UNICOPS

Modern universities often resemble small cities. Students from all over the world come together to learn, create and grow in environments designed to foster creativity – with easy access to libraries, laboratories, and open spaces for both work and relaxation. Openness is one of the cornerstones of academic life.

However, incidents such as the 2023 attack on Charles University in Prague serve as a stark reminder that university campuses are not immune to threats. Open access to campus facilities, limited security measures, and the presence of hazardous substances – whether chemical, biological, radiological, or explosive (CBRNE) – make universities potential targets for attacks.

The UNICOPS project was created in response to these challenges – an initiative aimed at enhancing the safety of students studying at universities across the European Union.

The aim of the UNICOPS project is to enhance safety on university campuses while preserving their open and welcoming character. Universities should remain spaces open to dialogue and innovation, while also providing a sense of security and protection against modern-day threats.

The project’s key activities include:

• Analysis of existing national regulations and internal university procedures;
• Assessment of universities’ effectiveness and vulnerability to threats through a series of study visits (12 visits across 9 EU countries);
• Development of new procedures and recommendations to improve security systems, with a particular focus on CBRNE threats;
• Design of a training programme that combines traditional materials (manuals, leaflets) with modern tools appealing to younger audiences, such as VR technologies and the educational game THOR, featuring realistic CBRNE incident scenarios;
• Gathering of a broad network of professionals from various sectors to respond effectively to CBRNE incidents;
• Tests of the effectiveness of the proposed solutions during four large-scale exercises conducted in near-real conditions.
• Ultimately, the developed training programme will be available for implementation by all interested universities across the EU.

PPHS’ role

Polish Platform for Homeland Security acts as a supporting partner, contributing its expert knowledge in the field of security. Its key responsibilities include:

• providing expert support to lead partners in the detailed analysis of current security practices used by end users, with the aim of identifying gaps, needs, and best practices;
• participating in study visits to assess security procedures and practices at universities across various EU countries;
• supporting the development of a CBRNE protection system and the associated training programme;
• contributing to dissemination activities, including the promotion and distribution of the project’s outcomes.

Get in touch with us at projekty@ppbw.pl