Centria Becomes a Member of the European UNIgreen University Alliance

Centria University of Applied Sciences has been invited to join the European UNIgreen University Alliance, which focuses on green biotechnology and sustainable development. Centria’s membership was approved at the alliance’s General Assembly held in Sofia, Bulgaria, on 29 October 2025. The UNIgreen member institutions across Europe provide an excellent network for developing Centria’s education, RDI (research, development, and innovation) activities, and internationalisation.

Internationalisation and the development of international cooperation are key elements of Centria’s strategy. As part of this, Centria has long sought opportunities to strengthen its participation in EU-level collaboration. Through the European UNIgreen University Alliance, this opportunity is now becoming a reality.

Established in 2022, the UNIgreen Alliance has shown strong interest in Centria’s activities, and discussions and meetings between Centria’s and the alliance’s experts have been ongoing for several months. A cooperation agreement was signed at the alliance’s General Assembly in Sofia, Bulgaria, on 29 October 2025. Centria joins the alliance as a full member.

”UNIgreen is an excellent partner for us, as its objectives are very similar to those of Centria. This allows Centria to strengthen its mission and profile based on the needs of our region. I believe UNIgreen offers regional actors a smooth pathway to internationalisation and the development of their own activities,” says Centria’s Rector, CEO, Tapio Huttula.

UNIgreen, the green European University, aspires to be the leading alliance of European universities in the fields of sustainable agriculture, green biotechnology, and environmental and life sciences. Its goal is for students and the entire academic community to develop values, attitudes, knowledge, skills, and competences that enable them to become agents of change towards a climate-neutral and resource-efficient economy. This is supported by an ecosystem that integrates education, research, innovation, and society in promoting sustainable development. The focus aligns perfectly with Centria’s mission and the future development directions of the region.

The European University Alliances open new opportunities for the students and staff of universities of applied sciences to pursue studies at the master’s and doctoral levels at alliance institutions. This is particularly important for Finnish universities of applied sciences, which often lack a natural regional university partner with whom doctoral pathways could be built.

The UNIgreen member institutions across Europe form an excellent network for developing Centria’s education, RDI activities, and internationalisation. The alliance also provides a natural thematic partner network spanning across Europe.

”In concrete terms, the alliance offers opportunities for student and staff mobility, joint European degrees, and lifelong continuous learning. The course offering will consist of the combined selection of all ten higher education institutions, also available virtually, providing our students and staff with an unprecedented opportunity for internationalisation and European cooperation,” says Francesca Cucinotta, Centria’s Director of International Affairs.

The significance of alliances is expected to grow in the EU’s development efforts. Therefore, joining a well-functioning and thematically focused consortium presents an exciting opportunity for Centria. UNIgreen provides Centria with an established framework for EU-level operations, funding channels, and influence. Membership in the alliance also means that Centria will participate in the next round of EU funding distributed to the alliance.

“The European Higher Education Area is evolving strongly towards common European universities, with alliances forming their foundation. At the same time, they offer Centria a natural partnership network for the development of joint degrees, RDI activities, and mobility,” says Stina Mattila, Chair of Centria’s Board.