ABOUT US
UNITA - Universitas Montium
The participation of the Polytechnic of Guarda in this transformative project aims to establish a new model of teaching, research and innovation, increasingly collaborative and integrated, through greater mobility and connection to our ecosystems.
The Polytechnic of Guarda is part of the UNITA – Universitas Montium alliance, which brings together 12 universities from seven countries, of different sizes and backgrounds, with more than 248,000 students and 20,000 staff.
If you have any questions about this alliance, please contact the UNITA Office.
The name UNITA evokes the strong ties and commonalities that unite these higher education institutions. The name Universitas Montium emphasises a common heritage, with more than a billion people speaking Romance languages. UNITA’s cultural, historical and linguistic ties form the common basis on which co-operation is developed in the fields of education, research and innovation. By promoting the intercomprehension and learning of Romance languages, UNITA contributes to making multilingualism an essential element in the European way of life.
The UNITA – Universitas Montium alliance unites higher education institutions from Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Romania, Switzerland and Ukraine: Università Degli Studi di Torino, which was the leader of the application, Instituto Politécnico da Guarda, Universidade da Beira Interior, Universidad Pública de Navarrra, Universidad de Zaragoza, Université de Pau et des Pays de L’Adour, Université Savoie Mont-Blanc, Università degli Studi di Brescia, Haute Ecole Spécialisée de Suisse Occidentale, Universitatea de Vest din Timisoara, Universitatea Transilvania Brasov and Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University.
UNITA is not just made up of universities, but of relevant players in each regional ecosystem, represented by the socio-economic sector, public authorities, political decision-makers and civil organisations. The Associated Partners are a strategic driving force and an innovative force for accessing rural areas and boosting the development of territories.
What unites us
In addition to our commitment to contributing to the development of societies and territories on a European scale, we share three fundamental characteristics:
- Location in rural and cross-border mountain regions in southern, central and eastern Europe: Serra da Estrela (Beira Interior), Pyrenees (Pau and Zaragoza), Alps (Savoie Mont Blanc and Turin) and Banat (Timisoara), i.e. in ecosystems that share similar challenges;
- Active use of Romance languages, reinforcing linguistic diversity and promoting inclusion;
- Sharing innovative educational and research areas, especially in the fields of renewable energies, cultural heritage and the circular economy, which generates a considerable impact, both in terms of ecosystem sustainability and employability, for students and citizens.
The consolidation phase: 2023-2027
As rural, mountainous and cross-border territories, UNITA’s regions face specific and similar challenges, such as depopulation, the brain drain, more expensive public services and the centre-periphery dynamic. These challenges are compounded by global challenges such as climate change, the digital divide and an ageing population.
UNITA shares a firm desire to develop and implement a wide variety of shared, personalised, multilingual and international study pathways for different student profiles.
Building on the complementary strengths of 12 universities in different fields and sharing expertise, UNITA aims to cooperate with 49 other European alliances and innovate the future of European universities.
BIPs are short, intensive mobility activities that develop curricular programmes and mixed mobility activities for students as well as teaching and non-teaching staff.
During these intensive mixed programmes, students carry out a short-term physical mobility activity abroad, combined with a compulsory virtual component.
The physical mobility is usually between 5 and 10 days and the duration of the virtual component is undefined and can take place before, during or after the physical component. This type of combined virtual and physical mobility must award students a minimum of three ECTS credits.
Students can apply to the higher education institutions that are part of the UNITA consortium.
BIP applications open
https://politecnicoguarda.pt/candidaturas-abertas-ao-bips/
For more information, please send an email to: unita@ipg.pt
WE CAN HELP YOU
Contact the UNITA Office at the Polytechnic of Guarda
Face-to-face contact is from Monday to Friday: 10.00am – 12.30am / 02.30pm – 05.00pm
E-mail: unita@ipg.pt
Phone: +351 271 220 100