On 23–24 October 2025, the Annual Congress of the Ukrainian Association for European Studies took place in Lviv, traditionally bringing together researchers, academics and experts from Ukraine and the European Union. The event served as an important platform for discussing the role of higher education in societal transformations, European integration and post-war recovery. One of the key themes that received particular attention was the third mission of universities. It was in this context that the latest developments and results of the UNICOM project — “Universities and Communities: Strengthening Cooperation”, implemented by a consortium of universities from Ukraine and the EU with the support of the Erasmus+ programme — were presented.
The Congress featured a presentation by Diana Spulber, representative of the University of Genoa — the coordinator of the UNICOM project. She showcased the project’s achievements and outlined the key directions currently being elaborated by partner universities. Her presentation demonstrated how the project deepens the understanding of the social role of universities and introduces new approaches to university–community engagement. In particular, she presented the findings of an analytical study on the state of the third mission of universities in EU countries and Ukraine, preliminary results of university practice mapping, as well as conceptual developments by the UNICOM team related to a model of university engagement with communities. This model integrates system analysis, assessment of institutional maturity and recommendations for implementing high-quality social initiatives.
A separate focus of discussion concerned how universities can support communities in times of crisis and during post-war recovery. Congress participants actively engaged in a dialogue about which mechanisms allow universities to effectively contribute to societal development, how to integrate the third mission into institutional strategies, and which tools of social innovation are most effective in addressing today’s challenges. During the discussions, it was emphasised that UNICOM’s experience is particularly valuable, as it accounts for the specific Ukrainian context — including the work of displaced universities, evolving community needs and the expanding social functions of higher education institutions during wartime.
The UNICOM presentation became an essential contribution to the broader Congress discourse on the role of higher education in shaping resilient communities, developing human capital and fostering social cohesion. The presented results confirmed that the project not only strengthens cooperation between universities and communities but also contributes significantly to the European discussion on the third mission and the societal responsibility of universities. UNICOM’s participation in the Congress highlighted the importance of partnership, experience-sharing and inter-university collaboration as key drivers of change in higher education in Ukraine and Europe.