The European University of Post-Industrial Cities (UNIC) invites researchers, students, practitioners and city partners to submit proposals for the 2nd UNIC Thematic Conference, “Institutions in Transition: Justice, Security, and Well-Being in Post-Industrial Cities,” hosted by Koç University, Istanbul, 17–19 June 2026.
- Date
- Wednesday 17 Jun 2026, 09:00 - Friday 19 Jun 2026, 18:00
- Type
- Conference
- Location
Koç University, Istanbul
About the conference
The conference explores how institutions - from local administrations and health providers to schools, universities and civil society - respond to socio-spatial inequalities, ensure democratic participation and foster collective well-being in superdiverse, post-industrial cities. It will bring together scholars, policymakers and practitioners to advance transdisciplinary, policy-relevant research.
The conference builds upon the success of the first UNIC thematic conference held in Malmö in 2025.
Themes & streams
Building on UNIC Thematic Lines, the programme is organised around two streams, with Superdiversity as a transversal lens:
- Stream 1: Justice, Security & Institutional Dynamics (e.g., governance after COVID-19, cybersecurity and data governance, access to rights, democratic participation).
- Stream 2: Health & Well-Being in Post-Industrial Cities (e.g., inclusive care systems, One Global Health and resilience, mental health and everyday urban life, digital inclusion in health).
The conference will have two optional strands welcoming contributions on Innovative Methods of Teaching & Learning and Transdisciplinary Engaged Research.
Contributing to EUR Strategy 2030
This UNIC conference advances EUR’s Strategy 2030 to create positive societal impact as an Engaged University—globally connected, locally embedded—by addressing justice, security and health in post-industrial cities. The strategy explicitly highlights UNIC as one of EUR’s core European alliances to strengthen resilience and competitive power.
Who can submit & formats
Submissions are invited from scholars, independent researchers, students, UNIC city representatives, practitioners and policymakers. Formats include individual papers, thematic panels, workshops, roundtables, book talks and special-issue presentations.
See the conference webpage to submit your work. All submissions will undergo a peer-review process.
We warmly welcome submissions from UNIC joint master's programmes, including REPIC and SEOS
Accepted papers, thematic panels, workshops, roundtables, book talks and special-issue presentations may be supported for travel and accommodation from the local UNIC budget.
Key dates
- Submission portal already open
- Deadline: 1 December 2025
- Acceptance notification: March 2026
Registration fees
- UNIC participants: Free
As a member of the UNIC alliance, EUR staff and students are considered UNIC participants.
- More information
For more information on the call and submission guidelines, please visit the conference webpages or reach out locally to unic@eur.nl
To learn more about the alliance, and subscribe to the UNIC newsletter visit the UNIC website.
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