Would you like to explore global sustainability, meet students from Europe and Africa, and gain international experience without travelling? Join the Una Europa Virtual Exchange for Sustainability (UnaVEx)!
The student call for the next UnaVEx virtual exchange opens on 15 September 2026.
UnaVEx is a multidisciplinary and intercultural online exchange that brings together university students from Europe and Africa to explore sustainability and the future of our shared planet. No previous studies in sustainability or natural sciences are required – the programme is open to students from a wide range of disciplines.
Explore sustainability from different perspectives
During the five-session virtual exchange, participants will explore topics including:
- Introduction to sustainability
- The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
- Climate change
- Biodiversity
- Political economy and sustainability
- Arts and sustainability
The programme combines inspiring plenary talks with interactive work in international small groups. Participants will meet peers and a moderator from different countries and disciplines and work together on a collaborative sustainability-themed action task.
UnaVEx provides an opportunity to develop your understanding of sustainability while gaining experience in international, multidisciplinary and intercultural collaboration.
Two virtual exchange editions in November–December 2026
Students can choose between two editions:
Virtual Exchange Edition 4
- 10 November 2026
- 12 November 2026
- 17 November 2026
- 18 November 2026
- 19 November 2026
Virtual Exchange Edition 5
- 24 November 2026
- 25 November 2026
- 26 November 2026
- 1 December 2026
- 2 December 2026
All sessions take place online via Zoom and last a maximum of three hours.
Session times:
- Helsinki: 15:00–18:00 (EET, UTC+2)
- Brussels & Bologna: 14:00–17:00 (CET, UTC+1)
- Kinshasa: 14:00–17:00 (WAT, UTC+1)
- Johannesburg: 15:00–18:00 (SAST, UTC+2)
- Nairobi: 16:00–19:00 (EAT, UTC+3)
Earn ECTS and a certificate
Participation in the UnaVEx virtual exchange awards 1 ECTS via the University of Helsinki Open University, together with a certificate of participation that can be added to your CV.
UnaVEx also builds on the Introduction to Sustainability (3 ECTS) MOOC. The MOOC is not required for participation in the virtual exchange, but it is highly recommended.
By completing both, you can earn 4 ECTS in total (3 ECTS + 1 ECTS).
The Introduction to Sustainability MOOC is part of the Una Europa Micro-credential in Sustainability (10 ECTS), which offers further online courses covering climate change, biodiversity, political economy and sustainability, and the arts and sustainability.
Who can apply?
The virtual exchange is open to:
- Bachelor’s students
- Master’s students
- Doctoral students
- Postdoctoral researchers
from Una Europa Alliance partner universities and UnaVEx African partner universities.
- Language: English
- Cost: Free of charge
- Format: Online
- Application opens:15 September 2026
- REGISTER here & apply no later than 1st November 2026! Fill in the form to enroll: https://elomake.helsinki.fi/lomakkeet/140338/lomake.html
Building a bridge between Europe and Africa
UnaVEx is organized by six research-intensive universities in Europe and Africa:
- University of Helsinki, Finland
- University of Bologna, Italy
- KU Leuven, Belgium
- University of Johannesburg, South Africa
- University of Nairobi, Kenya
- University of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo