色色啦

News

XII Unite! Dialogue at Aalto University: A Week of Collaboration and Connection

Published:
Across meetings, social activities, and ceremonies, Uniters continued to strengthen the shared vision of Unite! and build sustainable collaborations.
A crowded lecture hall with people sitting on dark grey seats, some wearing lanyards.

Held on 6-9 October 2025, the XII Unite! Dialogue at Aalto brought together over 350 representatives from nine European universities. It was an inspiring week of collaboration, networking, and matchmaking. Some highlights of the event are recounted below.

An Opening to Remember

The Dialogue opened with a Finnish tango and warm welcomes from Aalto鈥檚 Key Learning Officer, Minna-Kaarina Forss茅n; Aalto VP of Education, Petri Suomala; Aalto President, Ilkka Niemel盲; and Unite! President, Tanja Br眉hl. Unite! communities then showcased their latest achievements, setting an uplifting tone for the week ahead. The opening session concluded with the unveiling of by Aalto student Suthasinee Naktnasukanjn. Now on permanent display in the Undergraduate Centre, the piece symbolises growth and cooperation across borders.

Leadership and Governance

A highlight of the Dialogue was the , President of Grenoble INP 鈥 UGA. Qu茅ma succeeds Tanja Br眉hl, President of TU Darmstadt, who has served Unite! for six years. In her , she thanked her leadership team for their tireless work and reiterated that connected European universities are a powerful and crucial tool for a united Europe. 

Ilkka Niemel盲 also stepped down as Unite! Vice President, passing the baton to newly elected vice presidents, Anders S枚derholm (KTH) and Arkadiusz Wojs (Wroc艂aw University of Science and Technology).

Students Unite! for Representation and Empowerment (SURE!)  President Marcel Sobecki (Wroc艂aw), Vice President Matilde Godinho (Lisboa), Secretary Pau Morente (UPC), and Treasurer Laura Armando (Politecnico di Torino). 

Unite! Awards

As has become customary at each Dialogue, nine Unite! Awards were distributed. Dr Minna S枚derqvist and the Unite! Doctoral Education Team, composed of Katri Eeva, Tiina Kotti, Kitta Peura, Essi Viitanen, and colleagues from Aalto Doctoral Education Services, received recognition for their sustained commitment to strengthening doctoral education and mobility within Unite!. Read more about the awards and other recipients . 

Matchmaking Early-Career Academics 

Unite! also brought 32 early-career academics to the Dialogue. Aalto researchers hosted them. The aim was to connect researchers and encourage them to explore opportunities for joint teaching initiatives and collaborative research. As a result, some Aalto hosts reported that future collaborations and seed-fund proposals were discussed.

Looking Ahead

The next Unite! XIII Dialogue will be hosted by Politecnico di Torino from 9-12 February 2026, under the theme 鈥淔rom short-term E+ projects to long-term alliances: contributing to EU competitiveness.鈥

Dialogue highlights

All photos by Katri Hein盲m盲ki.

Two couples dance in front of a seated audience in an auditorium with wooden walls and floor.
The Dialogue officially opened with KLO Minna-Kaarina Forss茅n and VP of Education Petri Suomala enjoying a Finnish tango.
Four people stand in front of a large artwork featuring flowers and leaves displayed on a white brick wall.
Suthasinee (Sine) Naktnasukanjn's 'Blooming Beyond Borders' was unveiled. It hangs permanently in the Undergraduate Centre.
A person in a maroon suit is signing documents at a table, while another person in a blue blazer stands nearby.
Grenoble INP-UGA president, Vivien Qu茅ma, was elected new Unite! President. He succeeds TU Darmstadt President, Tanja Br眉hl.
A person wearing a suit and graduation cap holds a card. Two musicians in vintage uniforms are in the background.
Ilkka Niemel盲's term as Unite! Vice President ended. He passed the baton to Anders S枚derholm (KTH) and Arkadiusz Wojs (Wroc艂aw).
A group of people dressed in formal attire standing on a staircase indoors.
SURE!'s new board: Pres. Marcel Sobecki (Wroc艂aw), VP Matilde Godinho (Lisboa), Secretary Pau Morente (UPC), and Treasurer Laura Armando (Politecnico di Torino).
Six people standing on stage with conference badges, under a projection screen displaying text and graphics.
At the opening ceremony, Unite! community representatives pitched their milestones, setting a positive tone for the week ahead.
Group of people standing in a line holding certificates. A projector screen is visible behind them.
Unite! Award recipients from Aalto were (pictured left) Tiina Kotti, Dr Minna S枚derqvist, and the rest of the Aalto Doctoral Education Services Team.
Six people holding numbered signs at an event, standing in front of podium and screen
The Dialogue also focused on early-career researchers. At the closing ceremony, Aalto hosts shared their experiences and plans for future collaborations.
A lively group gathering, people wear vibrant hats and name tags, with some holding flowers. Party atmosphere.
Uniters enjoy themselves at the Gala Dinner.
Band members in white uniforms and red details raise their helmets while playing brass instruments.
Retuper盲n WBK surprised Uniters at the opening ceremony. 'Retuper盲n WBK has made its mission to cause disapproval among the serious-minded.'- Retuper盲n website.
Group of people standing in a line holding certificates. A projector screen is visible behind them.

Aalto Doctoral Education Services Receives Unite! Award

Aalto's Unite! Doctoral Education Team, led by Dr Minna S枚derqvist, received an award for their long-term efforts to enhance doctoral mobility and collaboration across the Unite! Alliance. The award ceremony took place during the XII Unite! DIalogue.

  • Updated:
  • Published:
Share
URL copied!

Read more news

See all
Three young people take a selfie on a sunny city viewpoint, with rooftops and trees stretching behind them.
Cooperation, Studies, University Published:

Student exchange in Europe? Unite! can take you there

Aalto is a member of Unite!, a European university alliance that gives students the opportunity to internationalise their degrees both online and in-person. Join the webinar to find out more.
Smiling person wearing glasses, green shirt and cap, standing against a red brick wall
Appointments, University Published:

Anssi Perttala to strengthen the Centre for Radical Creativity

Anssi Perttala has been appointed to the position of expert at Aalto University鈥檚 Centre for Radical Creativity from 1 October, 2026 on.
Group of students sitting on grass outside a building, reading books and chatting in the sun
Studies, University Published:

Build Your Brand: LinkedIn Strategies for Doctoral Researchers

Have you ever wondered why your LinkedIn profile is not attracting recruiters, collaborators, or new opportunities? Are you unsure whether to share your publications, or how often you should post at all?
Participants of the Aalto International Talent programme.
University Published:

Two webinars on effective communication and psychological safety in the workplace

The lectures explore effective communication, collaboration, psychological safety, and focused work in a university setting. They provide practical tools and research-based insights to support teamwork, creativity, and community well-being. Delivered by psychologist Marianne Vihervuori, the sessions are engaging, practical, and easy to follow.
See all