About the Conference

The 2027 UNIC Working Conference will take place from April 19-20 at University College Cork (UCC).

Registration is expected to open in November 2026. 

Conference Theme

Competitive Europe: a Values-Led Approach to Delivering Skills, Talent and Transformation  

Europe's future competitiveness and resilience will not be secured by technology or investment alone. It will depend on people, places and partnerships. It requires talent, skills, research, innovation, creativity, inclusion and sustainability working together, and goes beyond economic aspects.  

UNIC, as the European University of Cities in Post-Industrial Transition, offers a distinctive example. Through collaboration between universities, cities, industry and citizens, it demonstrates how European competitiveness can be values-led, inclusive and sustainable.  

The conference will develop the UNIC Values Model: a shared framework setting out how universities, municipalities, and societal actors within European University Alliances can contribute to Europe's competitiveness and resilience while remaining faithful to European values.  

Conference Programme

The conference programme is currently being finalized. A preliminary programme is expected to be available here in November 2026.