UNICA is a network of 46 universities from 35 capital cities of Europe, with a combined strength of over 150,000 staff and 1,800,000 students. Its role is to promote academic excellence, integration and co-operation between member universities throughout Europe. It provides a forum in which universities can reflect on the demands of strategic change in education, research cooperation, university policy and organization as well as university societal engagement. To achieve its aims UNICA articulates the views of member universities to European institutions and to national, regional and municipal governments. It provides the members with information on European initiatives and programmes, and supports them in co-operative projects.