4th Unite-Ed Future Hybrid Summit 2027

Concept

The rapidly evolving needs of society and the transformative agenda shaping European higher education have prompted higher education institutions to rethink how they fulfil their missions and strategic objectives. Technological advancements, demographic shifts, sustainability challenges, and increasing global interconnectedness are driving academics, researchers, and institutional leaders to adopt innovative approaches to teaching, research, and governance. Preparing graduates for an increasingly dynamic labour market, safeguarding academic integrity, promoting social inclusion, and fostering innovation are the hallmarks of many European Higher Education Institutions.  

Call for proposals

This call for proposals invites academics, researchers, students, and stakeholders from the Unite! Alliance to critically explore and advance understanding of the future of European higher education through interdisciplinary perspectives. We welcome contributions from researchers, policymakers, practitioners, educators, students, and collaborative interdisciplinary teams that examine innovative approaches, emerging trends, ethical challenges, and transformative practices shaping the next generation of higher education in Europe. 

Submissions may address, but are not limited to, the following themes: 

• Innovative models and practices in higher education.  
• Ethical, social, and policy implications of technological and institutional change.  
• Quality, accessibility, inclusion, and sustainability.  
• Responsible research and innovation practices  
• Inclusive pedagogies and learning environments  
• Future models of student and staff mobility  

Proposals will be submitted on the following page (abstracts should not be more than 500 words long ): How to use Metacampus: Assignment - try it out | Unite! Metacampus

Attendance/Participation 

• Each Unite! university will nominate at least five faculty/academic staff to participate as presenters in the summit, and encourage at least two submissions (full research paper, work in progress, Seed Fund grants, workshop, and roundtable discussions). 
•  You can participate online in (zoom link)

Key dates for presenters

• Proposal Submission deadline: January 23, 2027 
• Proposal confirmation: February 5, 2027
• Final Programme Released: February 19, 2027

Key dates for attendants

• Registration: January 23 - May 6, 2027 

Timetable

• An in-person session will take place in the morning during the Unite! 2027 Dialogue in Wroclaw (9.00-12:30), focusing on full research paper, work in progress, and seed fund grant proposals. 
• This will be followed by an afternoon hybrid session, starting at 14.00, devoted to workshops and/or round table discussions.

Preliminary programme: 

9.00-10.00 - Introduction and keynote

10.15-12.30 - In-person sessions on research papers and proposals

12.30-13.30 - Lunch

14.00-15.40 - Hybrid workshops

15.45-16.00 - Closing

Session Structure 

• Presentation: 25 minutes - 15 minutes for presentation and 10 minutes for discussions. 
• Work in progress: 25 minutes - 15 minutes for presentation and 10 minutes for discussions. 
• Workshop: 60 minutes - 50 minutes for the workshop and 10 minutes for start-up. 
• Discussion: 60 minutes - 50 minutes for the workshop and 10 minutes for start-up. 

Main organisers

• Charlotte Hurdelbrink: hurdel@kth.se 
• Ernest Ampadu: ernesta@kth.se  

Link to previous papers (Zenodo)