Universities are increasingly struggling with their legitimacy. Public trust in institutions has eroded, and facts are more often dismissed as mere opinions. Scientists are believed less and less, and some view universities as elitist fortresses disconnected from “the people.” Over the past decade, this has pushed many universities to shift their focus from conducting research in an international context to creating societal impact, preferably within their own region. This shift is clearly reflected in their activities.
During the UNIC (European University of Cities in Post-Industrial Transition) Staff Week “Redesigning the Campus in the City,” practitioners and campus‑planning experts from across Europe -including representatives from Cork, Oulu, Zagreb, Łódź, Brussels, Malmö, Liège, Bochum, and Rotterdam- gathered at the Université de Liège to discuss how campuses can be designed to strengthen the relationship between university and city.
Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam is exploring various ways to connect more deeply and meaningfully with society. Examples include lifelong learning initiatives, research conducted in Rotterdam neighborhoods, and opening the campus to conferences, meetings, and other public activities. Both its presence in the city -such as the HefHouse, presented by project lead Frieda Franke – and its efforts to open up the campus -as explained by strategist Ronald van Schaik– face challenges. Building a meaningful, long‑lasting relationship between academia and citizens remains difficult.
In Poland, the Uniwersytet Łódzki (Łódź pronounced as “Woosj”) is pursuing a similar approach. Historically, universities in former communist countries have had a strong presence in the city and play an important role in urban life. Its faculties are spread across various buildings in the city centre. An inspiring library director is transforming the library from a traditional book repository into a learning environment where both students and citizens enjoy studying and meeting. The university also hosts numerous festivals and public events, further linking academia with the community.
Yet Łódź University faces significant challenges. Due to demographic trends, student numbers are declining, while the Polish government is shifting funding from education to the defence industry. The university may become smaller in the future and will need to engage with society in new ways. One striking example is the government’s request for the university to provide shelters in case of war.
In Zagreb, the University of Zagreb / Sveučilište u Zagrebu is exploring a triple‑helix model in which government, academia, and businesses collaborate. This model is intended to be supported by a new campus in Borongaj, a former airport and military base of more than 90 hectares in the eastern part of the city. The project is challenging, as the university is currently focused on rebuilding faculty buildings in the city centre following the 2020 earthquake.
Whether through building an innovation campus or strengthening a distributed presence across the city, both models can help universities engage more effectively with citizens and businesses. Success depends on institutional choices, the local ecosystem, and geographical and physical conditions. At the UNIC Staff Week, practitioners were eager to shape their campuses in ways that best support these ambitions.
