Universities join forces across Europe to put well-being at the heart of education

From classrooms to research labs, a growing number of European universities are rethinking their mission around a single guiding principle: well-being. It is the vision driving EUniWell — the European University for Well-being — an alliance of eleven institutions committed to embedding sustainability, equity, and health into the fabric of higher education.

Among them is the University of Florence, which plays a leading role in the network’s strategic development and governance. Within EUniWell, Florence contributes to cross-border projects that connect research and teaching with broader social goals, from environmental sustainability to mental health and inclusion.

Founded in 2020 with support from the European Commission’s Erasmus+ programme, EUniWell unites the universities of Birmingham, Cologne, Florence, Inalco, Konstanz, Linnaeus, Murcia, Nantes, Santiago de Compostela, Semmelweis, and Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, alongside more than 60 associated partners from public and private sectors.

Now in its second phase, the alliance is guided by EUniWell 2030: Strategy Framework and Strategy Questions, which sets out a shared vision for universities as key drivers of well-being, democratic values, and sustainable development across Europe.

EUniWell responds to the European Union’s call to advance an “Economy of Well-being” — a model that links social, environmental, and scientific progress to quality of life. By fostering collaboration among universities, researchers, and citizens, the alliance aims to turn knowledge into action and to measure progress not just through economic growth but through human and societal flourishing.

As Rector Alessandra Petrucci has underlined, EUniWell is “a strategic platform to innovate university policies and promote a culture of well-being that unites research, education, and inclusion,” helping shape “a more cohesive and socially conscious Europe.”

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