I invite you to keep an eye on the UNICA website and to subscribe to the UNICA Newsletter to get the latest information on the network’s activities.
Let 2024 be a year of collective effort, inventive wit, and decisive action.
Kind regards,
Prof. Sorin Costreie
President of UNICA
Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.