From June 17 to 19, 2026, theKoç University in Istanbul hosted the second thematic conference of the European UNIC Alliance, titled “Institutions in Transition: Justice, Security, and Well-Being in Post-Industrial Cities.” Researchers and practitioners gathered to reflect on the challenges of health, well-being, and inclusion in rapidly changing urban societies and their relationship to the institutions involved. Against a backdrop of an aging population, social inequalities, and increasingly diverse life trajectories, participants explored the role that institutions play in building more resilient and inclusive cities.
For the University of Liège, which was heavily involved in the scientific organization of the event alongside theKoç University, this conference illustrates an ambition that has grown over the years: to make UNIC much more than just a network for institutional cooperation by creating genuine interdisciplinary scientific communities on a European scale.
Over the course of three days, participants explored how institutions, local governments, healthcare systems, schools, universities, and civil society organizations are responding to the profound changes taking place in post-industrial cities.
How can we promote well-being in constantly evolving urban environments? How can we address rising inequalities? How can we strengthen a sense of belonging in increasingly diverse societies? These were among the questions that fueled discussions, research presentations, and collaborative workshops.
Beyond sharing scientific findings, the conference above all helped identify new avenues for collaboration among researchers from the alliance’s ten partner universities. This dynamic is now one of UNIC’s hallmarks: fostering interdisciplinary exchanges centered on major shared societal challenges.
Several researchers from the University of Liège contributed to the various working sessions. Among them were ; Valentine Papillon, whose research is supervised by Clémentine Schelings and Catherine Elsen, who presented her work as part of the STAGE project, dedicated to environments conducive to aging. This marked her first presentation at an international conference organized by the alliance.
Another first international experience in this context was that of Teïka Pfeiffer, a student at the University of Liège, who presented a study conducted under the supervision of Jean-Michel Lafleur on perceptions of “migrant privileges” in Belgium. Her participation reflects UNIC’s commitment to involving young researchers and students in European scientific exchanges.
Audrey Lebasof the Smart City Institute, a regular participant in the alliance’s activities, was also in Istanbul to present her case study based on the various partner cities of the UNIC alliance, focusing on issues of governance and management of smart and sustainable cities. The goal of this study is to make shared resources and replicable models available to researchers, educators, and local authorities.
In parallel with the scientific conference, members of the UNIC General Assembly met to prepare for the next phase of the European alliance’s development.
The University of Liège was represented by its vice-rector, Frédéric Schoenaers, alongside the rectors and vice-rectors of the partner universities. These discussions provided an opportunity to take stock of the alliance’s achievements since its creation, as well as to identify initiatives that now deserve to be consolidated and expanded.
Discussions focused in particular on ways to strengthen the impact of projects developed within the framework of UNIC, to better integrate the results obtained into the institutional practices of partner universities, and to continue developing sustainable European academic communities.
, Frédéric Schoenaers, noted that this meeting confirmed the project’s growing maturity: “The discussions were particularly rich and fruitful. We sense genuine motivation on the part of the partners and a shared commitment to taking the alliance to the next level. The challenge now is to scale up our efforts, consolidate what is working, and amplify the impact of the many initiatives developed in recent years.”
The simultaneous holding of the thematic conference and the governance meeting illustrates the evolution of UNIC, an alliance whose institutional strategy increasingly relies on the dynamics created within its scientific communities.
Beyond generating new knowledge, these gatherings help build networks of researchers and educators capable of enriching the alliance’s educational offerings. The themes explored at the conference—whether well-being, health, inclusion, or urban transformation—are gradually fueling the development of new educational content, shared learning activities, and collaboration opportunities for students at partner universities. In Istanbul, researchers and academic leaders thus reaffirmed a shared conviction: it is by drawing on scientific excellence and interdisciplinarity that UNIC will be able to strengthen its educational mission and offer students an increasingly rich European experience that is closely connected to major societal challenges.
Want to learn more about the conference? View the program here
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