Communities Building

UNITA Integrated Strategy (2028–2034): Focusing on Excellence in Education, Research, and Innovation through Community Engagement, Well-being, and Organizational Innovation.

1. Strategy Description & Vision

By 2034, UNITA aims to be the leading European university alliance for interdisciplinary research and the gold standard for student and staff policy development. This dual-track strategy integrates **Community Building** (via digital platforms and matching events) with a **Human-Centric Approach** prioritizing mental health, inclusion, and career sustainability.

Strategic Core Objectives

• Leading R&I Ecosystem: Optimized matching events and consolidated grant mechanisms (Starting/Advanced) to solve global challenges.
• Leading Staff & Student Policy: Comprehensive well-being and career development frameworks aligned with EU excellence standards.
• Regional Resilience: Strengthening mountain and border territories through territorial rootedness and innovation.

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2. State of the Art

Progress Highlights (2020–2027)

• Community Engagement: 6 Matching Events (5 Research, 1 Education) and 4 Starting Grants calls leading to 23 cross-institutional projects.
• Institutional Mapping: Systematic SWOT analysis across 12 universities identifying common priorities in well-being and gender equity.
• Infrastructure: Deployment of Connect-UNITA (LMS), InnoUNITA, and the Agora collaborative platform.
• Legal Framework: Utilization of the GEIE structure for enhanced inter-institutional coordination.

Resource Analysis (Current State)

Asset Type	Status	Gaps Identified
Diverse expertise across 7 countries; GEIE leadership. | Needs systematic political steering for "Community Building."
€14.4M Erasmus+ (through 2027). | Uncertain bridge funding for 2028+; sustainability beyond projects.
Agora Platform; LMS integration. | Needs advanced analytics for policy monitoring and AI-driven matching.
Strong mountain/border rootedness. | Resistance to innovation in some traditional university services.

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3. Context & Analysis

PESTEL Analysis

Factor	Key Trends	Strategic Impact
ERA Policy Agenda; France's "Mental Health National Cause" (2025). | High commitment to student well-being and cross-border research.
Horizon Europe (€93.5B); post-pandemic innovation. | Pressure to move toward full-cost basis funding and hybrid models.
40% of students face mental health issues; Aging demographics. | Well-being is no longer optional; it is a prerequisite for excellence.
AI/ML; Blockchain credentials; e-health (MoodSpace). | Digital innovation requires massive staff reskilling and data security.
EU Green Deal; Net-zero 2050 mandate. | Sustainability must be integrated into campus operations and careers.
GDPR; Mandatory Gender Equality Plans (GEP). | Legal compliance is tied to Horizon Europe eligibility.

Internal Forward-Looking Analysis

• Unique Attributes: Legal GEIE status, multilingual Romance-speaking community, and a proven Starting Grant framework (23 ongoing projects).
• Opportunities: Using the **FOREU4ALL** community of practice (65 alliances) to cross-fertilize innovative administrative practices.
• External Needs: Specialist expertise in mental health policy evaluation and advanced digital policy management platforms.

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4. Prioritization & Action Plan

Prioritization Matrix

Action	Feasibility	Strategic Impact	Priority
High | High | High
High | High | High
High | High | High
High | High | High
High | High | High
Medium | High | High
Medium | High | Medium

Detailed Action Steps

Action 1: UNITA Agora Platform Deployment

• Goal: Establish a unified digital backbone for engagement.
• Phases:
  • 2028-2030: Integrate 12 universities and matching algorithms.
  • 2031-2034: Open industry portals and implement blockchain credentials.

Action 2: Optimized Matching Events

• Goal: Data-driven network formation.
• Implementation: Run 25 optimized events using hybrid formats and AI matching to foster permanent thematic networks.

Action 3: Progressive Grant Ecosystem

• Goal: Convert individual projects into durable collaborative networks.
• Target: 50% external co-funding by 2034 and the establishment of 8 sustainable "Excellence Centers."

Action 4: Well-being Framework (Mental Health)

• Goal: Address the youth mental health crisis (40% of students affected).
• Implementation: Peer support networks (Nightline model) and 24/7 support platforms.

Action 5: Inclusion and Gender Equity (UIGEP)

• Goal: Exceed EU mandatory GEP requirements.
• Focus: Intersectionality, linguistic diversity, and safe reporting mechanisms for discrimination.

Action 6: Integrated Career Development

• Goal: Recognition of diverse roles (teaching, mentoring, innovation).
• Implementation: Establish cross-institutional leadership training and career pathways for rural/mountain retention.

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