Drawing of two Persons discussing a paragraph in a book. Illustration for UNE, University of New Europe

What is UNE?

The University of New Europe is an academic institution in the making which will offer research, teaching, and dialogue on European politics, culture, society and climate in a global perspective. In response to Russia’s war in Ukraine, its initiators are also engaged in supporting scholars, students, and cultural workers at risk with a mentoring network.

We, a collective of academics and activists from leading European institutions, are united by the vision of a future University of New Europe (UNE) as a shared space of learning, research, and dialogue. We believe that higher education provides the soft power necessary to explore and respond to the challenges Europe is facing.

UNE will unite and empower students and staff from across Europe, with special attention to those parts of the continent affected by Russia’s war in Ukraine and areas where intellectual freedom is at risk. By allocating at-risk positions to students and staff also from conflict zones outside Eastern Europe, we create an inclusive, globally oriented space for knowledge and debate. Working with international partners, UNE seeks to employ and advance social sciences and humanities for transforming the way Europeans understand their continent in global contexts, both in war and in peace.

What do we do?

We raise funds and support for a future University of New Europe;

We host a database with emergency resources worldwide for scholars, students, and cultural workers at risk.

We curate a book series titled ‘New Europes’

We organize the UNE mentoring programme for students, scholars, and cultural workers affected by the war in Ukraine or at risk across other East-Central, Eastern European and Central-Asian localities;

Read more on UNE

Since the spring of 2021, we have actively lobbied for a new university, in cooperation with both national and European authorities and NGOs, as well as scholarly, political, military, and legal experts who support our cause. Since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, we have combined these activities with offering immediate support to students, scholars, and cultural workers at risk with a mentoring network.
First and foremost, the UNE mentoring network reaches out to the vast number of colleagues, students, and cultural workers who are affected by the war in Ukraine; second, we seek to support those at risk across other East-Central, Eastern European and Central-Asian localities. To this end, the mentoring programme matches international scholars and professionals with students, scholars, and cultural workers at risk who are looking to find a new job, funding opportunity, accommodation, remote support, or who seek more general advice.

What about you?

If you are from the troubled areas of Eastern Europe or if you wish to support us, please follow the link that best fits your needs.

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Follow UNE on Twitter and Facebook! Here, we post about our lobby for the university and about our mentor programme.