We coordinate, support, and organize joint academic and research activities among the member universities, and through partnerships and funded projects. The VIU campus is on the island of San Servolo, Venice, Italy. The mission of VIU is to foster cooperation among VIU member institutions while facilitating the exchange of knowledge and ideas, by developing, promoting and organising joint academic, research and training/capacity-building programmes. VIU thereby contributes to, and is an integral part of the internationalisation strategies of the member organisations. Universities today must play a strategic role in addressing the new global challenges: sustainable development, climate change and energy, food and water security, urban growth, welfare, ageing populations, global ethics, protection of tangible and intangible cultural heritage, human rights, equality, democratization, peace and conflict and global governance. Some of these critical global issues can be predicted, others arise unexpectedly and suddenly, and traditional training is not necessarily the best way to find solutions. The programs at VIU brings together talented, motivated students from the member universities in a truly multicultural, international and interdisciplinary environment. Students enjoy a powerful learning experience in which they develop their capacity for critical thinking, working across disciplines, creatively embracing new ideas. One of the advantages is to be in Venice, a living laboratory in a fragile environment with a remarkable cultural heritage where students and professors can directly experience and become aware of some of the common challenges. Since its foundation in 1995, VIU has increasingly worked to promote the research triangle of stakeholders – industry, academia and government – through research projects, advanced training programs targeting professionals and policy-makers and internships for university students.