The online General Assembly of UNICA was held on the 30th anniversary of the European university network. Semmelweis University was represented by Dr. Marcel Pop, Director of International Relations. The COVID webinar held in October, organized by Semmelweis University and Loránd Eötvös University was highlighted as a positive example of collaboration between member universities.
The General Assembly of UNICA, a European university network, was held on its 30th anniversary on 19 November, 2020, which was organized online this year due to the current epidemiological situation. On behalf of Semmelweis University, Dr. Marcel Pop, Director of International Relations participated in the event as a delegate of Dr. Béla Merkely, Rector.
The event was chaired by Dr. Luciano Saso, President of UNICA, who briefly presented the network’s activities of this year. He highlighted that by reacting rapidly to unexpected changes, the university network managed to accomplish several webinars, individual and working group online meetings. Dr. Saso emphasized the efficient collaboration between member universities, which was primarily demonstrated by the organization of different professional webinars. As an example, he mentioned the joint webinar of Semmelweis University and Eötvös Loránd University entitled “COVID-19: Biomedical, Social and Legal Aspects”, held on 8 October. There were so many registrations for this event, which was definitely a record number of participants in UNICA’s history. On the basis of the feedback of questionnaires provided by the participants, the rate of contentment was outstandingly high, 95%. The event was continued by the description of the network’s financial situation, then the representatives of member universities unanimously accepted the annual financial report of 2020 and approved of the estimated budget for next year. During the online event, two higher educational institutions introduced themselves, the University of Sarajevo and the Bucharest University of Economic Studies, who aim at joining UNICA this year. Their request of becoming members of the network was supported by more than 90% of the participants of the General Assembly. Finally, the details of the planned General Assembly of 2021 and those of the Rectors’ Seminar were presented.
The UNICA event was continued with a Rectors’ Seminar in the afternoon, in the course of which the presidents and rectors of member universities held presentations, mainly about the 30 years of UNICA’s history, the situation of international collaborations at the time of the pandemic and about the future of higher-education.
On 30 November, 2020, UNICA organized a roundtable discussion about the project entitled “European Universities”, in which Dr. Béla Merkely and the rectors, vice-rectors of member universities also participated. European Universities were started three years ago, on the French President, Emmanuel Macron’s proposal. The initiative, which is financed by the European Commission, aims at facilitating the universities of the European Union in the establishment of common, so-called European Universities. According to the plans, the aim is to establish 20 such higher education institutions until 2025. Since the beginning of the project, 41 consortial collaborations have been started with the participation of 11 Hungarian universities. UNICA has put this topic on the agenda, since several of its member universities participate in different consortia as partners. During the event moderated by Dr. Luciano Saso, President of UNICA, the participants raised several topics with regard to the project they represent: education-research, communication strategies, leadership structure, the involvement of students, sustainability and the effects of COVID-19 pandemic on the institution and consortial collaborations. Dr. Béla Merkely briefly introduced the EUniWell project, and he expressed his views in details about the subjects involved, partly from the point of view of the consortium, and partly in the point of view of our university. EUniWell is a university alliance, which was established via the consortial collaboration of 7 European higher education institutions, including Semmelweis University, in the topic of well-being. More details can be found about EUniWell here.
Semmelweis University joined UNICA on 1 January, 2020. The Brussels-based university network was founded in 1990 with the aim of facilitating the cooperation and joint application activities of universities from the capitals of Europe along various priorities, such as internationalization and mobility, R&D&I, doctoral training, educational development, university management and development strategies, social implication and responsibility. Currently, 53 universities from 37 European capitals are members of the network, Hungary is represented by Semmelweis University and Eötvös Loránd University. Every year, UNICA organizes several thematic conferences at member universities on various topics with the participation of eight working groups, each specializing in one field (education, research, doctoral training, international, PR and communication, environmental sustainability, the social role of universities).
Diána Módos – Directorate of International Relations
Photo: UNICA, Directorate of International Relations (featured image)
Translation: Katalin Illés-Romhányi
