In August and September 2025, students from across Europe will participate in the UNIC Summer Course on "Resilience and Sustainability." The course aims to tackle global megatrends such as climate change and digitalisation, which have profound impacts on regional development and economic stability.
Every so often, the UNIC universities organise various activities related to education. This course, for example, is organised by the Department of Management and Economics at Ruhr-Universität Bochum.
Innovative solutions
Between 25 August and 12 September 2025 students will have the opportunity to join the online and physical learning format that addresses the challenges of climate change, demographic shifts, and regional development through innovative solutions. The European University of Cities in Post-Industrial Transition (UNIC) brings together ten universities throughout Europe to boost development of knowledge and co-creation through collaboration, innovation and inclusion for societal impact and improvement.
Diverse regional perspectives
During the course, students will explore the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations and learn to approach these challenges from diverse regional perspectives. Through collaborative projects, participants will develop innovative strategies for addressing demographic changes, with a focus on the aging population and the outmigration of skilled workers in post-industrial regions such as the Ruhr, Northern Finland, and Łódź.
In addition, students will attend a series of online lectures from esteemed academics including Prof. Martin de Jong from Erasmus University Rotterdam and Prof. Michael Roos from Ruhr-Universität Bochum. They will explore key topics such as resilience, sustainability, and the role of digital transformation in promoting green transitions. The course will also feature online workshops where students can present their regional challenges and solutions, with final group presentations in Bochum.
Working in team with students from the UNIC universities
The hands-on approach of the summer course includes working in teams to devise solutions that will contribute to sustainable development while enhancing regional resilience to external stresses. A jury will evaluate the final presentations, which will be based on real-world challenges in the regions of the participating universities.
How to apply
Students must be enrolled in bachelor’s or master’s programmes at one of the UNIC universities, with a strong interest in resilience and sustainability. A B2 level of English is required, and active participation in both the online formats and physical meetings is essential to successfully complete the course. Participants may apply for credit points, with accommodation and travel support available through the Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programme.
Applications can be submitted by 1 May 2025. For more information or to apply, EUR students should contact Anne Hofmann at Rotterdam School of Management (hofmann@rsm.nl) at Erasmus University Rotterdam. Successful applicants will be notified by 10 May 2025.
For course material-related queries, contact:
- Prof. Martin de Jong, Erasmus University Rotterdam: w.m.jong@law.eur.nl
- Prof. Michael Roos, Ruhr-Universität Bochum: michael.roos@rub.de
- Dr. Jan-Hendrik Kamlage, Ruhr-Universität Bochum: Jan-Hendrik.Kamlage@ruhr-uni-bochum.de
- More information
The European University of Cities in Post-Industrial Transition (UNIC) brings together ten universities throughout Europe to boost development of knowledge and co-creation through collaboration, innovation and inclusion for societal impact and improvement. Find out more about UNIC and who the UNIC partner universities are or visit the UNIC website.
- Related content
