Shared identity in a culturally diverse group

This chapter explores the emergence of a shared identity within the UNITE! alliance, a network of seven European universities formed in 2019 to foster innovation, technology and engineering education. The alliance responds to the European Commission’s call for cooperation in innovation and good practices, enabling students to obtain degrees through cross-border study. As higher education undergoes transformation, driven by digital education and hybrid learning models, the alliance seeks to create a European inter-university campus that supports virtual and physical mobility. The initiative addresses challenges such as policy reforms, curriculum design and faculty hiring while promoting eco-friendly mobility. However, one key issue is how culturally diverse groups from Northern, Continental and Southern Europe can collaborate effectively toward common European goals. Through a case study of virtual workgroups during the COVID-19 pandemic, this research examines the conditions and triggers that foster the development of a shared identity in such diverse, collaborative settings, offering insights into the resilience and cohesion needed for successful cross-cultural cooperation.