The UNICA Rectors Seminar: The Treaty of Rome after 60 years: Achievements and challenges of European Higher Education was hosted by Sapienza University of Rome in cooperation with the Universities of Rome "Tor Vergata", "Roma Tre" and "Foro Italico", 23-25 March 2017.
More photos are available in this Flickr album
Speech at the Quirinale Palace by Eugenio Gaudio, Rector, Sapienza University of Rome
Speech at the Quirinale Palace by Gaetano Manfredi, President of the Italian Rectors’ Conference, Rector of the University of Naples Federico II
Speech at the Quirinale Palace by Luciano Saso, UNICA President
Welcome address by Eugenio Gaudio, Rector, Sapienza University of Rome
Welcome address by Prof. Gustavo Piga, Rector's Delegate for International Relations, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”
Welcome address by Vincenzo Mannino, Vice-Rector for International Relations, Roma Tre University
Welcome address by Fabio Pigozzi, Rector, University of Rome "Foro Italico"
The Treaty of Rome after sixty years - Francesco Gui, Professor of Modern History, Sapienza University of Rome
The achievements of European Universities in the last 60 years - Lesley Wilson, Secretary General, European University Association
Why Universities should make social innovation - Giuseppe Novelli, Rector of the University of Rome “Tor Vergata”
The important role of Universities in strengthening the European Union - Jolanta Choinska-Mika, Vice-Rector for Student Affairs and Quality of Teaching, University of Warsaw
New landscape of higher education: massification and structure of higher education systems - Ivan Prostakov, Vice-Rector, Higher School of Economics Moscow
Challenges for higher education in Flanders / Belgium - Paul De Knop, former Rector, Vrije Universiteit Brussel
University Cooperation, Europe and the UK - Raphael Woolf, Vice-Dean International Faculty of Arts & Humanities, King’s College London
UNICA Activities - Luciano Saso, UNICA President
UNICA Rectors΄ Seminar at the University of Cyprus, Costas Constantinou, Vice-Rector for International Affairs, Finance and Administration, University of Cyprus
2017 marks the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Rome. A true milestone for the modern-day European Union, The Treaty led to the founding of the European Economic Community (EEC). It was signed on 25 March 1957 by Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, France, Italy, and West Germany and came into force on 1 January 1958.
As the European Union commemorates the signing of one of its most important Treaties, it also faces enormous challenges which threaten its unity and continuity: the sharp turn of the American foreign policy, ongoing refugee crisis still far from being solved, strong rise of anti-EU, nationalist, and xenophobic sentiment within the EU itself and a loss of faith in the EU values, such as diversity, solidarity, and integration.
The Seminar, organised as part of the 60th anniversary commemorations of the signing of the Treaty, looked at how the European community as a whole, and more specifically, the European higher education had evolved since the signing of the Treaty and discussed the role of Universities in overcoming the threats currently faced by the EU.