Coimbra Group



A tradition of innovation




Scholarship Programmes

Peter Riedler, Rector, University of Graz

Universities have always been places where society reflects on its future. Today, that responsibility is more urgent than ever. Climate change and sustainability are no longer topics at the margins of academic life; they are central to how we teach, how we conduct research, how we shape our campuses, and how we engage with society.

For the University of Graz, sustainability is therefore not an isolated field of activity, but a guiding principle that informs our institutional development. It connects ecological responsibility with social justice, scientific excellence with practical action, and long-term thinking with the decisions we make every day. In this sense, our commitment to sustainability reaches across research, teaching, operations, and governance.

Last year, the University of Graz signed the Durham Declaration on Climate Change and Sustainability. This was an important step for us. The Declaration expresses a shared conviction among Coimbra Group universities: that higher education institutions must not only analyse the climate crisis, but also help lead the transformation toward a more sustainable future. It reminds us that collaboration is essential — across disciplines, across institutions, and across national borders.

At the University of Graz, this commitment is embedded in a comprehensive sustainability strategy. We have been working systematically for many years to reduce our environmental footprint, strengthen sustainability in teaching and research, and anchor sustainable practices in university life. Our environmental management structures, our long-standing engagement with sustainable campus development, and our climate roadmap all reflect this ambition. We have set ourselves the goal of drastically reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and achieving true climate neutrality by 2040. These are demanding goals, but they are necessary ones.

At the same time, sustainability for us means more than climate protection alone. It also means creating the conditions for responsible knowledge production, fostering critical thinking, encouraging participation, and enabling our students and researchers to contribute to solutions for regional and global challenges. Universities must be living laboratories for change — places where innovation is tested, responsibility is practiced, and future-oriented perspectives are developed together.

The Durham Declaration gives this work an important European dimension. It highlights that no university can address these challenges in isolation. The Coimbra Group offers a strong framework for mutual learning, exchange of experience, and shared visibility. By working together, we can increase our impact — not only within our own institutions, but also in the broader public and political discourse on sustainability.

I am convinced that universities have a particular role to play in this historic moment. We educate future decision-makers, generate knowledge, and help societies navigate complexity. This gives us both an opportunity and an obligation: to act credibly, ambitiously, and in partnership with others.

The University of Graz is proud to contribute to this common effort. By aligning our own sustainability strategy with the principles of the Durham Declaration, we reaffirm our belief that universities can and must be drivers of transformation. The path ahead will require persistence, cooperation, and courage — but it is a path we must take together.

This year’s Annual Conference is hosted by the University of Granada from 16 to 19 June under the main theme “Transforming the local and social environment through Research and Innovation”. Together with our hosts, we are proud to announce the first confirmed speakers for the public conference taking place on 18 June 2026.

Session I – Keynote Speaker “Universities, Science and Territories: Building Shared Futures”
18 June, 9:30 – 10:25 CET

We are honoured to welcome Beth Simone Noveck, author of Reboot: AI and the Race to Save Democracy (Yale University Press, 2026), as our keynote speaker. A professor at Northeastern University, Beth directs The Burnes Center for Social Change and The Governance Lab, focusing on “Democratic AI” or how to apply AI to strengthen democratic institutions and improve government performance.

Professor Noveck brings an exceptional blend of academic insight and practical experience, having previously served in the White House, 10 Downing Street, and the German Chancellery, and founding the White House Open Government Initiative. She currently leads InnovateUS, which supports free public sector learning, as well as the Observatory of Public Sector AI and AI for Impact, which designs and deploys AI tools to improve public outcomes.

Learn more about Beth Simone Noveck here and here.

Session II – Social Agents of Transformation
18 June, 10:15 – 11:15 CET

This session brings together leading voices shaping social innovation and governance across multiple levels:

These panellists will explore how universities, governments, and civil society can collaborate to act as catalysts for transformative social change across regions and nations.

A call for contributions has been circulated to the Rectors of all Coimbra Group Universities for the identification of speakers for Session III – Best Practices from Coimbra Group Universities: Research & Innovation Driving Territorial Transformation.

The public conference will be live streamed.

For full programme details, visit the Coimbra Group Annual Conference 2026 programme.

Registration is open until 18 May 2026 through this link.

person in black long sleeve shirt holding persons hand

Doctoral Studies Working Group and University of Graz

14 April 2026, 11:00-12:00 CET, online

Description

Academia may be competitive, but does it have to be unkind? In this talk, Johanna Stadlbauer and Gerald Lind will present how the Research Careers Campus Graz (RCC) promotes collegiality, diversity, and strategic career development to create a more supportive research culture. Drawing on expertise in researcher development across all academic career stages, gender equality, and organisational change, they will share examples of the RCC’s initiatives that support researchers in building connections, fostering inclusion, and navigating career transitions. There will be ample time for discussion following Johanna’s and Gerald’s input.

Speakers

Johanna Stadlbauer is Head of the Research Careers Campus at the University of Graz. She has a PhD in Cultural Anthropology and has previously worked in equality and diversity promotion, as well as in violence prevention. Her mission is to make academia more fun and kind, and to create equitable and diverse structures and practices. She regularly posts about research culture topics on LinkedIn.

Gerald Lind is the Deputy Head of the Research Careers Campus at the University of Graz, where he devises institutional strategies to support the personal and academic development of researchers from various disciplinary backgrounds. He studied in Vienna and Edinburgh and holds a PhD in German Literature.

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Equality and Diversity Working Group

Thursday, 16 April 2026, 16:00-18:00 CET

We warmly invite you to attend this webinar presenting the newly published and timely collective volume Why EDI Matters: Equ(al)ity, Diversity and Inclusion in European Universities, developed in the recent months by the Equality & Diversity Working Group of the Coimbra Group.

Join the co-editors and selected chapter authors for this two-hour event as they explore the volume’s main themes: sustainable futures, injustice, institutional structures. Each section will be followed by a Q&A session, giving you the chance to engage and participate in the discussion.

Register here to receive the connection link.

Agenda

Welcome
(TBC)

Introduction and Section I: Making Sustainable Futures: Education, Research, Social Justice
Professor Annalisa Oboe, University of Padova, co-editor of the volume

Presentation of selected chapters

-Núria Ferran-Ferrer, Miquel Centelles: From Silence to Spotlight: Towards Epistemic Justice in Women’s Digital Representation in the Age of Digital Humanities and Artificial Intelligence (University of Barcelona)

-Elisa Gamba: EDI, Care and Social Justice: Welcoming Refugees and Students at Risk at the University of Padua (University of Padua)

Q&A

Section II: Addressing Injustice: Invisibility, Discrimination, Violence
Professor Helena Wahlström Henriksson, Uppsala University, co-editor of the volume

Presentation of selected chapters

-Arno Schrooyen, Lisa Schivalocchi: The Student Movement in Europe: A New Strategy for Inclusion (European Student Union)

-Cristina Demaria, Cristina Gamberi: Theories, Policies and Practices: EDI and the Role of Higher Education in Countering GBV (University of Bologna)

Q&A

Section III: Changing Institutional Structures: Policies, Practices, Care
Associate Professor Vera Sokolová, Charles University, co-editor of the volume

Presentation of selected chapters

-Christiane Schwieren: Why EDI Matters: Insights from Research and University Equal Opportunity Practices (Heidelberg University)

Q&A

Closing remarks

For further information, please contact Iveta Bayerová.

assorted notepads

Social Sciences and Humanities Working Group

14 April 2026, 16:00-18:00
Trinity College Dublin, Neill Theatre, Trinity Long Room Hub

The event is organised jointly by the Social Sciences and Humanities Working Group of the Coimbra Group, Trinity Global and the Trinity Long Room Hub.

Summary

As negotiations for the next Horizon Europe Framework Programme (2028-2034) proceed, the EU must broaden its research priorities beyond economic output and tech-driven competitiveness to include the social dimension of progress. A more inclusive and sustainable research strategy is necessary to address the complex challenges that Europe faces and to secure its social model and global competitiveness.

This workshop will explore the debate around the contribution of the research community of social sciences and humanities into the design of European funding – to align EU research with citizen needs and democratic values, and better inform public policies and drive economic growth.

Draft Programme

16:00-16:45 Keynote speech by Gabi Lombardo, Director of the European Alliance for Social Sciences and Humanities (EASSH)

16:45-17:00 Q&A

17:00-17:45 Panel Discussion moderated by Patrik Geoghegan – Professor in History and Director of Trinity Long Room Hub (Trinity College Dublin)

17:45-18:00 Q&A and conclusions

Keynote: Gabi Lombardo (PhD LSE), is Director of the European Alliance for SSH one of the largest advocacy and science policy organizations in Europe. EASSH advocates for an evidence-based approach to policy-making, and researchers’ inclusion in funding design. High-level experience in science policy research and implementation working in international organisations like London School of Economics, European Research Council and Science Europe. She is a member of the CoARA Steering Board and other organisations’ steering boards. She’s an evaluator for the EU, World Bank, and COST. Gabi received the Young Academy of Europe Prize in 2018.

We are delighted to announce that all 42 Coimbra Group member universities have formally endorsed the Durham Declaration on Climate Change and Sustainability, following the recent admission of three new universities to our network.

This month, Prof. Shearer West, Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Leeds, Prof. Chris Day, Vice-Chancellor and President of Newcastle University, and Prof. Robert Olkiewicz, Rector of the University of Wrocław, officially signed the Declaration. These three universities joined the Coimbra Group at the last General Assembly, held in Bologna in June 2025.

Launched in March 2025 during the Climate Symposium hosted by Durham University, the Declaration articulates a unified vision for how higher education can contribute to global climate action. It sets out seven key principles to embed sustainability in all areas of academic life, including research, education, governance, and operations. The Declaration highlights the crucial role of universities as innovators, educators, partners and investors in driving transformative solutions to the climate crisis.

Prof. Ludovic Thilly, Chair of the Coimbra Group Executive Board, commented: “We warmly welcome the swift commitment of the leadership of our three new member universities. Their endorsement reinforces the principles of the Declaration and brings additional expertise and energy to our collaborative efforts. This unified stance also sends a clear message to our partners, to the EU policymakers and to the UN agencies: Europe’s leading research- and education-intensive universities are more committed and determined than ever to champion climate action”.

Serving as a guiding framework for the network, the Durham Declaration provides a shared roadmap for university-led climate and sustainability initiatives, fostering collaboration within the network as well as with local, national, European and international stakeholders. With full adoption across its membership, the Coimbra Group will further develop joint initiatives, influence policy and amplify its global advocacy in these critical areas.

On 17-18 March 2026, the Green Erasmus 2.0 consortium met at the ESN headquarters in Brussels for its inaugural Transnational Project Meeting (TPM), marking an important milestone in the project’s launch. Representatives from all partner organisations advanced in the implementation, while having the opportunity to engage with external stakeholders, including Ms Bérénice Kimpe, Head of the SALTO Green Resource Centre.

It was agreed that the consortium will now collaborate closely with SALTO and its network of green national contact points for higher education within the Erasmus+ National Agencies, drawing on their broad knowledge of existing tools and frameworks that promote sustainability in internationalisation across Europe and their dissemination capacity.

Contributions at the meeting from two experts from KU Leuven and Utrecht University, both Coimbra Group members, also added significant value to the discussions.

Coordinated by the University of Poitiers and supported by the Coimbra Group as a full partner, Green Erasmus 2.0 is an Erasmus+ project (2025-2028) that aims to place sustainability at the heart of international higher education.

Over two intensive days, partners further developed the project’s quality assurance processes and made progress in the implementation of all deliverables :

The consortium is also pleased to announce that it now has the formal support from the European Association for International Education (EAIE) in contributing to the dissemination of the project’s results and the development of the Community of Practice.

Participation in Green Erasmus 2.0 advances the Coimbra Group’s commitment to the Durham Declaration on Climate Change and Sustainability, adopted by all Coimbra Group university rectors in March 2025.

The short research stays in Europe are intended for Early-Career Researchers and Professors from Africa, Latin America and the European Neighbourhood

Coimbra Group member universities are offering 74 scholarships for early-career professors and researchers that are both national and residents of Latin American, Africa or European neighbourhood countries.

With the aim to enable scholars to internationalise the research they perform at their home institution and help them establish academic and research contacts in Europe, the initiative supports short-term research visits to one of the 21 participating universities on the European Continent.

You may read here the 2025 Coimbra Group Scholarship Programme main results overview.

How to apply

Applications should be submitted online through the official Coimbra Group webpage. Please note that each regional scholarship programme has specific requirements and that a letter of acceptance must be provided by an academic supervisor at the host university. The deadline for submissions is May 10 at midnight (Brussels time).

About the Coimbra Group Scholarship Programme

Since 1999 the Coimbra Group has offered early-career researchers from outside the EU the opportunity to carry out part of their research for a period of one to three months at a Coimbra Group University. While this scholarship programme was initially established to assist scholars from disadvantaged areas in Central and Eastern Europe, it was expanded several years ago and consolidated into a set of three programmes for young researchers from the European Neighbourhood, Africa, and Latin America.
The programme’s longevity and adaptability are testament to its sustained value and the commitment of CG member universities. It remains one of the network’s most successful initiatives, supported by strong engagement from member universities, steady applicants’ interest of, and consistently high-quality submissions.

Professor Jiří Zima, Rector, Charles University

At the beginning of my mandate as Rector of Charles University, we were deeply honoured to receive the EU Gender Equality 2025 Champions Award in the “Newcomer” category. This prestigious recognition from the European Commission is an important milestone for our institution. It acknowledges the long-term dedication of many colleagues who have worked with commitment and vision to advance equal opportunities. At the same time, it represents a responsibility to continue strengthening openness, fairness, safety and transparency across our academic environment.

This recognition comes at a time when the importance of equality and diversity is particularly visible, as we are currently marking both the International Day of Women and Girls in Science and International Women’s Day. These moments invite reflection, but also action. Across the Czech Republic, universities have made significant progress in recent years. Ombudsperson structures are becoming standard practice, collaborative national projects have produced shared methodological and educational tools, and gender equality plans are increasingly embedded in institutional strategies. While challenges remain – including the representation of women in scientific careers – the  momentum of current initiatives gives reason for optimism. Structural change is no longer just a distant aspiration. It is gradually becoming an institutional reality.

For our university, international cooperation plays an essential role in this transformation. Active engagement in networks such as the Coimbra Group provides a powerful framework for learning, reflection and progress. The exchange of experience and good practice with our distinguished partners offers inspiration that cannot be generated in isolation. Whether through the Equality & Diversity Working Group or through collaboration within the Research Support Officers, Doctoral Studies, Employability, and Academic Exchange and Mobility Working Groups, among others, these shared perspectives help us continuously improve the conditions in which our academic communities learn, work and thrive.

Today, our commitment to democratic values, fairness and equality is more important than ever. Universities carry a responsibility that extends beyond teaching and research, embracing a broader societal role grounded in public trust. We are not ivory towers removed from the world around us. At a time of global uncertainty and increasing pressures on academic freedom, universities must actively safeguard the principles that enable open societies to flourish. By embedding equal opportunities and ensuring a fair, transparent, safe and healthy environment, universities contribute not only to their own institutional development, but also to the strength, resilience and integrity of the wider European academic space.

I would therefore like to express my sincere gratitude to all colleagues whose sustained commitment has transformed our equal opportunities agenda into lived institutional practice, an effort that has contributed to this important European recognition. I am confident that we will continue to build on this progress together. My thanks also go to our international partners within the Coimbra Group. It is both a privilege and a pleasure to be part of such a vibrant and forward-looking academic community.

The Coimbra Group, together with its partners from leading university and research umbrella organisations, speaks with one strong and united voice on the future of European research, innovation and competitiveness.

In a joint sectoral statement, the signatories set out a shared vision for the new European Competitiveness Fund (ECF) and its connection with the next Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (FP10), calling for two autonomous and complementary programmes, connected through a clear and well-designed interface that preserves the purpose and strengths of FP10.

The statement underlines that FP10 must remain the EU’s main instrument for excellent research and innovation, while the ECF should focus on scale-up, deployment and competitiveness, working in synergy with FP10. The statement builds on the joint amendments to the FP10 regulation proposal, published in December 2025.

Universities and other research-performing organisations must be able to participate in both programmes across the entire research and innovation continuum.

At the same time, the Coimbra Group and its partners express concern that the European Commission’s proposal remains unclear on the FP10-ECF linkages, creating risks for governance and effectiveness. Clearer mechanisms and governance arrangements are therefore essential.

Commenting on the joint position, Ludovic Thilly, Executive Board Chair of the Coimbra Group, said: “We are proud to stand united as a sector and to speak with one voice. FP10 and the European Competitiveness Fund must be autonomous and complementary programmes, connected through effective and predictable pathways. This complementarity must also extend to Erasmus+. Researchers and universities indeed need coherent routes across FP10, the ECF and Erasmus+ to fully mobilise knowledge, talent and innovation for Europe’s long-term competitiveness.”

Together, the signatories support:

The Coimbra Group remains committed to working constructively with its partners to help the European Commission and the co-legislators shape the best possible funding instruments for research and innovation for 2028-2034.

Download the full statement

This week, the Coimbra Group submitted its response to the European Commission’s call for evidence on the upcoming “Women in Research, Innovation and Startups – Action Plan” which adoption is planned for the second quarter of 2026.

In its input paper, the Coimbra Group stresses that women continue to face structural, cultural and institutional barriers across research, innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystems. Despite recent progress, significant gender participation gaps persist, as demonstrated by the She Figures 2024, and the underrepresentation of women continues to generate substantial institutional and societal costs.

Key recommendations to the EU and Member States

The Coimbra Group, particularly though its Equality and Diversity Working Group, stands ready to support and collaborate with the European Commission in the next phases of this initiative.

Download the input paper

On 18 February 2026, the Coimbra Group, together with a broad coalition of European higher education organisations, representing universities, students, national agencies and sector stakeholders, published a shared package of amendments to the European Commission’s proposal for the next Erasmus+ programme (2028–2034).

The proposed amendments aim to reaffirm the core missions of Erasmus+: supporting learning mobility and transnational cooperation across all fields of study; safeguarding quality and inclusiveness; ensuring transparent governance; and reinforcing its international dimension. They also underline that new priorities must complement, not dilute, the programme’s longstanding objectives.

“We are proud of this broad collaborative effort across the higher education sector. With these common amendments we aim to reinforce the Commission’s proposal for the next generation of the Erasmus+ programme. Our message as a united European higher education community is clear: let’s build on 40 years of success, ensure that Erasmus+ remains Europe’s flagship programme, and continue strengthening our education systems, our democratic values and the European Education Area, while transforming individuals’ lives”, said Ludovic Thilly, Chair of the Coimbra Group Executive Board.

The signatory organisations represent the institutions and communities that implement and sustain Erasmus+ across Europe and beyond. We are committed to supporting the co-legislators throughout the negotiations, contributing with our experience and evidence to help shape a more ambitious, inclusive and globally engaged Erasmus+ for 2028–2034.

The Coimbra Group brings together 42 long-established, research-intensive, multidisciplinary universities of outstanding international reputation, located in 22 countries across Europe. Founded in 1985, the Coimbra Group was among the initiators of the Erasmus + programme and has consistently played a leading role in its successive developments, with its member universities at the forefront of key initiatives such as Erasmus Mundus, the European Universities alliances, Erasmus Without Paper, the European Student Card Initiative or the advancement of greener international mobility. Each year, more than 16% of all Erasmus+ grants awarded across the EU involve a Coimbra Group university, either as a sending or receiving institution.

Drawing on the collective experience of the Higher Education community, the following actions are needed:

Read the full cover note here.

Download the full set of amendments here.

The Coimbra Group warmly congratulates its member Charles University on receiving the EU Award for Gender Equality Champions in the “Newcomer” Category, presented during the 4th edition of the award ceremony held at the Berlaymont in Brussels on 3 February.

The award was handed over by European Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation, Ekaterina Zaharieva, in the presence of MEP Lina Gálvez Muñoz. Both highlighted the European Union’s continued commitment to gender equality as a cornerstone of research and innovation excellence.

Gender Equality Champions are European academic and research organisations recognised for their outstanding results in driving lasting change in gender equality through the implementation of Gender Equality Plans (GEPs).

Charles University was honoured for its ambitious and comprehensive strategy, which includes measures going far beyond compliance requirements and demonstrate a clear institutional commitment towards making the university into an inclusive and safe environment for all. Key achievements include the creation of an Equal Opportunities Board, the appointment of a full‑time Ombudsperson, dedicated staff for GEP implementation and strong horizontal cooperation across faculties and units.

At the ceremony, Lenka Henebergová, Iveta Bayerová and Adéla Jiroudková (Chair of Coimbra Group Research Support Officers Working Group) highlighted the essential role of community-wide engagement, institutional embodiment and international collaboration, particularly through their membership in the Coimbra Group and their active participation in its Equality & Diversity Working Group (co-chaired by Iveta Bayerová) which fosters peer learning, exchange of good practices and a shared ambition to advance gender equality.

Lenka Henebergová, Vice-dean for internationalisation at the Faculty of Physical Education and Sport and outgoing the Rector’s Board for Social Affairs and Sustainable Development, reminded participants that “gender equality is a core component of a democratic and safe Europe where shared values matter”.

This recognition makes Charles University the second Coimbra Group member to enter the EU Gender Equality Champions Hall of Fame, following Trinity College Dublin’s award in 2022, whose staff has since described the European recognition as “a major catalyst that galvanised” the university’s work in this area.

Speakers at the ceremony emphasised that gender equality is not just a matter of justice or fairness, but is fundamental to research excellence. Commissioner Zaharieva praised the five awarded research organisations for “leading by example” and reaffirmed that “excellence and inclusion go hand in hand”.

MEP Lina Gálvez stressed the importance of ensuring that GEPs remain a pillar of future framework programmes beyond 2027, warning against reducing them to mere tick-box exercises. Leadership commitment, accountability and measurable progress were highlighted as fundamental to achieving sustained and tangible change.

Congratulations once again to Charles University and all those involved in this outstanding accomplishment!

scrabble tiles spelling climate on a wooden surface

Ludovic Thilly, Chair, Coimbra Group Executive Board
Beatrix Busse, Vice-Chair, Coimbra Group Executive Board
Danny Donoghue, Lead member for Sustainability, Coimbra Group Executive Board

With only four years remaining to achieve the United Nations’ 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, and with scientific evidence pointing to accelerating climate deterioration, universities are increasingly expected not only to support the green transition but to lead it decisively. For Coimbra Group (CG) members, sustainability is not an add-on to our mission. It is central to our responsibility as educators, innovators, investors and partners.

In this context, the adoption of the Durham Declaration on Climate Change and Sustainability in March 2025 marked a defining moment for our network. Endorsed by the leadership of all of our members, the Declaration articulates a shared vision of how universities can drive transformative change through education, research, innovation and societal engagement.

The Executive Board (EB) and the Rectors’ Advisory Group have now translated the Declaration into an implementation roadmap structured around operational, strategic, and political action lines. This framework provides a clear direction through defined actions and accountability, illustrating the impact of coordinated collaboration and partnership building.

Sustainability has become a cross-cutting priority across CG Working Groups. As confirmed at the joint meeting of the EB with Working Groups (WGs) Chairs and Vice-Chairs on 22 January, climate and sustainability considerations are embedded in the agendas of multiple WGs, including Academic Exchange & Mobility, Doctoral Studies, Education Innovation, Employability, Global Partnerships and Heritage. Other Working Groups, such as Equality & Diversity, Latin America, Life Sciences, Research Support Officers and Social Sciences and Humanities, are actively exploring how to integrate these dimensions into their activities.

Alongside this internal work, we have expanded cooperation with European partners by involving research funding bodies, key stakeholder organisations such as the European University Association, and student organisations in our discussions. The Durham Declaration has also been the focus of constructive exchanges with the European Commission’s Director-General for Climate Action, Kurt Vandenberghe, who expressed strong interest in our proposals.

Rethinking international mobility is another key strand of our work. The Erasmus+ funded Green Erasmus 2.0 project (2025-2028), coordinated by the University of Poitiers and involving CG as full partner, was launched on 16 December 2025. Building on earlier initiatives, the project seeks to encourage behavioural change among mobile students, develop challenge-based learning initiatives, and introduce a Green Erasmus label to support institutional transformation. In addition, CG experts from the Research Support Officers WG contributed to the updated Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Green Charter, helping shape practical guidance for environmentally responsible research.

Embedding sustainability into curricula is a cornerstone of the Durham Declaration. To advance this goal, the Education Innovation WG mapped climate-related teaching and learning initiatives across CG universities. This work informed the report “Sustainability and Climate Change Education in Coimbra Group Universities” (available to CG members only) and will now underpin the development of a CG labelled online course on Sustainability for students, staff and the wider public. A dedicated Task & Finish Group is currently being established to co-design the course content and pedagogical approach.

Universities also face growing challenges from climate change scepticism and broader anti-scientific narratives, which risk undermining public trust in science and democratic dialogue. These issues were addressed directly during CG’s High-Level Seminar “Reinventing Campus Democracy” (Brussels, 21 November 2025), which examined how universities can respond not only as knowledge institutions, but also as democratic actors fostering critical thinking, civic engagement and societal resilience to disinformation.

In 2025, CG brought its climate leadership onto the international stage: the Durham Declaration was presented at COP30 in Belém, where it was recognised as a concrete and actionable roadmap for university-led climate action. Positioned alongside other emerging regional coordination models, including those from the Euro-Mediterranean region, the African Union, ASEAN and Latin America, the Declaration demonstrated how higher education can move beyond fragmented initiatives towards structured collective impact. The roundtable concluded with a call to action to build a global coalition of regional university initiatives on climate, laying the foundations for potential coordinated engagement at the 64th Sessions of the UNFCCC Subsidiary Bodies (Cologne, June 2026) and at COP31 (Antalya, November 2026) and beyond.

CG was invited by Science Europe to present the Durham Declaration at the Global Research Council (GRC)’s European Regional Meeting in Belgrade, with outcomes feeding into discussions at the upcoming GRC Annual Meeting (Bangkok, May 2026), further reinforcing its global relevance.

We are also honoured that the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has selected the Coimbra Group to pilot the implementation of the UN Green Jobs for Youth Pact in Europe. This joint UNEP/ILO/UNICEF initiative aims to equip young people with the skills and jobs needed for a just transition. This partnership aligns closely with our mission, as our universities collectively educate over 1.5 million students each year.

In 2026, implementation of the Durham Declaration will advance in close alignment with the Poitiers Declaration, strengthening cooperation between universities and municipalities. As the Poitiers Declaration marks its 10th anniversary, the EB and RAG have committed to updating it to reflect emerging challenges and opportunities. The revised Declaration will be adopted at our Annual Conference in Granada on 18 June 2026.

The year ahead will be decisive. Our actions, grounded in scientific excellence, pedagogical innovation and societal engagement, show that universities are not merely responding to the climate emergency but actively shaping a more sustainable future. We warmly thank all Working Groups, the senior leadership at our member universities, and their staff and students, as well as our partners, who are transforming the Durham Declaration from words into lasting impact.

The Coimbra Group participated in a higher education stakeholder dialogue on 28 January 2026 at the European Parliament, invited by MEP Bogdan Zdrojewski, rapporteur for the Erasmus+ 2028-2034 programme. Emmanuelle Gardan, director of the Coimbra Group Office, and Rúben Castro, policy and advocacy officer, represented the network during the discussions. The Coimbra Group reaffirmed that the next Erasmus+ must remain centred on its core educational mission, civic purpose and proven strengths: student and staff mobility, transnational cooperation and the fostering of a shared European identity. The network warned that the currently proposed budget falls significantly short of what is needed, recalling the sector’s call for at least €60 billion and for long-term budget predictability. Adequate funding, the Coimbra Group stressed, is essential to maintain high‑quality education, reinforce and expand inclusion measures, support universities’ long‑term partnerships, and scale successful initiatives such as the European Universities Alliances. The Coimbra Group also underlined that any new programme objectives or initiatives, such as competitiveness, preparedness or strategic scholarships, must be co‑created with stakeholders and designed to reinforce academic freedom, bottom-up approaches, curricular autonomy and interdisciplinary learning. The Coimbra Group further called for stronger synergies between Erasmus+ and Horizon Europe as well as other relevant EU programmes, as universities’ education and research missions are intrinsically linked and cannot be treated separately. On international cooperation, we advocated for the expansion of International Credit Mobility and for securing dedicated funding to strengthen the international dimension of the programme. Concluding its intervention, the Coimbra Group emphasised that the next Erasmus+ programme represents a strategic investment in Europe’s future and reaffirmed its readiness to work closely with EU co-legislators towards a stronger, better funded and more inclusive programme. The stakeholder dialogue brought together 25 actors, including national agencies, country representatives, student organisations and higher education umbrella organisations. Several Members of the European Parliament and representatives of the European Commission’s DG EAC, including the new Director for Youth, Education and Erasmus, Diana Jabłońska, also actively contributed to the meeting.

Coimbra Group’s input to the European Commission’s consultation on the development of the European Research Area Act

The Coimbra Group (CG) has submitted its contribution to the European Commission’s public consultation on the development of an European Research Area (ERA) Act. We welcome the opportunity to provide complementary input after the set of actions proposed at the call for evidence launched by the European Commission in summer 2025.

Our network has long advocated for a fully implemented ERA as a genuine single market for research and innovation, fostering free movement of researchers, scientific knowledge, and innovation across the EU. The ERA Act represents a critical opportunity to consolidate existing legislation and key policy frameworks into a robust and coherent single text, addressing long-standing structural fragmentation, capitalising on past achievements, and strengthening Europe’s global attractiveness and competitiveness in research and innovation.

Drawing on the collective experience and perspectives of CG member universities, the following actions could guide the development of the ERA Act:

The CG Members highlighted the following challenges, needs and priorities:

Read the full document here.

We are delighted to announce that the Erasmus+ funded project Green Erasmus 2.0, coordinated by the University of Poitiers and involving the Coimbra Group as a full partner, officially kicked off online on 16 December 2025.

Building on earlier initiatives, the project aims to foster sustainable behaviour among mobile students, develop challenge-based learning initiatives, and introduce a Green Erasmus label to support institutional transformation toward sustainable internationalisation. Through these efforts, it seeks to enhance universities’ societal impact and create lasting change in the way student mobility is approached.

A central component of the project is the creation of the Green Erasmus label, a quality framework that will encourage institutions to adopt, recognise and showcase sustainable mobility practices. To support this, the Coimbra Group will lead a community of practice to develop a standardised approach for recognising and promoting sustainability in higher education, helping bridge the current gap in common frameworks for sustainable student mobility.

An open call, launching before summer, will invite international relations offices, other university staff, students, teachers, community organisations and sustainability advocates to get involved and contribute. Additionally, a network of ambassadors will be established towards the second part of the project to amplify the project’s reach and ensure long-term adoption of sustainable practices across the higher education sector.

Green Erasmus 2.0 will offer higher education institutions and their communities a concrete pathway toward a greener, more sustainable international education ecosystem. The project, which runs for three years, fully aligns with the commitments of the Durham Declaration on Climate Change and Sustainability (March 2025) endorsed by the leadership of all Coimbra Group member universities.

The consortium, which includes as well ESN, the Technical University of Denmark and the Institute for the Development of Education (Institut za razvoj obrazovanja), held its second meeting, online, on 19 January. The first transnational partner meeting will take place in Brussels on 17-18 March.

The Coimbra Group has joined forces with other European higher education organisations to issue a joint statement calling for an Erasmus+ budget of at least €60 billion for 2028–2034. With negotiations on the EU’s next long-term budget currently under way, the statement, published today (7 January), urges the European Parliament and Member States to significantly strengthen Erasmus+ funding so it can meet the programme’s growing objectives.

Prof. Ludovic Thilly, Chair of the Executive Board of the Coimbra Group, highlighted Erasmus+ unique role in European integration: “Investing in Erasmus+ means investing in the European project itself. The programme embodies the idea of ‘united in diversity’ by fostering intercultural understanding, inclusion, multilingualism and academic cooperation across borders. It creates a strong sense of belonging and shared European identity, connecting generations of learners and institutions.”

Coimbra Group universities are deeply embedded in the success of Erasmus+. More than 16% of all Erasmus+ grants awarded across the EU involve a Coimbra Group institution as a sending or receiving partner. Ensuring a robust and ambitious Erasmus+ budget is essential not only to maintain mobility and cooperation at scale, but also to broaden access, enhance inclusion, and strengthen democratic values and long-term societal cohesion on the continent.

Signed by 17 organisations, the statement “A stronger Europe needs a properly funded Erasmus+” reflects a broad consensus across the higher education sector: the expanding scope and responsibilities of Erasmus+ in the next funding period require a budget that is commensurate with ambitions.

Read the full document here.

Professor Brian Bech Nielsen, Rector, Aarhus University

It was a proud day for Aarhus University when, at the beginning of July, we hosted the official opening of the Danish Presidency of the Council of the EU. Led by Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission convened at Aarhus University for its first meeting under the Danish EU Presidency, which was held in the university’s iconic Main Hall.

EU formandskab 2025 – Aarhus Universitet – EU Presidency – Behind the scenes AU – BTS.

This marked the beginning of an intense six months of debate and negotiations, shaped by a shifting geopolitical landscape and focused on Europe’s role in a changing global order. Fostering unity in Europe is now more crucial than ever. But unity alone is not enough. The current security climate calls for action, and it was against this backdrop that many of the ministerial negotiations conducted during the Danish EU Presidency took place, including those on the EU’s future initiatives in education, research and innovation.

A central task for the Danish EU Presidency was to lead negotiations on the 2028–2034 EU budget, known as the Multiannual Financial Framework, and to outline key elements of the forthcoming European Competitiveness Fund and framework programmes for research, innovation and education. These negotiations were shaped by the recommendations in the Draghi report, which call on Europe to generate more innovation, productivity and growth to boost its global competitiveness.

Danish universities helped inform the debate and negotiations on Europe’s future direction, and our input has been taken on board by the relevant ministries. We fully endorse the analysis of Europe’s structural challenges, and we stress the need for Europe to increase investment in research, innovation, energy and digitalisation to remain globally competitive while reducing its dependence on the rest of the world. Throughout the negotiation process, one of our key messages has been to maintain a long-term focus. In short, we must invest in excellent basic research, as this is the key to Europe delivering groundbreaking innovation over the long term.

Holding conferences across the country as part of the Danish EU Presidency has provided a welcome opportunity to present the universities’ views and to showcase Danish expertise. Bringing together researchers, politicians and stakeholders from organisations, NGOs, ministries and the European Commission also creates unique opportunities to drive European development forward towards new goals.

In the second half of 2025, Denmark will have hosted no fewer than 19 official Presidency conferences within research, innovation and education, covering a wide range of fields, from digitalisation, AI, life science and quantum technology to energy, human values and the bioeconomy – to name but a few.

Aarhus University also had the pleasure of hosting the Mission Soil Week conference to promote the Horizon Europe mission A Soil Deal for Europe. This major EU Presidency conference brought together more than 300 researchers, policymakers and stakeholders, all committed to improving the health of our soils to protect the environment today and for generations to come. It provided an opportunity to reflect on our progress, share new ideas and learn from one another – for example, by exploring the Danish tripartite model as a way for farmers, environmental organisations and policymakers to collaborate and make informed decisions based on the latest knowledge and research on climate and biodiversity.

In this way, the conference served as a clear example of how an EU Presidency can create valuable opportunities to apply the latest research-based knowledge in a global context and help build a better world.

The third EU Conference on Research Careers took place in Brussels on 18-19 December, marking an important milestone: 20 years of the European Charter for Researchers. Over two days, hundreds of research and innovation policy-makers and stakeholders gathered to exchange ideas, network and shape the future of research careers across the European Research Area (ERA).

Several new initiatives and tools aimed at improving research career pathways were presented during the conference, including:

The Coimbra Group actively contributed to the conference by supporting the organisation and moderation of two key meetings within the programme.

The first was a meeting of the ERA Structural Policy on Research Careers, which is now supported by all 27 EU Member States, 7 associated countries and 13 stakeholder organisations. During this meeting, participants agreed to establish two sub-working groups tasked with developing co-created guidelines for the implementation of the Council Recommendation on research careers, as well as recommendations to support improved career development and progression. An event is also planned for the end of 2026 to enable ongoing and upcoming Talent Ecosystems projects funded by Horizon Europe to present their work and receive feedback from the group.

The Coimbra Group also contributed to the first workshop of the ERA Structural Policy on the Articulation between Research and Innovation and Higher Education within the ERA. Discussions focused on two main themes: addressing key challenges in aligning EU and national R&I investments, policies, and programmes in support of the “fifth freedom”, and strengthening the articulation between R&I and higher education through joint postgraduate degrees.