Kick-off Meeting of the “Disaster Resilient Universities – DRU Project” Successfully Held in Ioannina

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:

ISTITUTO AD ORDINAMENTO UNIVERSITARIO "SCUOLA SUPERIORE CAROLINA ALBASIO" (Italy)

JAVNA USTANOVA UNIVERZITET U ZENICI UNIVERSITAS STUDIORUM ZENICAENSIS (Bosnia and Herzegovina)

UNIVERSITATEA OVIDIUS DIN CONSTANTA (Romania)

MEDITERRANEAN UNIVERSITY OF ALBANIA (Albania)

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:

WP1: Project Management

WP2: Roadmap to Resilience

WP3: Disaster Prevention through Information and AI

WP4: Disaster Resilience through Fact-Checking Education

WP5: Sustaining Resilience through Community

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.