Note: This page contains the preliminary strategy for International Strategies and European Values (2027-2034). It is currently being populated to serve as a reference for UNITA partners.

International Strategies and European Values: 2027-2034

Executive Summary

UNITA’s internationalization strategies aim at sharing and developing activities and values both inside and outside the alliance boundaries. The strategy is organized into a nexus combining three dimensions of internationalization and three transversal actions, following a model of progressive cooperation: inception, formalisation, and excellence/competitiveness.

The Three Dimensions of Internationalization

Internationalization in UNITA: Deepening cooperation among partner universities in education, research, and rural/mountain territory development.
UNITA in Europe: Fostering cooperation within the European Universities Initiative (EUI) and with other national stakeholders.
UNITA in the World: Enhancing cooperation with the UNITA Geminae Network and global stakeholders to promote European values.

Three Transversal Actions

Developing a multilingual, multicultural, and digital transnational ecosystem.
Implementing an integrated and seamless Staff and Student Mobility Scheme.
Developing interdisciplinary UNITA Global Challenge Forums.

1. State of the Art

Summary of Actions to Date (Phases 1 & 2)

Area	Phase 1 Highlights	Phase 2 Progress
Mobility	Tested virtual, rural, physical, and blended mobility.	Expanded to 40+ Blended Intensive Programmes (BIPs); included Geminae partners in virtual offerings.
European Citizenship	Online workshops, PhD funding, and "The Highlander Perspective" on identity.	Renamed "European Citizenship Initiative"; 87 events held since Nov 2023 involving schools and local citizens.
Outreach (Geminae)	Established network of 30+ universities in Americas, Africa, and Asia.	Focus on Romance languages; Best Practices Awards (2023/2025); active participation in FOREU2.

Difficulties Encountered

Mobility: Lack of funding, bureaucratic hurdles in credit recognition, and different academic calendars. Absence of a unified ICT tool for tracking.
Citizenship: Challenges in measuring "political feeling" (qualitative vs. quantitative) and scarce budget for inclusivity actions.
Geminae: Need for clearer scope, lack of third-party funding, and administrative difficulties for non-EU partners attending events.

Resource Analysis

Human Capital: Task teams range from 29 to 49 members across 12 universities, involving IR officers and researchers.
Financials: UNITA Phase 2 allocates €479,400 for rural mobility and ~€100,000 for Geminae activities, though gaps remain for hosting costs.
Infrastructure: Reliance on UNITA Datacloud, Virtual Campus, and Moodle (hosted by UNITO).

2. Context & Analysis

PESTEL Analysis (Summary)

Factor	Key Trends	Impact on Strategy
EU "Europe on the Move" & European Degree Blueprint \| No direct funding but sets the standard for seamless mobility.
Draghi Report & Competitiveness Compass \| Supports the need for resources in HE and life-long learning.
Diversity & Inclusion Action Plan 2023-2024 \| Deeply rooted in UNITA’s priority for "zero-tolerance" discrimination.
New European Innovation Agenda (Deep Tech) \| Opportunities for talent attraction and digital experimentation.
2030 Agenda & European Green Deal \| Aligns with UNITA’s focus on sustainable mountain/rural development.
EU Artificial Intelligence Act (2024) \| Shapes the ethical use of AI in transnational research/education.

Internal Resource Analysis (Forward-Looking)

Gaps: Fragmented institutional strategies, insufficient dedicated staff for internationalization, and low brand visibility outside Europe.
Strengths: Shared identity (Romance languages, mountain/rural focus), agile alliance model, and proactive stakeholder engagement.

Prioritization Matrix (Top Priorities)

Joint Education/Research Excellence: High Priority / High Impact.
Mobility for All: High Priority / High Impact.
UNITA Challenge Forums: High Priority / High Strategic Fit.

3. Detailed Action Plan

Action 1: Transnational Ecosystem

Sub-action 1.1 (Internal): Reach excellence in joint study programs (2026–2034).
Sub-action 1.2 (Europe): Position UNITA as a reference for rural resilience and territorial cohesion.
Sub-action 1.3 (World): Engage Diplomatic Missions to bridge academic and science diplomacy.

Action 2: Seamless Mobility Scheme

Sub-action 2.1 (Mobility for All): Expand "UNITA a la carte" and Rural Mobility programs.
Sub-action 2.2 (Multilingualism): Use Intercomprehension in Romance languages to reduce barriers to mobility.
Sub-action 2.3 (Capacity Building): Launch joint programs with Geminae partners (High Priority).

Action 3: UNITA Challenge Forums

Sub-action 3.1: Define inclusive dialogue spaces for regional development and active citizenship.
Sub-action 3.2: Launch "Global Challenge Forums" involving civil society and policy makers.

Document Reference: UNITA Alliance Strategy 2027-2034

Factor	Key Trends	Impact on Strategy
EU "Europe on the Move" & European Degree Blueprint \| No direct funding but sets the standard for seamless mobility.
Draghi Report & Competitiveness Compass \| Supports the need for resources in HE and life-long learning.
Diversity & Inclusion Action Plan 2023-2024 \| Deeply rooted in UNITA’s priority for "zero-tolerance" discrimination.
New European Innovation Agenda (Deep Tech) \| Opportunities for talent attraction and digital experimentation.
2030 Agenda & European Green Deal \| Aligns with UNITA’s focus on sustainable mountain/rural development.
EU Artificial Intelligence Act (2024) \| Shapes the ethical use of AI in transnational research/education.