The official launch of the Disaster Resilient Universities (DRU) Project took place on March 12, 2025, at the University of Ioannina, Greece, marking the beginning of a two-year collaboration funded by the European Commission and the Greek National Foundation of Scholarships (IKY).
The project, coordinated by the PANEPISTIMIO IOANNINON, brings together a strong consortium of academic institutions from across Europe:
With a duration of 24 months, the DRU project aims to strengthen the resilience of higher education institutions in the face of natural and man-made disasters. Through an innovative and cooperative approach, it focuses on prevention, preparedness, and mitigation, fostering a culture of safety, collaboration, and community engagement. The kick-off meeting opened with a welcome address and an overview of the project’s scope and goals. This was followed by detailed presentations on each work package:
The meeting also featured discussions on dissemination and communication activities, coordinated by the Mediterranean University of Albania, ensuring the project’s visibility and outreach. The event concluded with a joint session dedicated to key decisions and outlining the next steps, setting a solid foundation for the project’s implementation phase.