First Regional Meeting of the UNESCO Science-related Chairs and Centres for South-East Europe and the Mediterranean, 26-28 October 2022, Venice (Italy)

1. First Regional Meeting of the UNESCO
Science-related Chairs and Centres for
South East Europe and the Mediterranean
26-28 October 2022
UNESCO Regional Bureau for Science and Culture
Palazzo Zorzi, Venice

2. UNESCO Regional Bureau for science and culture in Europe
1st Regional Meeting of SC-related UNESCO Chairs and Centres in the SEE Region
Mandate:
• Contribute to the implementation of UNESCO’s Science and Culture programmes with special focus on South-
East Europe
• Support cooperation with and among countries in the region
• Facilitate the integration of science and culture into development programmes/strategies at country and regional
levels, in line with Agenda 2030
• Represent UNESCO in the UN country coordination and programming frameworks
How we work:
• Support regional cooperation and networking at all levels
• Foster innovation, capacity-building and knowledge advancement
• Specific extrabudgetary projects (on heritage rehabilitation, intercultural dialogue, disaster risk reduction, etc.)
Functions:
• Laboratory of ideas
• Catalyst and motor for international cooperation
• Clearing house
• Capacity-builder
• Standard-setter
Palazzo Zorzi

3. Natural sciences and interdisciplinary with ED and CLT, plus ocean
1st Regional Meeting of SC-related UNESCO Chairs and Centres in the SEE Region
Three SC areas of expertise
Cross-cutting
Interdisciplinary
1. Science, Technology and Innovation (STI)
2. Biosphere reserves and
Geoparks as models for
sustainable development
3. Integrated water resources management,
notably in shared river basins (IHP)
Strengthening resilience to disasters and climate change
adaptation
Education for Sustainable Development, Science Education,
STEM, Management of cultural and natural sites, Ocean
Literacy

4. UNESCO Regional Bureau for Science and Culture in Europe
Geographical purview:
 Albania
 Bosnia and Herzegovina
 Bulgaria
 Croatia
 Cyprus
 Greece
 Malta
 Montenegro
 North Macedonia
 Republic of Moldova
 Romania
 Serbia
 Slovenia
 Turkey
 [Kosovo* in line with UNSCR 1244
of 1999]
 Italy (host country)
1st Regional Meeting of SC-related UNESCO Chairs and Centres in the SEE Region

5. UN Issue Based-Coalition on Environment and Climate Change for Europe and Central Asia
Led by UNESCO, UNEP and UNECE (18 member agencies in
total) since 2020
Consists of a regional platform for UN agencies to:
• Promote coordinated support to all Member States in
Europe and Central Asia in their implementation of the 2030
Agenda
• Support UN Country Teams in the Europe and Central Asia
region on environmental and climate change issues
2022
• training for UNCTs on mainstreaming environment and
climate change in UN cooperation frameworks
• Key messages on climate change for UNCTs
• training for UNCTs on green transition
1st Regional Meeting of SC-related UNESCO Chairs and Centres in the SEE Region

6. UNESCO abrdn PROJECT
PROJECT PROMOTING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
THROUGH UNESCO’S PROGRAMMES AND SITES
MARCH 31 PARTNERSHIP ANNOUNCEMENT
APRIL 12 CALL FOR APPLICATIONS
MAY 9 CLOSING CALL FOR APPLICATIONS
MAY 17 ADVISORY BOARD
JULY14 COMMUNICATION OF RESULTS
JULY-AUGUST BILATERAL MEETINGS
SEPTEMBER 20 LAUNCH EVENT
OCTOBER INITIATION OF PROJECTS
KEY MILESTONES
• Ohrid-Prespa Transboundary BR
(Albania/North Macedonia)
• Asterousia Mountain Range BR (Greece)
• Tuscan Islands BR (Italy)
• Kozjansko and Obsotelje BR (Slovenia)
• Brighton and Lewes Downs BR (UK)
1st Regional Meeting of SC-related UNESCO Chairs and Centres in the SEE Region

7. MAB HYBRID UNIVERSITY (2012-2022)
Amfissa, 2012
Samothrace, 2016
Sardenia, 2017
Parnon, 2018
Bulgaria, 2019
Asterousia, 2021
Cyprus, 2022
1st Regional Meeting of SC-related UNESCO Chairs and Centres in the SEE Region

8. UNESCO training workshop on building a climate resilient future
• The UNESCO Regional Bureau for Science and Culture in Europe, with the support of Bulgaria, is implementing the project “Building a climate resilient future:
capacity development in climate change adaptation and disaster risk management in selected UNESCO designated sites of South-East Europe”
• 17-21 October 2022 - Ohrid, North Macedonia
• 19 participants selected through a Call for Applications
• Site managing authorities of UNESCO designated sites in the region (with special focus on Biosphere Reserves and World Heritage Sites) together with civil
protection authorities, researchers and key experts in the field of climate change, disaster risk management, and protection and promotion of cultural and
natural heritage.
• 5 UNESCO Member states in South-East Europe: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Republic of North Macedonia, and Serbia
• Objective: contributing to a more climate-resilient South-East European region, notably more climate resilient UNESCO designated sites by improving the
understanding of the impacts of climatic change and natural hazards on natural and cultural sites, and improving capacities for effective emergency
preparedness and response within heritage management and site governance frameworks.
1st Regional Meeting of SC-related UNESCO Chairs and Centres in the SEE Region

9. European funded projects, where
UNESCO adopts a participatory
approach involving multi-
stakeholders and all disciplines for
risk management.
Projects
Geothermal energy
applied to Porta degli
Angeli, an historic
building in Ferrara,
UNESCO World
Heritage Site.
Involvement of experts in the field
of water management, civil
protection and culture heritage to
tackle together the risk of flooding
the Sava River basin.
1st Regional Meeting of SC-related UNESCO Chairs and Centres in the SEE Region

10. UNITWIN/UNESCO Chairs Programme
UNITWIN/UNESCO Chairs Programme
Launched in 1992
Through this network, higher education and research institutions all over the globe pool their resources, both human and material, to address
pressing challenges and contribute to the development of their societies.
917 Chairs (2022) from 114 countries worldwide of which 205 SC related (2019) from 75 countries
Our purview* : 73 Chairs from 13 countries
Science related = 29 Chairs from 6 countries
• Promotes international inter-university cooperation and networking
• Enhance institutional capacities through knowledge sharing
Establishment in key priority areas related to UNESCO’s fields of competence
*Our coverage includes South-East Europe and part of the Mediterranean region : Albania; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Bulgaria; Croatia; Cyprus; Greece; Malta; Montenegro;
Republic of Moldova; Romania; Serbia; Slovenia; North Macedonia; and, Türkiye. Our purview covers Kosovo* (as defined by UNSCR 1244, 1999), plus Italy as host country
1st Regional Meeting of SC-related UNESCO Chairs and Centres in the SEE Region

11. Source: Internal Oversight Service Audit Section, January 2021
UNITWIN/UNESCO Chairs Programme
6
15
2
1
2
3
Science Chairs distribution in our purview*
Greece Italy Slovenia Serbia Romania Türkyie
1st Regional Meeting of SC-related UNESCO Chairs and Centres in the SEE Region
*Our coverage includes South-East Europe and part of the Mediterranean region : Albania; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Bulgaria; Croatia; Cyprus; Greece; Malta; Montenegro; Republic of
Moldova; Romania; Serbia; Slovenia; North Macedonia; and, Türkiye. Our purview covers Kosovo* (as defined by UNSCR 1244, 1999) plus Italy as host country

12. Category 2 Institutes and Centres
Category 2 Institutes and Centres under the auspices of UNESCO
Global network of institutions of excellence in the Organization’s domains of competence
73 SC Centres (of which 36 water related) from 48 countries worldwide
Our purview* : 7 SC related Centres from 6 countries (1 North Macedonia, 1 Greece, 1 Italy, 2 Serbia, 1 Slovenia and 1 Romania)
1st Regional Meeting of SC-related UNESCO Chairs and Centres in the SEE Region
*Our coverage includes South-East Europe and part of the Mediterranean region : Albania; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Bulgaria; Croatia; Cyprus; Greece; Malta; Montenegro; Republic of
Moldova; Romania; Serbia; Slovenia; North Macedonia; and, Türkiye. Our purview covers Kosovo* (as defined by UNSCR 1244, 1999), plus Italy as host country
73
3
7
20
8
11
Category II centres distribution worlwide
Natural Sciences IOC Social and Human Sciences Culture Communication Education

13. Towards Paris Conference – 30th anniversary of UNITWIN/UNESCO Chairs Programme
1st Regional Meeting of SC-related UNESCO Chairs and Centres in the SEE Region
Objectives of the meeting:
• Recognize the accomplishments
of the UNITWIN/UNESCO Chairs
Programme over the past thirty
years
• Invigorate greater interdisciplinary
cooperation and catalyze new
research collaborations

14. Objectives of the 1st Regional Meeting of SC-related UNESCO Chairs and Centres in
the SEE Region
 Connect Chairs and Centres representatives from our purview, fostering networking
 Through different roundtables, facilitate collaborative work between attendees and
propose some recommendations on how best to work together as a network.
 Adopt a Declaration from the Science UNESCO Chairs and Centres of South-East
Europe and the Mediterranean to be presented in Paris next week
1st Regional Meeting of SC-related UNESCO Chairs and Centres in the SEE Region

15. The participants
1st Regional Meeting of SC-related UNESCO Chairs and Centres in the SEE Region
Italy; 10
Greece; 6
North
Macedonia; 1
Romania; 3
Serbia; 1
Slovenia; 3
Brasil; 1
Netherlands; 1
COUNTRIES OF ORIGIN
23%
23%
23%
31%
Action areas
MAB IHP DRR STI
19
5
2
PARTICIPANTS
UNESCO Networks
Category II Centres
UNESCO Chairs

16. Agenda and modalities of the meeting
1st Regional Meeting of SC-related UNESCO Chairs and Centres in the SEE Region
Day 2 – 27 October
10.15 Ice breaking meet and greet exercise
11.15 1st Roundtable on the main action areas of your UNESCO Chair or Centre.
Plenary, with proposed recommendations
12.00 Lunch
14.00 2nd Roundtable on the interdisciplinary and intersectoral approach.
Plenary, with proposed recommendations
16.30 3rd Roundtable on national, regional and international challenges.
Plenary, with proposed recommendations
19.30 Dinner at CARPACCIO Restaurant
Day 3 – 28 October
09.30 Start of the activites, recap of the 1st day
10.15 4th Roundtable on pathways and opportunities.
Plenary, with proposed recommendations
11.30 Draft declaration and adoption
13.00 Lunch. End of the meeting

17. SURVEY
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18. Added value
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1st Regional Meeting of SC-related UNESCO Chairs and Centres in the SEE Region

19. Collaboration
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• Network Italian chairs
• Economy
• Education
• Human rights
• Business administration
1st Regional Meeting of SC-related UNESCO Chairs and Centres in the SEE Region

20. Regional Bureau for Science and Culture in Europe
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• Research, capacity building, training programmes and workshops on managing transboundary karst aquifers in the Balkans
• Preliminary assessment shared aquifers Balkan region
• Peer learning study tour Sava River Basin / Dordrecht on DRR, water management and cultural heritage
• Application UNESCO VISUS methodology in Bosnia Herzegovina - Disaster Risk Reduction for sustainable development
• Participation as guest lecture to a conference ‘ From the source to the sea”
1st Regional Meeting of SC-related UNESCO Chairs and Centres in the SEE Region

21. Networks
• UNESCO international programmes
• Education and research
• Aspnet schools
• IHP
• ISARM
• PCCP
• HELP
• WAMUNET
• ASPnet
• UNESCO youth forum
• SIDS
• NATIONAL COMMISSIONS FOR
UNESCO
1st Regional Meeting of SC-related UNESCO Chairs and Centres in the SEE Region

22. Levels
1st Regional Meeting of SC-related UNESCO Chairs and Centres in the SEE Region

23. Expectations
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• Revitalize cooperation
Science/Research and
Education
• Climate change, DRR,
resilience and sites
• Intersectoral and
transdisciplinary
/interdisciplinary
perspective
• Sense on belonging
1st Regional Meeting of SC-related UNESCO Chairs and Centres in the SEE Region

24. 1st Regional Meeting of SC-related UNESCO Chairs and Centres in the SEE Region
Ice-breaker – “Answer with your feet!”
Where?
Downstairs in the patio
What?
A moderator will give you some
instructions and ask questions. You will
have to “answer with your feet”.
How?
According to the question or the
instruction, you will have to move in the
patio and, in some cases, coordinate with
other participants.

25. ROUNDTABLE 1: Main Action Areas
UNESCO Regional Bureau for science and culture in Europe
1st Regional Meeting of SC-related UNESCO Chairs and Centres in the SEE Region
Disaster risk
management,
resilience and
climate change
STI (basic science,
open science and
open data, artificial
intelligence, open
education and
distance learning)
IHP programme
(resource
management, water
education, water
security)
MAB programme
(ecosystems,
biodiversity,
ecotourism)
Room Goldoni Codussi end Codussi front Codussi middle
Moderator Fabio Castelli John Shawe-Taylor Jacques Ganoulis Rita Patrizia Aquino
Rapporteur Matjaz Mikos Ioana Spanache Chiara Biscarini Kalliopi Kravari
Participants
George Dikaios
Vlatko Sesov
Yannis Mylopoulos
Stefano Grimaz
Mitja Jermol
Stefano Barberis
Sabin Stoica
Amiel Tel
Pietro Tundo Sorin
Zaharia
Elpida Kolokytha
Francesco Vallerani
Jasna Plavšić
Johan Aad van Dijk
Vittorio Colizzi
Emilio di Maria
Beatrice Formenti
Michael Scoullos
SDGs
Guiding questions:
• What is the focus and the area of research of
your UNESCO Chair/Center? Quickly
present your Chair/Center to the other
participants.
• What is the impact of your Chair/Center in
your action area at the national level?
Regional?
• Is your Chair/Center collaborating with other
institutions of the UNESCO networks in your
action area? Which ones? Is this
collaboration fruitful?
• Can you identify other Centres/Chairs for
similar collaborations? How do you see the
contribution of different chairs/Centres from
the region to your action area?

26. RECOMMENDATIONS ROUNDTABLE 1: Main Action Areas
1st Regional Meeting of SC-related UNESCO Chairs and Centres in the SEE Region
Disaster risk management, resilience
and climate change
STI (basic science, open science and
open data, artificial intelligence, open
education and distance learning)
IHP programme (resource management,
water education, water security)
MAB programme (ecosystems,
biodiversity, ecotourism)
Moderator Fabio Castelli John Shawe-Taylor Jacques Ganoulis Rita Patrizia Aquino
Rapporteur Matjaz Mikos Ioana Spanache Chiara Biscarini Kalliopi Kravari
1
Regional and national bodies in charge
for DRR should recognize UNESCO
chairs and centers as key partners. We
suggest to establish national platforms
on DRR in each country of SEE and
include UNESCO Chairs and Centres
as full members.
OPENESS
UNESCO should champion openness
as well as its member organizations in
light of recent recommendations – e.g.
OER, OS.
Chairs and Centres as part of the academic
system are designing higher education
curricula on water education: it must go
beyond the teaching of water sciences and be
both multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary
(Education for SDG learning objective).
Capacity building including education,
with multiple stakeholders, including
the less privileged such as women
and young people, chair network
knowledge transferring to society,
industry, etc.
2
Regional meetings of the UNESCO SC
related Chairs and Centers working in
the DRR, resilience and climate change,
should be regular. This approach can
be followed in other Regions, not only in
South-East Europe.
Enhancing collaboration by:
- Promoting regular meetings, funding
micro projects between members –
Chairs, Centres, Networks e.g. for
working on topics related to SDGs;
- Creating directory within UNESCO
office that knows all Chairs and can
answer question, help in finding
partners.
Water Chairs and Centres should provide
scientific knowledge, including geostorical to
improve policy and governance.
Considering interaction between humans and
nature and promote a new water culture by
combining technical and social issues.
Multidisciplinary approach to support
biodiversity, ecosystem, and tackle
health inequality, through joint project,
keep the network active, have both
horizontal and vertical activity.
3
Promoting much more a multi-risk
approach within the DRR framework.
UNESCO should have a key role on
upgrading from disciplinary hazards
centered networks, towards impact and
adaptation and multi-risk initiatives for
security and safety for sustainable
development.
Produce excellent science.
Infuse youth with the vision of
UNESCO.
- Summer schools;
- Online learning;
- UNESCO Chair and Centers day as
annual event.
Water related Chairs and Centres to contribute
to IHP 9 and the SDGs (notably 6) and help
connect different scales (and knowledge /
disciplines) from local to global.
Sustainable and specific horizontal
cooperation of the UNESCO chairs,
and building a platform that will let
UNESCO chairs to exchange best
practices, resources, knowledge,
cooperation.

27. UNESCO Regional Bureau for science and culture in Europe
1st Regional Meeting of SC-related UNESCO Chairs and Centres in the SEE Region
ROUNDTABLE 2: Interdisciplinary and intersectoral approach
Guiding questions:
• Is your Chair/Center already involved in
interdisciplinary activities in this specific area?
If yes, provide examples of projects and
strategies your Chair/Center has adopted.
• Have you collaborated with other
Chairs/Centres from another discipline on this
topic? If not, do you see the potential for doing
so?
• Why do you think it is important to work in an
interdisciplinary way, notably in this area?
Culture and Science for
Sustainable Societies
Education for
Sustainable
Development
Digital Innovation and its
Ethical dimensions
Room Codussi front Zorzi Codussi end
Moderator Francesco Vallerani Michael Scoullos Vittorio Colizzi
Rapporteur Jasna Plavšić Tel Amiel Beatrice Formenti
Participants
Elpida Kolokytha
Vlatko Sesov
Rita Patriza Aquino
Fabio Castelli
Sabin Stoica
Ioana Spanache
Jacques Ganoulis
Mitja Jermol
Emilio di Maria
Chiara Biscarini
Stefano Grimaz
Matjaz Mikos
Kalliopi Kravari
Yannis Mylopoulos
John Shawe-Taylor
Pietro Tundo
Stefano Barberis
George Dikaios
Johan Aad van Dijk
Sorin Zaharia
SDGs

28. 1st Regional Meeting of SC-related UNESCO Chairs and Centres in the SEE Region
Culture and Science for Sustainable Societies Education for Sustainable Development Digital Innovation and its Ethical dimensions
Moderator Francesco Vallerani Michael Scoullos Vittorio Colizzi
Rapporteur Jasna Plavsic Tel Amiel Beatrice Formenti
1
UNESCO Centers and Chairs should work on
promoting interdisciplinarity notable between
culture and science at city level and UNESCO site
level and on protecting cultural and natural
heritage.
Recognizing that Chairs are engaged in significant formal,
nonformal, informal, LLL, and GLAM educational efforts, there
is a need to better map these initiatives, in multiple languages,
to promote reuse and avoid duplication by using existing
networks and tools.
Big data management and AI in the context of multi-
levels responsibility need to be addressed by a working
group of several UNESCO Chairs and Center experts
at the interdisciplinary level: responsibility, jurisdictions,
ethics, i.e. implement a UNESCO network dedicated to
address this cross-cutting topic
2
UNESCO Centers and Chairs should promote
participatory approaches and bring science closer
to the people. The wider public should know more
about the Centres and Chairs networks and how
this work contributes to wider societal challenges.
UNESCO Chairs can help institutions to expand notions of
science education, to be more horizontal and focus on ESD
and promote sustainability through university charters, that
include demonstrations of impact through indicators (with a
minimum threshold).
Enhance the development of responsible digital
innovation for distance-learning higher education
(i.e. virtual labs), aware of non-increase the digital
gap.
3
UNESCO Centers and Chairs should maintain
strong sectoral specialized approaches and build
on that collaborations with specialists/Centres to
achieve interdisciplinarity.
Foster cross-sectional, integrated, and interdisciplinary
engagement and literacy beyond multidisciplinary approaches.
UNESCO chairs and centers should act as a bridge to
fill the gap between big data to useful knowledge by
responsible digital innovation.
RECOMMENDATIONS ROUNDTABLE 2: Interdisciplinary and intersectoral approach

29. UNESCO Regional Bureau for science and culture in Europe
1st Regional Meeting of SC-related UNESCO Chairs and Centres in the SEE Region
ROUNDTABLE 3: National, regional and international challenges Guiding questions:
First group
• What are the main challenges your UNESCO
Chair/Center faces at the national level?
• What role do UNESCO Chairs/Centres have
within the national level context?
Second group
• What are the common challenges for Centres
and Chairs, as part of a regional (Southeast
Europe and Mediterranean) network?
• What are the main challenges you face to
interact with other UNESCO Chairs/Centres at
the regional level?
• How can working at the regional level help
address multidimensional crises such as
climate change and the Covid-19 pandemic
(social, environmental and economic)?
Group 1 - National Group 2 - Regional Group 3 - International
Room Codussi middle Codussi end Goldoni
Moderator Sorin Zaharia Stefano Barberis Pietro Tundo
Rapporteur Emilio di Maria Vlatko Sesov Johan Aad van Dijk
Participants
Jacques Ganoulis
Francesco Vallerani
Stefano Grimaz
Kalliopi Kravari
Michael Scoullos
John Shawe-Taylor
Chiara Biscarini
Rita Patrizia Aquino
Fabio Castelli
Yannis Mylopoulos
Mitja Jermol
Sabin Stoica
Jasna Plavsic
Beatrice Formenti
Vittorio Colizzi
George Dikaios
Elpida Kolokytha
Matjaz Mijos
Amiel Tel
Ioana Spanache

30. UNESCO Regional Bureau for science and culture in Europe
1st Regional Meeting of SC-related UNESCO Chairs and Centres in the SEE Region
ROUNDTABLE 3: National, regional and international challenges
Group 1 Group 2 Group 3
Room Codussi middle Codussi end Goldoni
Moderator Sorin Zaharia Stefano Barberis Pietro Tundo
Rapporteur Emilio di Maria Vlatko Sesov Johan Aad van Dijk
Participants
Jacques Ganoulis
Francesco Vallerani
Stefano Grimaz
Kalliopi Kravari
Michael Scoullos
John Shawe-Taylor
Chiara Biscarini
Rita Patrizia Aquino
Fabio Castelli
Yannis Mylopoulos
Mitja Jermol
Sabin Stoica
Jasna Plavsic
Beatrice Formenti
Vittorio Colizzi
George Dikaios
Elpida Kolokytha
Matjaz Mijos
Amiel Tel
Ioana Spanache
Third group
• Do you face the same kind of challenges at the
national and at the international level?
• What is the added value of being part of an
international interdisciplinary network of
Chairs/Centres?
• Do you feel part of an international and global
network of UNESCO Chairs/Centres? If not,
what do you think are the obstacles and the
main difficulties in being more integrated?

31. RECOMMENDATIONS ROUNDTABLE 3: national, regional and international challenges
Group 1 – National challenges Group 2 – Regional challenges Group 3 – International challenges
Moderator Sorin Zaharia Stefano Barberis Pietro Tundo
Rapporteur Emilio di Maria Vlatko Sesov Johan Aad Van Dijk
1
Promote sensibilization at both local (universities,
municipalities, regional authorities...) and national
level and involvement of all stakeholders, by
facilitating dialogue between UNESCO Chairs and
Centers and stakeholders.
Regional networking of UNESCO
Chairs/Centres (including establishing new
Chairs and Centres) and put together joint
proposal, easier to access funding.
Increase visibility of UNESCO network of Chairs and
Centers at global level on the web highlighting diversity
and inclusion (online. i.e. tutorials, stories,
summer schools). Cross- mapping of UNESCO
designated sites.
2
National commission should be committed to
improve communication processes and catalyze
communication among UNESCO Centers and
Chairs.
Regional Bureau to promote the
database/repository of competency and topics
to work together, access to info, for the Chairs
and Centres to better collaborate.
UNESCO should better promote its UNESCO chairs and
Centers with UN agencies and as key actors
for implementation of SDGs.
3
National commission should valorize, facilitate and
support UNESCO Centers and Chairs.
Take advantage of existing UNESCO Chairs
and Centres networks at Regional level and
strengthen this work by organizing
more thematic regional meetings to seek the
demands at the regional level.
UNESCO should support working groups/task forces/
dynamic coalitions / platforms on specific themes or
specific challenges.
1st Regional Meeting of SC-related UNESCO Chairs and Centres in the SEE Region

32. UNESCO Regional Bureau for science and culture in Europe
1st Regional Meeting of SC-related UNESCO Chairs and Centres in the SEE Region
Tonight’s dinner is at CARPACCIO Restaurant, at 7:30pm

33. First Regional Meeting of the UNESCO
Science-related Chairs and Centres for
South East Europe and the Mediterranean
28 October 2022
UNESCO Regional Bureau for Science and Culture
Palazzo Zorzi, Venice

34. RECAP - RECOMMENDATIONS ROUNDTABLE 1: Main Action Areas
1st Regional Meeting of SC-related UNESCO Chairs and Centres in the SEE Region
Disaster risk management,
resilience and climate change
STI (basic science, open science
and open data, artificial
intelligence, open education and
distance learning)
IHP programme (resource
management, water education, water
security)
MAB programme
(ecosystems, biodiversity,
ecotourism)
Regional and national bodies in charge for DRR
should recognize UNESCO chairs and centers
as key partners. We suggest to establish
national platforms on DRR in each country of
SEE and include UNESCO Chairs and Centres
as full members.
UNESCO should champion openness as
well as its member organizations in light of
recent recommendations – e.g. OER,OS
Chairs and Centres as part of the academic
system are designing higher education curricula
on water education: it must go beyond the teaching
of water sciences and be both multidisciplinary
and interdisciplinary (Education for SDG learning
objective).
Capacity building including education,
with multiple stakeholders, including the
less privileged such as women and
young people, chair network knowledge
transferring to society, industry, etc.
Regional meetings of the UNESCO SC related
Chairs and Centers working in the DRR,
resilience and climate change, should be
regular. This approach can be followed in
other Regions, not only in South-East Europe.
Enhancing collaboration by:
- Promoting regular meetings, funding micro
projects between members – Chairs,
Centers, Networks e.g. for working on topics
related to SDGs.
- Creating directory within UNESCO office
that knows all Chairs and can answer
question, help in finding partners.
Water Chairs and centres should provide scientific
knowledge, including geostorical to improve policy
and governance. Considering interaction
between humans and nature and promote a
new water culture by combining technical and
social issues.
Multiplidisciplinary approach to
support biodiversity, ecosystem, and
tackle health inequality, through joint
project, keep the network active, have
both horizontal and vertical activity.
Promoting much more a multi-risk approach
within the DRR framework. UNESCO should
have a key role on upgrading from disciplinary
hazards centered networks toward impact and
adaptation and multi-risk initiatives for security
and safety for sustainable development.
Produce excellent science
Infuse youth with the vision of UNESCO.
- Summer schools
- Online learning
- UNESCO Chair and Centers day as annual
event
Water related Chairs and centers to contribute
to IHP 9 and the SDGs (notably 6) and help
connect different scales (and
knowledge/disciplines) from local to global.
Sustainable and specific horizontal
cooperation of the UNESCO chairs, and
building a platform that will let UNESCO
chairs to exchange best practices,
resources, knowledge, cooperation.

35. 1st Regional Meeting of SC-related UNESCO Chairs and Centres in the SEE Region
Culture and Science for Sustainable Societies Education for Sustainable Development
Digital Innovation and its Ethical
dimensions
UNESCO Centers and Chairs should work on
promoting interdisciplinarity notable between
culture and science at city level and UNESCO site
level and on protecting cultural and natural
heritage
Recognizing that Chairs are engaged in significant
formal, nonformal, informal, LLL, and GLAM
educational efforts, there is a need to better map
these initiatives, in multiple languages, to promote
reuse and avoid duplication by using existing
networks and tools.
Big data management and AI in the context
of multi-levels responsibility need to be
addressed by a working group of several
UNESCO Chairs and Center experts at the
interdisciplinary level: responsibility,
jurisdictions, ethics, i.e. implement a
UNESCO network dedicated to address this
cross-cutting topic.
UNESCO Centers and Chairs should promote
participatory approaches and bring science
closer to the people the wider public should know
more about the centers and chairs and networks
and how this work contributes to wider societal
challenges.
UNESCO Chairs can help institutions expand
notions of science education to be more
horizontal and focus on ESD and promote
sustainability through university charters that
include demonstrations of impact through indicators
(with a minimum threshold).
Enhance the development of responsible
digital innovation for distance-learning
higher education (i.e. virtual labs), aware
of non-increase the digital gap.
UNESCO Centers and Chairs should maintain
strong sectoral specialized approaches and build
on that collaborate with specialists/Centers to
achieve interdisciplinarity.
Foster cross-sectional, integrated, and
interdisciplinary engagement and literacy beyond
multidisciplinary approaches.
UNESCO chairs and centers should act as
a bridge to fill the gap between big data to
useful knowledge by responsible digital
innovation.
RECAP - RECOMMENDATIONS ROUNDTABLE 2: Interdisciplinary and intersectoral approach

36. RECAP RECOMMENDATIONS ROUNDTABLE 3: national, regional and international challenges
National Regional International
Promote sensibilization at both local
(universities, municipalities, regional
authorities...) and national level and
involvement of all stakeholders, by
facilitating dialogue between UNESCO
Chairs and Centers and stakeholders.
Regional networking of UNESCO
Chairs/Centers (including establishing new
Chairs and Centers) and put together joint
proposal, easier to access funding.
Increase visibility of UNESCO network of
Chairs and Centers at global level on the
web highlighting diversity and inclusion
(online. i.e. tutorials, stories,
summer schools). Cross- mapping of
UNESCO designated sites.
National commission should
be committed to improve
communication processes and catalyze
communication among UNESCO
Centers and Chairs.
Regional Bureau to promote the
database/repository of competency and
topics to work together, access to info, for
the Chairs and Centers to
better collaborate.
UNESCO should better promote
its UNESCO chairs and Centers with UN
agencies and as key actors
for implementation of SDGs.
National commission should valorize,
facilitate and support UNESCO Centers
and Chairs.
Take advantage of existing UNESCO
Chairs and Centers networks at Regional
level and strengthen this work by
organizing more thematic regional
meetings to seek the demands at the
regional level.
UNESCO should support working
groups/task forces/ dynamic coalitions /
platforms on specific themes or specific
challenges.
1st Regional Meeting of SC-related UNESCO Chairs and Centres in the SEE Region

37. RECOMMENDATIONS
ROLE OF UNESCO CENTERS AND CHAIRS VISIBILITY
• SC related Chairs and centers have a key role to provide scientific knowledge, build capacity
and transfer this knowledge to society, leaving no one behind
• SC related Chairs and Centers should help connect different scales (and
knowledge/disciplines) from local to global.
• Network of chairs and centers should be key agents and promoters of open science and open
access and play a role in enhancing the development of responsible digital innovation for
distance-learning higher education (i.e. virtual labs), also aiming to reduce the digital gap.
• UNESCO Centers and Chairs should promote participatory approaches and bring science
closer to the people so that the wider public sees how centers and chairs and networks
contributes to wider societal challenges
• UNESCO Chairs and centers can help promote sustainability through university charters and
foster cross-sectional, integrated, and interdisciplinary engagement and literacy
• UNESCO Chairs and Centers should continue to contribute to science education in all levels
and forms of education and better map and promote the existing networks, impact indicators
and tools.
• Underlined the importance of partners including UN
system recognizing the important role of UNESCO chairs and centers
as key partners, notably for the implementation of Agenda 2030 and the
SDGs
• Needs to be a better online visibility (notably with youth) of chairs
and centers at all levels, highlighting their diversity, stories of their work,
tutorials, summer schools
• Chairs and centers to work with national commissions to promote
more visibility of the network at the national level and a better
coordination notably through the constitution of national networks
FUNCTIONING OF NETWORKS EXPERTISE AND MULTIDISCIPLINARITY
• To strengthen or constitute thematic groups of SC related chairs and centers (eg on DRR,
on water, big data and AI) at the regional and international levels based on demands of member
states
• UNESCO to assist networks of SC chair and centers to build online platforms at regional
and international scales including mapping of initiatives, best practices and the promotion of
joint projects and accessing joint funding
• UNESCO Centers and Chairs should maintain strong
sectoral specialized expertise, only then will working in an
interdisciplinary manner have real value
• That chairs and centers can promote a more multidisciplinary and
holistic approach to challenges such as climate change, biodiversity
and water management, notably at city and UNESCO site scales
1st Regional Meeting of SC-related UNESCO Chairs and Centres in the SEE Region

38. UNESCO Regional Bureau for science and culture in Europe
1st Regional Meeting of SC-related UNESCO Chairs and Centres in the SEE Region
Group 1 Group 2 Group 3
Room Codussi front Zorzi Goldoni/Codussi end
Moderator George Dikaios Yannis Mylopoulos Stefano Barberis
Rapporteur Stefano Grimaz Mitja Jermol Elpida Kolokytha
Participants
Rita Patrizia Aquino
Emilio di Maria
Jacques Ganoulis
Jasna Plavšić
Vittorio Colizzi
Johan Aad van Dijk
Chiara Biscarini
Tel Amiel
Fabio Castelli
Pietro Tundo
John Shawe-Taylor
Ioana Spanache
Sorin Zaharia
Michael Scoullos
Sabin Stoica
Beatrice Formenti
Francesco Vallerani
Vlatko Sesov
Matjaz Mikos
Kalliopi Kravari
ROUNDTABLE 4: Pathways and opportunities Guiding questions:
What does it mean to be part of a Southeast European
Regional network?
• Can you think of examples of previous fruitful
collaborations (notably research, training) with other
Chairs and Centres of the Southeast European region?
• Based on the difficulties and challenges analyzed the
day before, how do you think we, as Centres and
Chairs, could address them effectively?
• What role does your UNESCO Chair/Center have within
the region?

39. UNESCO Regional Bureau for science and culture in Europe
1st Regional Meeting of SC-related UNESCO Chairs and Centres in the SEE Region
Group 1 Group 2 Group 3
Room Codussi middle Codussi end Goldoni
Moderator George Dikaios Yannis Mylopoulos Stefano Barberis
Rapporteur Stefano Grimaz Mitja Jermol Elpida Kolokytha
Participants
Rita Patrizia Aquino
Emilio di Maria
Jacques Ganoulis
Jasna Plavšić
Vittorio Colizzi
Johan Aad van Dijk
Chiara Biscarini
Tel Amiel
Fabio Castelli
Pietro Tundo
John Shawe-Taylor
Ioana Spanache
Sorin Zaharia
Michael Scoullos
Sabin Stoica
Beatrice Formenti
Francesco Vallerani
Vlatko Sesov
Matjaz Mikos
Kalliopi Kravari
ROUNDTABLE 4: Pathways and opportunities Guiding questions:
How can we promote coordination among networks, and at the
regional and at the global levels?
• How can Chairs and Centres work together? What are the tools
and conditions needed for this to happen?
• How can best practices from the Chairs/Centres from the region
be brought to the global level?
• How can the UNESCO Regional Bureau facilitate this common
work?
Looking to the future
• What are the emerging themes and issues that should be
addressed at the UNITWIN/UNESCO Chair and Centres network
levels?
• Looking to the future, how can a regional Chairs/Centres network
best contribute to UNESCO’s priorities, notably those of an
interdisciplinary nature, and provide added value?

40. RECOMMENDATIONS ROUNDTABLE 4: pathways and opportunities
1st Regional Meeting of SC-related UNESCO Chairs and Centres in the SEE Region
Group 1 Group 2 Group 3
Moderator George Dikaios Yannis Mylopoulos Elpida Kolokytha
Rapporteur Stefano Grimaz Mitja Jermol Elpida Kolokytha
1
We promote the establishment of a regional
network of UNESCO Chairs/Centers, in a more
stable and permanent way, under the umbrella of
the UNESCO Venice Office, with at least one
meeting per year.
Common emerging theme, climate change and
consequences of climate change for the region,
including risk management, water management
and its cultural aspects. Green technology but
also open access to science.
UNESCO Chairs and Centers in SEE could support
the development of thematic observatories and/or
SDGs related issues by using existing web tools
produced by the different Chairs and Centers
according to their expertise ( i.e. example of
collaboration between 3 Chairs on DRR and
governance).
2
Big data management in thematic areas is an
emerging theme, that could be addressed
through Joint Virtual Labs. Themes could
be responsible digital innovation, climate change
and uncertainty.
Improve a better networking between chairs and
Centers, in particular cross-sectoral, that will
include themes, challenges and methods and
mechanisms for networking. Adopting
participatory approaching and open access to
education. Another method is a common
website, preferably updated by the regional
office.
UNESCO Chairs and Centers in SEE
region should work on further advancement of
interdisciplinarity including different target groups (
i.e. WEFE security approach).
3
UNESCO Chairs and Centers should act as
strategic think-tank, as tool for the future, taking
advantage of EU calls for funds, in Science, Culture
and Education, with the facilitation of UNESCO
Venice Office.
Common vision, common set of objectives
foresight. Presenting ourselves to our
stakeholders, including UNESCO to gain their
recognition and support, both regional office and
HQ. seek for funding through collaborative
approaches, including Erasmus program and
cross-border collaboration.
UNESCO Chairs and Centers should support
synergies between them and make
their contribution understood and shared with
different stakeholders (public, policy makers,
politicians, practitioners and professionals). Youth
and Education are central to address those
challenges in the SEE region.