About the conference
Universities are confronted with deep transformations to address a number of issues, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, digitalization, the climate crisis, and the growing demand for collaboration with civil society and citizens. The concept and the design of sustainable university campuses has even more incentives to implement principles of inclusivity, community, wellbeing, flexibility and connectivity.
This event aims at discussing and presenting academic snapshots from the future, through panel discussions and case studies regarding experiences of viable designs of a multi-modal campus implemented at UNICA member universities as a response to these challenges. Participants will have the opportunity to learn more about the collaboration among different actors to successfully engage in these transformations, how to respond to different expectations towards the campus, the strategies introducing interdisciplinary research facilities, multifunctional public and dining spaces, libraries, hybrid and flexible classrooms and offices, innovation ecosystems, inclusive residential solutions and campus service one-stop-shops.
Speakers at the conference will discuss issues like:
- How can students be involved in campus transformation?
- How can we respond to the energy crisis, the global e-learning competition, and blended work and learning by combining ancient buildings and new technologies?
- How to improve the utilisation and accessibility of the existing academic commons by creating living labs to develop and test research and innovation?
- How can universities and cities interact to engage in sustainable transformations?
The event is a joint conference of UNICA & the City and UNICA Green & SDGs and provides the two working groups with an opportunity to address the topic from different perspectives, to learn from the expertise of colleagues with different profiles and backgrounds, and to discuss possible cooperation and synergies in the future.
The conference will begin with outlining the experience of the University of Sarajevo, which is now undergoing a significant campus renovation with funding from the government and the European Investment Bank. By designing, projecting, and reconstructing the main campus of the university, which is situated in the city’s administrative center and was originally a military camp, the institution is contributing to the process of valorizing the entire environment.
The renovation of campuses from the perspectives of sustainability and the interaction between the institution and the city will be the topic of presentations from other UNICA member universities on related initiatives and experiences.
Practical guide for the participants (including suggested hotels) available here