A team of researchers and experts, comprising representatives from European universities in CIVICA – The European University of Social Sciences, alongside higher education institutions from Ukraine, is implementing a project funded under the European University Institute’s (EUI) “Widening” Program. The project aims to strengthen the role of academic networks in promoting European integration. The initiative, coordinated by Dr. Marina Cino Pagliarello, a lecturer at the University of Essex, will also involve a team of faculty members from the Department of International Relations and European Integration (SNSPA), specifically Prof. Mihai Ovidiu Cercel, Assoc. Prof. Ana Maria Costea, and Lecturer Ioana Roxana Melenciu-Ioan.
The project seeks to create a sustainable framework for cooperation between universities within the EU and those in Ukraine. It aims to demonstrate how university alliances can enhance resilience, promote informal diplomacy, and foster increased mobility and intercultural dialogue. Ultimately, these efforts will contribute to developing long-term solutions for integrating Ukrainian universities into the European Higher Education Area.
In March 2022, CIVICA – The European University of Social Sciences, which includes SNSPA as a member, expressed solidarity with Ukraine in the face of Russian military aggression, firmly condemning the act and advocating for humanitarian assistance. In 2023, as a gesture of support, CIVICA launched the “CIVICA for Ukraine” initiative, which in its first year provided critical support to students, faculty, and Ukrainian universities affected by the war. In April 2024, following the success of the 2023 initiative, CIVICA’s Coordination Committee unanimously approved a second phase of implementation for the period 2024-2026. This new phase will introduce bilateral partnerships between CIVICA alliance universities and Ukrainian academic institutions. Thus, the project implementation will further contribute to the “CIVICA for Ukraine” initiative, aligning with CIVICA’s mission to support dialogue, informal diplomacy, and the core values of the European Union, while addressing the educational and humanitarian needs caused by the crisis in Ukraine.
CIVICA – The European University of Social Sciences currently brings together ten prestigious institutions specializing in social sciences, humanities, business management, and public policy: Sciences Po (France), Bocconi University (Italy), Central European University (Hungary), European University Institute (European intergovernmental organization), Hertie School (Germany), SNSPA (Romania), Stockholm School of Economics (Sweden), IE University (Spain), SGH – Warsaw School of Economics (Poland), and the London School of Economics and Political Science (United Kingdom).
Photo: civica.eu
