European University UNIC

UNIC Centre for Teaching and Learning have published five handbooks for university teachers to help the development of courses and education. Handbooks are available and downloadable from the library of Europe University UNIC. All handbooks are in English.

Handbooks are in the following topics:

• Virtual Exchange
• Challenge-Based Learning
• Teaching and Learning in Blended Intensive Programmes
• Education for Sustainable Development
• Inclusive Education

Engaged Research enables research to have a better impact. Knowledge is not produced just for society, but instead, with the society and within the society.

The European University UNIC develops a framework and supportive systems for involving and engaging citizens, civil society, and public/city authorities in research and innovation. UNIC creates a truly European infrastructure for studying the questions and challenges of post-industrial cities.

• Read more about UNIC for Engaged Research (UNIC4ER)

Contact the Oulu UNIC4ER team by emailing unic.info[at]oulu.fi

• UNIC Centre for City Futures Director, Sari Hirvonen-Kantola

The City of Oulu is the University of Oulu’s partner in the European University UNIC. It is dedicated to develop a dialogic relationship with its post-industrial city partners to address their questions, such as structural changes. In Oulu, they relate to the population growth and new opportunities in urban ecosystems. In post-industrial cities’ context, superdiverse people are considered a strength. In a smart city, knowledge management becomes a key approach, and the city is developed together with stakeholders.

• Bilbao, University of Deusto, Spain

• Bochum, Ruhr University Bochum, Germany

• Cork, University College Cork, Ireland

• Istanbul, Koç University, Türkiye

• Liège, University of Liège, Belgium

• Zagreb, University of Zagreb, Croatia

• Rotterdam, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Netherlands (coordinator)

• Oulu, the University of Oulu, Finland

• Lodz, the University of Lodz, Poland

• Malmö, Malmö University, Sweden

The UNIC Expert Voices Fund aims to incentivise University of Oulu (UOULU) researchers, students, and staff members to enhance dissemination activities of the European University UNIC by supplying staff and students a platform to share knowledge and best practices beyond the European University. UNIC Expert Voice Fund is a mobility grant, which enables researchers to attend conferences, trainings, or workshops, where they can disseminate outputs of UNIC initiatives and collaborations.

Fund Objectives

By enhancing our presence at international events, this fund aims to promote the expertise and successes of the UNIC community, sparking new collaborations and expanding our impact. Below, you will find key details about the fund, application guidelines, and important dates.

Call for proposal

• Funded amounts: Each UNIC member university will award mobility grants for 5 people to travel to international events. Grants can cover costs like conference fees, travel, accommodation, and meals. University of Oulu offers 5 grants of maximum 500€ each until the end of 2027.
• Who can apply: Current staff (academic or professional) and students of UNIC universities. All University of Oulu members are welcome (part-time and full-time professors, staff, students, educators, lecturers, etc.). Applicants must be able to deliver before the end of their contract and seek support from their supervisors.
• Purpose: To disseminate knowledge, best practices, and outputs from UNIC initiatives at international events.
• Types of events: Conferences, workshops, and training events held outside the applicant’s home institution.
• Timeline: Calls for proposals will open from September 2025 until December 2026 or until all funds are shared. Applications will be handled on a rolling base, and decisions are given monthly.
• Funding uses: Grants must be used for travel, subsistence, and participation fees at the specified event.
• Collaboration and promotion: Recipients must engage in promotional activities before and after the event, using the UNIC media toolkit provided. Details of the communication and promotion are agreed with UNIC Team once the grant is awarded.

Additional Information for Applicants

University of Oulu can only support costs related to its own researchers, students or staff members, regardless of their role in the activity. Costs for staff members of other partner universities cannot be supported unless collaborators in the partner universities seek funding within their own institutions.

UNIC Thematic Line (TL) activities financed by other parts of the UNIC budget cannot be financed through this fund. However, academics active in UNIC Thematic Lines with further activities are invited to apply.

University of Oulu applicants working together in an initiative with international partners can only submit one application form together (maximum two UOULU applicants per application).

Mandatory Criteria:

1. Affiliation: The applicant must be a current staff or student of one of the UNIC member universities.
2. Location: The presentation must be delivered at a conference or event outside of the presenter's university happening before September 2027.
3. Use of Funding: The grant should be utilized by the applicant to cover expenses related to travel, subsistence, or event participation fees associated.
4. Participation in Promotion: Applicants must be willing to actively participate in pre- and post-event promotion activities, including interviews and testimonials. The media toolkit provided will aid participants in effectively promoting their work.

Scored Criteria:

1. Subject Relevance and Sustainability: The presentation focus should be showcasing a UNIC best practice, research and/or educational finding, collaboration, result, or learning, which was developed in one of the UNIC Centres, Thematic Lines, or Work Packages.
2. Impact and Urgency: The presentation must generate impact, be responsive to critical current issues or offer a vital new perspective. Evaluation of this criterion will take into account various factors including the nature and size of the event; the innovative nature of the topic; the alignment with university strategy, and urgency of the topic and other factors.

Key Dates

Call opens: 26^th of September, 2025

Call closes: 31 December 2026; or earlier if all funds are allocated

Notification of results: as soon as fund allocation decisions are made. Decisions are made monthly.

Application Materials

Please send your application with this online form. Description of the event, description of your presentation and budget plan must be included in the application.