The University of Crete took part in the General Assembly of UNIMED – Mediterranean Universities Union, held October 7–8, 2026, at the University of Barcelona.
The University was represented by Professor Melina Tamiolaki, Vice Rector for Development, International Relations and Outreach, and Evgenia Skountaki, Head of the University of Crete Welcome Office.
UNIMED is an international network of universities from across the wider Mediterranean region. It promotes academic cooperation, research, knowledge exchange, and dialogue among its member institutions.
During the Assembly, the network presented its strategic priorities and initiatives, with a focus on:
- Building international academic partnerships and European projects through Erasmus+ Capacity Building in Higher Education.
- Supporting at-risk researchers and students through international initiatives such as the Scholar Rescue Fund and the SAFE program.
- Supporting the academic and research community of Gaza through international scientific cooperation.
- Engaging students actively through the UNIMED Student Summit.
- Sharing best practices for supporting refugee and displaced academics.
- Developing synergies with European University Alliances, such as INGENIUM European University, of which the University of Crete is a member.
This was the University of Crete’s first General Assembly since it recently joined the network. It offered a valuable opportunity for international networking, sharing best practices, and exploring new partnerships with universities across the Mediterranean.
The University of Crete aims to play an active and meaningful role in UNIMED by helping develop joint educational and research initiatives and strengthening cooperation among universities in the Euro-Mediterranean region.
