EUniWell – European University for Well-Being

The European University for Well-Being (EUniWell) is a European university alliance selected for funding by the European Commission under the Erasmus+ programme and Horizon 2020. 

EUniWell currently unites 11 universities in a cross-sectoral, interdisciplinary, knowledge-based perspective. In addition to the University of Florence, EUniWell includes the Universities of Birmingham (England), Cologne (Germany), Konstanz (Germany), Inalco (France), Linnaeus (Sweden), Murcia (Spain), Nantes (France), Santiago de Compostela (Spain), Semmelweis (Hungary), and Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv (Ukraine). Furthermore, EUniWell is supported by more than 100 associated partners from all sectors of society.

The consortium's core mission is to understand, improve, measure, and rebalance the well-being of individuals, our own community, and society, as well as renewing European research and education. Activities take place within research arenas and work packages that bring together academics, experts, administrative staff, and students from all partner universities.

EUniWell at UniFi

• The Head of EUniWell for Unifi is the vice-president for international relations, Giorgia Giovannetti.
• Project manager: Irene Ghaleb
• Project coordinator: Elisa Martinelli
• Project manager EUniWell Horizon #Research: Niccolò Del Buono
• Student Board UniFi: studentboard.unifi(AT)eunapplication.org 

General contact email: euniwell(AT)unifi.it

Subscribe to the Newsletter for regular highlights and save-the-dates for upcoming events.

 

Research and Well-being Arenas

Within the Erasmus+ programme, EUniWell focuses on well-being in four interdisciplinary research areas, called "arenas", aligned with the priority areas of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD, of the EU Council, and of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

These priority areas are where EUniWell's partner universities are global leaders in research and education, and where their strengths and synergies are strongest, enabling them to have the maximum impact.

By working collaboratively with stakeholders in society and through the research-innovation-education nexus, EUniWell aims to generate new knowledge and play a critical and intermediary role in the development of research-based policies. Additionally, the consortium aims to support education, training, and the development of fundamental skills for students, researchers, professors, administrative staff, and to have a measurable impact on the well-being and quality of life of European citizens.

• Arena 1: health and well-being
• Arena 2: individual and social well-being

• Arena 3: environment, urbanity and well-being
   

  details

  Teachers and researchers are joining forces to tackle the challenges related to climate change and environmental protection. These actions result in a series of joint research and training projects, which are fundamental components to support individual and collective well-being. Within this arena, the EUniWell Academy is being created to promote environmental research through analytical studies, scientific dissemination, and training, addressing topics such as climate change and the promotion of civic sense as well as individual and collective well-being. To learn about colleagues working on common interest projects, please visit the EUniWell website. 
  Contacts: euniwell(AT)unifi.it

• Arena 4: teacher education
   

  details

  Dedicated to the growth of future teachers' competences, the main objective is to define a common framework for the training of European teachers that leads to a transversal curriculum and the introduction of an international teaching certificate. EUniWell universities, by promoting the international mobility of teachers within the consortium, aim to create a network of increasingly broader international partners focused on the development of new skills. The arena offers three distinct courses for future teachers. 
  Contacts: euniwell(AT)unifi.it - Daniela Frison - Giovanna Del Gobbo

   

Micro-credentials for Lifelong Learning

UniFi and EUniWell offer digital credentials, known as micro-credentials, with the goal of improving lifelong learning, acquiring new skills and personal empowerment. A micro-credential certifies the educational outcomes of a brief learning experience. These results are recognised with transparent and clearly defined standards. Courses leading to micro-credentials are designed to provide students with specific knowledge, skills, and competencies that respond to social, personal, cultural, or labor market needs.

The student receives their micro-credentials through open badges, which contain metadata about the acquired competencies and to whom they belong. Each badge is unique, readable on any computer, and the information can be verified in real-time by any system that supports Open Badge Infrastructure (OBI), making it an ideal addition to one's CV. More information.

The first UniFi courses offering micro-credentials are:

• Well-being strategies for academic leaders
• Education toward a sustainable future
• Intercomprehension Between Romance Languages
• Intercomprehension Between Germanic Languages
• Italian B2-C1
• Italian access B1

EUniWell Horizon 2020

EUniWell #Research is a project funded by Horizon 2020 through the Science with and for Society (SWAFS) call. The project aims to strengthen and integrate the EUniWell Erasmus+ work programme and is focused on research activities. The goal is to maximise the potential of research and innovation to address contemporary problems, thus contributing to an improvement in collective well-being. More information.

In particular, this project:

• creates the conditions for the activation of a shared EUniWell research programme focused on well-being
• exploits the potential created by new European guidelines oriented towards the digital and green transition and the adoption of Open Science approaches regarding data sharing

The EUniWell #Research work programme includes four distinct work areas, called work packages:

• next-generation research and innovation
• sharing and transfer
• re-skilling and up-skilling
• management

Well-Being Research Incubator

Born in September 2022, it is a collaborative research initiative on the theme of well-being. Researchers from participating universities are invited to submit proposals for collaborative online workshops on topics related to the research arenas. The goal is for researchers to use the European alliance to expand their networks, learn about ongoing research activities across Europe, identify common interests, synergies, and potential collaborative initiatives. To this end, the workshops should bring together researchers and/or research staff from at least three EUniWell partner universities.

Workshops should be an opportunity to create connections and explore opportunities for future collaboration. It is up to the candidates to decide the best way to do so, whether it be a networking session for people working in related fields, or a meeting within an already established partnership.

To advertise your own workshop idea or to learn about ideas that have already been proposed, consult the Well-Being Research Incubator page.

Student Board

 The Student Board comprises two representatives from each university in the consortium, as well as student executives and the Chief Student Officer. This allows an international and diverse group of students to represent the student bodies of individual universities, to be regularly in contact and to be involved in the decision-making process of EUniWell.

At the University of Florence, there is also a larger student council involved in EUniWell activities. The council participates in online and in-person meetings, organises UniFi events on EUniWell themes, and spreads information about EUniWell opportunities among students.

To join the student council, please email studentboard.unifi(AT)eunapplication.org. T

o get involved and contribute to the organization of specific events, you can check the Euniwell news or subscribe to the Newsletter.

Opportunities and News

• University of Florence "EUniWell Staff Training Week" on the topic ‘Intercultural communication, conflict management, inclusion, and sustainability’ in Florence from May 8-12, 2023. It is organised in collaboration with Linnaeus University.
  
   
• University of Cologne "Erasmus+ Staff Week" on the topic "Dynamic Research Management in the European Context’" From September 18-22, 2023. Information - application deadline March 31, 2023.
  
   
• Linnaeus University "International Staff Week 2023" on the topic "Intercultural competences for diverse and inclusive academic environments" in Växjö and Kalmar from May 22-26, 2023. Information.

Festiwell

An annual event that celebrates international exchange and cooperation by proposing academic and cultural initiatives and contents (music, theatre, food, sports, etc.).

• In 2023 "Upskill, Connect and Celebrate!" will take place at Linnaeus University, at the Växjö Campus. Programme.
• In 2022, "Towards Global Sustainable Well-Being" explored, with students, researchers, and university staff from all EUniWell partner institutions, one of the great challenges of the present: sustainable development.
• In 2021, "Taking Well-Being Forward", a hybrid event focused on research and education with a well-being perspective.

 Seed Funding Call Programme

 The Seed Funding Call promotes collaborative projects among researchers, students, professors, and administrative staff from the universities of the consortium.

The programme supports initiatives in line with EUniWell's mission and contributes to deepening mutual ties and creating innovative ideas to promote well-being, improve existing collaborations between partners, and start new ones.

The projects can cover a wide range of topics related to health (both mental and physical), individual and social well-being, quality education, and environmental sustainability, all essential elements for well-being and quality of life.

Seed Funding Calls open twice a year and are jointly funded by all partner universities in the alliance. Each proposal submitted must involve at least 4 EUniWell partner universities and can receive funding of up to a maximum of 25,000 euros.

Call for applications 2023 - deadline April 9th, 2023

 Research thesis awards

 EUniWell supports PhD students, invests in their training, and promotes innovative approaches in the field of scientific dissemination.

Two PhD students from each partner university were selected for the 2022 research thesis award, with a total of 16 winners. The theses addressed two specific thematic areas: ‘Individual and social well-being’ and ‘Environment, urbanity and sustainable development’. UniFi winners.