GEMINAE

Geminae Overview

List of Partenaires GEMINAE

Country	University
Algeria	Universite De Boumerdes
Argentina	Instituto Tecnologico De Buenos Aires
Argentina	Universidad Nacional De Cuyo
Argentina	Universidad Nacional De La Plata
Benin	Universite d'Abomey-Calavi
Brazil	FUCAPE Business School
Brazil	Universidade De Brasilia
Brazil	Universidade Estadual De Campinas
Brazil	Universidade Estadual Do Oeste Do Parana
Brazil	Universidade Federal Da Bahia
Brazil	Universidade Federal De Minas Gerais
Brazil	Universidade Federal De Viçosa
Brazil	Universidade Federal Do Rio De Janeiro
Brazil	Universidade Regional De Blumenau
Burkina Faso	Institut International d'Ingenierie De l'Eau Et De l'Environnement
Cabo Verde	Universidade De Cabo Verde
Canada	Universite De Sherbrooke
Canada	Universite Du Quebec A Trois-Rivieres
Colombia	Universidad Catolica De Colombia
Colombia	Universidad De Los Andes
Colombia	Universidad Del Rosario
Colombia	Universidad Nacional De Colombia
Cuba	Universidad De La Habana
Dominican Republic	Universidad Autonoma De Santo Domingo
Madagascar	Universite d'Antananarivo
Mexico	Universidad Autonoma De San Luis Potosi
Mexico	Universidad De Monterrey
Morocco	Universite Hassan II De Casablanca
Mozambique	Universidade Pedagogica De Maputo
Senegal	Universite Cheikh Anta Diop De Dakar
Timor-Leste	Universidade Nacional De Timor Lorosa'e

Geminae Program

Geminae Program – UNITA's partner universities around the world

Taking advantage of the increased visibility and attractiveness of European Universities, UNITA aims to create a network of "sister" universities – the Geminae program – which will allow sharing best practices among institutions.

This network, based on the quality of the institutions, will be initially founded on active cooperation between Outside European Union Universities and UNITA’s partners—giving preference to institutions in Romance language–speaking countries. Over time, Geminae will grow into a dynamic community with continuously increasing partners.

This project also involves cooperation with UNITA’s associate partners: l’Agence Universitiarie de la Francophone (AUF), Organización de Estados Iberoamericanos (OEI) and Associação das Universidades de Língua Portuguesa (AULP). Their active role in Romance-speaking countries outside Europe is key to identifying new partners and cooperation topics.

The objective is to broaden the exchange of best practices developed by UNITA in areas such as training, research, innovation, and societal links. It will facilitate student mobility to UNITA and encourage occasional settlement in UNITA’s regions—where depopulation and a need for skilled workforces are current challenges.

Key Areas of UNITA

• UNITA offers a variety of programs and destinations for students who prepare through its intercomprehension training.
• Incoming and outgoing students will easily move across Romance-speaking countries, communicating in French, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, and Romanian.
• Key thematic areas include cultural heritage, renewable energies, and circular economy—linking the past with the future and supporting economic transition while addressing climate change.
• UNITA envisions cooperation with Geminae partners in developing research projects, teaching programs, and micro-credentials.

To finance these partnerships, UNITA and its partners will participate in various calls for projects (e.g., Erasmus+ capacity building projects or initiatives such as the African Research Initiative for Scientific Excellence (Arise)).

Geminae Best Practices Awards

The Geminae Best Practices Awards initiative is organized by the UNITA Alliance and aims to promote, enhance, and encourage the exchange of best practices among UNITA Geminae university partners worldwide. The awards recognize pioneering initiatives that contribute to more effective and dynamic universities in an increasingly globalized higher education system, inspiring other institutions to emulate these practices.

The awards include up to 6 prizes, granted by the UNITA Alliance in conjunction with the Organizing Committee of the biennial Geminae Conference. Each edition selects participating universities based on a two-year evaluation period.

Thematics

The awards focus on the following topics:

• **Innovative HEI Learning:** Student-centered, labor-market oriented approaches (transversal competences, international cooperation, digitalization, personalization of student paths).
• **Excellence in Research:** Promotion of Open Science, interdisciplinary approaches, shared infrastructures, and development of advanced technologies.
• **Contribution to Local/Regional Growth:** Activities supporting entrepreneurship and technology transfer.
• **Campus Life & Sustainability:** Green initiatives and commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) in higher education.
• **HEI Institutional Transformation:** Enhancing community strength among staff and students.
• **Promotion of Democratic Values:** Emphasizing peace, human dignity, equality, inclusion, and strong community engagement.

Who Can Apply?

Applicants must have a formal institutional relationship with a Geminae partner university. This includes academic staff, administrative staff, researchers, departments, schools, research centers, universities, or students.

Evaluation Criteria

The proposals are evaluated on:

• Institutional development or capacity building resulting from the best practice (max. 20 points)
• Suitability and replication capability in other universities (max. 20 points)
• Contribution to improving local/regional functioning (max. 20 points)
• Innovative nature of the best practice (max. 20 points)
• Stakeholders and/or students’ engagement (max. 20 points)

Eligibility requires a minimum of 10 points per criterion and at least 60 points overall.

Candidatures

Submissions should be sent to the UNITA OFFICE of UVT (unita@e-uvt.ro) and include:

• Topic and Title
• University name and location
• Contact details (Name, Position, Email, Phone)
• A video presentation (max 5 minutes; horizontal format) with title and applicant’s name(s)

 _(Note: Ensure all copyright and consent requirements are met.)_

• Description of the project (max. 2,000 words) and a summary (max. 500 words)
• Language: any alliance language (Italian, French, Spanish, Romanian, or Portuguese) plus an English summary

Each Geminae member may submit up to 3 applications.

Awards

Awarded prizes consist of a diploma highlighting the best practice. Up to 6 winners (one per topic) will be selected and given the opportunity to present their project in detail at the Geminae Conference. Winners are notified in advance and travel costs (flights and accommodation) are covered by the UNITA Alliance.

Reviewed Key Dates

• **Opening Date:** 15 December 2024
• **Extended Closing Date:** 15 April 2025
• **Awards Committee Review:** 15 May 2025
• **Awards Announcement:** 30 May 2025
• **Prize Ceremony & Presentations:** 4–5 September 2025 (during the Geminae Conference)

Award Committee & Selection Panel

• **Award Committee:**

 – One member of the UNITA Management Committee  
 – One member of the UNITA Quality and Evaluation Board  
 – One representative of the Geminae network  
 – One Vice Rector for Internationalization from UNITA universities  
 – One Vice Rector for Research from UNITA universities  
 – One Vice Rector for Education from UNITA universities  
 – One representative of the Task 5.5 team  
 – One member of the Student Assembly  

• **Selection Panel:**

 Representatives from UNITA members pre-evaluate all submissions.

Data Protection

By participating, you accept the data protection policy of the West University of Timișoara (details at [1]).

• **Basic Consent:** Communication via email is required for managing your registration and updates.
• **Photographs/Recordings:** The event may be documented and shared publicly.
• **Responsible Entity:** West University of Timișoara (UNITA Office: unita@e-uvt.ro)
• **Purpose:** Personal data will be used solely for managing the initiative.
• **Rights:** You may access, rectify, or erase your data as outlined in the policy.

Geminae Award 2023 First Edition

The first edition of the Geminae Best Practices Awards included up to 6 prizes granted by the UNITA Alliance alongside the Geminae Conference Organizing Committee. Universities were selected based on a two-year evaluation period.

• Final Resolution*

Regulations available in EN | ES | FR | PT

UNITA at the EAIE

EAIE 2024 – Toulouse

For the first time, UNITA participated at EAIE (17–20 September 2024, Toulouse), Europe’s largest higher education conference. The exhibition was a unique opportunity to connect with counterparts, deepen partnerships, and share UNITA’s vision.

Watch the videos of Geminae Partners: Watch the videos of Geminae Partners:

• UNITA at the EAIE 2024 in Toulouse: YouTube
• Virgilio Almeida – Brasilia: YouTube
• Sebastien Charle & Audrey Tessier – Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières: YouTube
• Ana Lilia Ramos – Universidad de Monterrey (Mexico): YouTube
• Maria Teresa Damiani – Universidad National de Cuyo (Argentina): YouTube
• Colombo Eloic – Université de Sherbrooke (Canada): YouTube
• Sandra Guerin – Universidad del Rosario (Colombia): YouTube
• Rafael Mattiello – Unioeste do Paranà: YouTube
• Aziz Saliba – Federal University of Minas Gerais: YouTube
• Heidi Quintero – Universidad Catolica de Colombia: YouTube

EAIE 2025 – Gothenburg

UNITA will be present with its own stand. More information coming soon!

UNITA’s Partner Universities Around the World

Taking advantage of the increased visibility and attractiveness of European Universities, UNITA aims to create a network of “sister” universities – the Geminae program – to share best practices among institutions. Initially focusing on cooperation with universities outside the European Union, this growing community will continue to welcome new partners over time.

GEMINAE Conference, PAU – 20–23 September 2023

During the conference organized by the Université de Pau et des Pays de l’Adour (20–23 September 2023), the Connect UNITA team presented its digital education results. Representatives from 15 of the 32 extra-European universities in the GEMINAE network were met, and testimonials were recorded for an interactive map.