For over 20 years, the University of Trieste has been a member of the European University Association (EUA), a European association that has evolved from the merging Confederation of European Union Rectors’ Conference (CRE) and the Association of European Universities (AEU). The main activities of the EUA involve coordinating European university policies and promoting meetings between universities throughout Europe. The University's representatives are prof. Donata Vianelli and prof. Elisabetta De Giorgi.

The AARC was established to promote dialogue between higher education institutions in the Alps Adriatic region about education and research. The AARC is committed to supporting collaboration between teachers and students in various academic fields. The network collaborates with relevant EU institutions in research and various higher education degrees, including lifelong learning. The University's representatives are prof. Donata Vianelli and prof. Elisabetta De Giorgi.

The Danube Rectors' Conference (DRC) is a robust network of nearly 70 universities in the Danube region, stretching from the Black Forest to the Black Sea. Our goal is to improve higher education through both teaching and research and to advance our member universities by establishing sustainable connections. The University's representatives are prof. Donata Vianelli and prof. Elisabetta De Giorgi.

UniAdrion is a non-profit, transnational volunteer association made up of universities and research centres. It was established in 2000 at the Ravenna Conference with the aim of creating a permanent connection between universities and research and development centres of excellence in the Adriatic and Ionian basin, thus strengthening inter-university cooperation and overall strategy in the Adriatic-Ionian macro-region. Collaboration between institutions is multidisciplinary in nature and covers areas such as: protection, cataloguing and promotion of cultural heritage; environment and sustainable development; cultural tourism; economic development; communication; development of ports and trade relations. The University's representative is Prof. Roberto Louvin.

In 2018, the University joined the Euro-Mediterranean University Network (EMUNI). Since its foundation in 2008, the Euro-Mediterranean University, one of the EU’s priority projects in the Mediterranean, has evolved into an international institution that gathers knowledge and expertise from Euro-Mediterranean countries, making a significant contribution to the creation of a unified and integrated Euro-Mediterranean area for higher education and research. It largely operates from its headquarters in Piran, Slovenia. EMUNI's fundamental mission is to contribute to strengthening intercultural dialogue and the primary objectives of the Barcelona Process through its activities. The University's representative is Prof. Alberto Pallavicini.rcelona Process. The University's representative is Professor Alberto Pallavicini.

In 2017, the University of Trieste became a member of the Scholars at Risk (SAR) network. SAR is an international network of institutions and individuals whose mission is to protect scholars and promote academic freedom. By organizing temporary academic positions at member universities and colleges, SAR provides security for scholars at risk, aiming to safeguard their ideas and allow them to continue their work until they can return to their home countries. SAR also provides advocacy and assistance for scholars and guests who are imprisoned or silenced in their home countries, implementing new tools and strategies to promote academic freedom and enhance respect for university values globally. The University's representatives are Prof. Giuseppe Pascale and Carla Savastano.

Founded in 1991 by Professor Franco Rizzi, a Contemporary History lecturer at Roma Tre University in the aftermath of the fall of the Berlin Wall, UNIMED is a network of Higher Education and research institutions from the geographical areas on both shores of the Mediterranean. It is active in promoting academic cooperation in the Euro-Mediterranean region, Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, and the Western Balkans.

UNIMED operates with a strong focus on collaboration among its members, generating benefits for local, national, and global communities. The network engages in various themes and projects across multiple sectors, including leadership, refugee integration, sustainable development, digital education, and intercultural dialogue. It has become a key reference point for international university cooperation.

Joining UNIMED means entering into direct contact with a vast network of universities and offers the University of Trieste the opportunity to benefit from the partnerships formed within the network, as well as from the expertise of its member institutions in international project development, in collaboration with its associates.

The University's representative is prof. Roberta Altin

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, was established in the aftermath of World War II with the mandate to assist European citizens who had fled their homes because of the conflict. Initially conceived as a temporary structure, this was an optimistic forecast—as we now know. Seventy years later, UNHCR continues to work every day to ensure that all people forced to flee wars, violence, and persecution have the right to seek asylum and live in a safe place. It provides protection and essential assistance to individuals who often have no one else to turn to for help.

Within the Italian Network, the project “University Corridors for Refugees – UNICORE” has been launched and, in the academic year 2025/2026, has reached its seventh edition: UNICORE 7.0.

The UNICORE Project is promoted by Italian universities with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Caritas Italiana, Diaconia Valdese, Centro Astalli, and other partners. It offers opportunities for young refugees residing in Ethiopia, India, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe to continue their university studies in Italy.

The university’s contact persons are Prof. Diego Abenante and Prof. Giuseppe Borruso.