Coimbra Group Annual Conference and General Assembly 2026: Transforming local and social environments through Research and Innovation
30 June 2026
From 16 to 19 June 2026, the Coimbra Group community gathered in Granada, Spain, for its Annual Conference and General Assembly, hosted by the University of Granada as part of the University’s 500th anniversary celebrations.
Under the theme “Transforming the local and social environment through Research and Innovation”, the event brought together nearly 350 delegates, including rectors, vice-rectors, senior leaders, academics, Working Group members, students and partners from across Europe and the world. Their high level of engagement once again demonstrated the strength, dynamism and collaborative spirit of the Coimbra Group network.
Over four inspiring days, participants engaged in meetings of all twelve Coimbra Group Working Groups, strategic discussions among university leaders, varied open thematic sessions, the public conference, the 10th Coimbra Group 3 Minute Thesis (3MT®) competition live final, and the General Assembly. The week culminated in the launch of the Poitiers–Granada Declaration on the collaboration between the Coimbra Group Universities and Cities, reaffirming the commitment of universities and their civic partners to work together for sustainable, inclusive and innovative local development.
The very positive feedback received throughout the week reflected not only the excellent organisation of our hosts and the intellectual quality of the discussions, but also the openness, conviviality and sense of belonging that characterise the Coimbra Group community.
You will find here the official photos from the Communications team of the University of Granada (UGR). On social media, particularly for the TikTok audience, you will find a couple of creative and refreshing videos here and here. You will also find posts from UGR on Instagram by following the hashtag #CoimbraUGR2026. On LinkedIn, content about the 2026 Annual Conference and General Assembly is available via the hashtags #CoimbraGroup2026 or #CoimbraUGR2026 or through the Coimbra Group account.
A Conference exploring universities’ transformative role
The public conference on 18 June explored how universities can contribute to positive societal change through research, innovation and civic engagement.
A highlight of the programme was the keynote address, “The Impact University: From Knowledge Creation to Problem Solving” by Beth Simone Noveck, Professor at Northeastern University, and Director of The Burnes Center for Social Change and The Governance Lab, who challenged participants to rethink the role of universities in society. Universities, she argued, are not only places where knowledge is created, but also uniquely positioned to help solve public problems, working together with citizens, governments and communities to generate meaningful societal impact.
Delegates also explored the role of universities as social agents of transformation, drawing on perspectives from international, European, national and local organisations, and showcasing best practices from Coimbra Group universities and European Universities Alliances. Throughout the day, discussions highlighted how higher education institutions can contribute to stronger, more inclusive and sustainable territories.
The different conference sessions will soon be available individually on the Coimbra Group YouTube channel. Until then, you can watch here the full recording of that open day, including:
- Keynote address by Beth Simone Noveck
- Session II – Social Agents of Transformation
- Session III – Best Practices from Coimbra Group Universities: “Research & Innovation Driving Territorial Transformation”
- Session IV – Best Practices from European University Alliances: “Research & Innovation for Territorial Transformation”
- 10th Coimbra Group 3 Minute Thesis (3MT®) competition live final
- Official signing ceremony of the Poitiers-Granada Declaration
Launch of the Poitiers-Granada Declaration
One of the main outcomes of the conference was the launch and signing of the Poitiers-Granada Declaration on the Collaboration between the Coimbra Group Universities and Cities. Building on the original Poitiers Declaration adopted in 2016, the renewed framework reflects a decade of experience and expands the scope of University-City cooperation to address key challenges including sustainability and climate action, democratic engagement, inclusion, digital transformation, innovation, and social and territorial development.
The Declaration adopts a broader understanding of “Cities”, recognising the wider civic and social ecosystems in which universities are rooted and operate. It reaffirms the central role that universities and their local partners play in fostering inclusive, innovative and sustainable development.
The Declaration was signed by Ludovic Thilly (Chair of the Coimbra Group Executive Board), Pedro Mercado (Rector of the University of Granada), Marifrán Carazo (Mayor of Granada) and Francisco Rodríguez (President of the Granada Provincial Council). As part of the event, Arno Schrooyen, Vice-President of the European Students’ Union (ESU), gave a short speech highlighting the student perspective on University–City cooperation and civic engagement as well as elements of the Declaration where collaboration with ESU could be further developed. In the framework of the MoU between Coimbra Group and ESU (2025), Arno’s presence was testament to the Coimbra Group’s commitment to foster student participation and amplify the student voice across all activities carried out by the network.
Read more about the Poitiers-Granada Declaration.
General Assembly outcomes
The General Assembly provided an opportunity to reflect on the Coimbra Group’s achievements over the past year and ongoing strategic initiatives. Members received an update on the implementation of the Roadmap accompanying the Durham Declaration on Climate Change and Sustainability, highlighting the progress achieved since its adoption in 2025 and the priorities for the coming year.
The General Assembly endorsed several important decisions that will guide the future activities of the Coimbra Group. The Working Groups’ work plans for 2026–2029 were unanimously endorsed, providing an ambitious roadmap for collaborative action across the network.
The General Assembly also elected three new members of the Executive Board (2026–2030). Jarosław Górniak (Jagiellonian University), Raúl Ramos (University of Barcelona) and Michal Vrablík (Charles University, Prague) will replace outgoing members Eva Voldřichová Beránková (Charles University, Prague), Dorota Malec (Jagiellonian University, Kraków) and Efrem Yildiz Sadak (University of Salamanca). The Coimbra Group warmly congratulates and welcomes the newly elected members, wishing them every success in their mandates. We also extend our sincere gratitude to the outgoing members for their dedication, commitment and valuable contributions to the work of the Executive Board over the past years.
New Rectors’ Advisory Group members and Honorary President
Two new members were nominated to the Rectors’ Advisory Group (2026–2028), replacing Margareth Hagen (University of Bergen) and Milena Králíčková (Charles University, Prague): Marjo Kaartinen (University of Turku) and Jacquelien Scherpen (University of Groningen) are the new members of the RAG.
On 19 June, Pedro Mercado (University of Granada) formally became the new Coimbra Group Honorary President for 2026–2027. The Coimbra Group extends its grateful to the outgoing Honorary president, Giovanni Molari, Rector of the University of Bologna, whose leadership, engagement and support have been greatly appreciated during the past academic year.
Fostering dialogue across disciplines and communities
A particular highlight of this year’s programme was the series of inter-Working Group meetings and joint thematic sessions, which brought together colleagues from different areas of expertise to address shared challenges and opportunities.
Topics included the promotion of inclusive internationalisation through the EUniverse Erasmus+ project, reflections on university colonial heritage and the Africa Charter for Transformative Research Collaborations, the future of Social Sciences and Humanities, as well as discussions on Artificial Intelligence and its implications across higher education. These sessions demonstrated the value of interdisciplinary dialogue and the ability of Coimbra Group Working Groups to connect perspectives across institutional and thematic boundaries.
Another important milestone was the official launch of the book “Why EDI Matters: Equ(al)ity, Diversity and Inclusion in European Universities”, an important contribution from the Coimbra Group Equality and Diversity Working Group, exploring the role of equality, diversity and inclusion in shaping more equitable and inclusive higher education institutions and reflecting the collective expertise and commitment of colleagues from across the network. All attending rectors and senior leaders received a printed copy of the volume.
Like every year, the Annual Conference was also an opportunity for the Coimbra Group to further engage with long-standing partners, such as the Erasmus Student Network (ESN). Together with the Chairs of the Coimbra Group’s Academic Exchange and Mobility Working Group (WG) and our Brussels Office, ESN representatives coordinated a joint session focused on operational challenges and opportunities for collaboration between ESN local sections and universities’ International Relations Offices.
By bringing together experts from different fields, roles and institutions, these exchanges fostered new ideas, strengthened existing collaborations and identified opportunities for future joint initiatives. They also illustrated how the Coimbra Group’s Working Groups continue to serve as dynamic spaces for peer learning, innovation and collective reflection on the evolving role of universities in society.
Working Group leadership renewed
The Annual Conference also marked an important moment for the future of two Working Groups, which elected new leaders to guide their activities in the coming years.
The Research Support Officers Working Group elected Jutta Schloon (University of Bergen) as its new Chair. Annett Margull (Friedrich Schiller University Jena) was nominated as Vice-Chair until June 2027 and Alexandre Leal (University of Coimbra) as informal Vice-Chair. The two will work closely together to support the activities of the Working Group before exchanging roles in 2027, ensuring continuity and a smooth transition of responsibilities.
The Heritage Working Group elected Stuart Hunt (Durham University) as its new Chair. Markéta Křížová (Charles University) will be his Vice-Chair.
The Executive Board also exceptionally extended the mandates of the Employability Working Group’s Chair, Orla Bannon (Trinity College Dublin), and Vice-Chair, Annette Retsch (University of Würzburg), by one year.The Coimbra Group warmly congratulates all newly elected colleagues and wishes them every success in their new roles. We also express our heartfelt thanks to those concluding their mandates for their leadership, dedication and lasting contribution to the Coimbra Group community.
Celebrating excellence in doctoral research
The conference also hosted the live final of the 10th Coimbra Group 3 Minute Thesis (3MT®) Competition, showcasing the talent and communication skills of doctoral candidates from across the network.
A special congratulations to Lokesh Jain (University of Edinburgh), winner of the 10th Coimbra Group 3 Minute Thesis (3MT®) Competition, for his presentation “Ice mélange: the cork in the glacial bottle.” Congratulations also to the other outstanding finalists: Corey Alwell (Trinity College Dublin) – “Hunting for hunter-gatherers: stories from the oldest Irish DNA ever sequenced”, and Vicente Bru-García (University of Granada) – “Please, listen”
All three finalists demonstrated the remarkable ability of young researchers to communicate complex research in an engaging, accessible and impactful way. You can watch this year’s final here (5:53:20). Learn more about the Coimbra Group-3MT competition.
Turning strategic priorities into action
During the Closed Rectors’ Meeting, rectors from the Coimbra Group Universities reflected on the European funding landscape, with particular focus on the negotiations on the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) and the future of Erasmus+ and Horizon Europe for 2028-2034. They also discussed the growing financial pressures facing universities at national level and considered how the Coimbra Group, together with partner networks, can continue to speak with a strong collective voice in support of core investment in education, research and innovation. These exchanges led to the adoption of the joint statement “No Europe without investment in education, research and innovation”, addressed to European heads of state and government.
The meeting also focused on translating the Poitiers–Granada Declaration into concrete action. Rectors agreed on a number of commitments to be pursued collectively by the Coimbra Group during 2026-2027. They further reviewed progress on the Durham Declaration on climate and sustainability, identifying areas with the greatest potential for collaboration and discussing how the Coimbra Group can better foster peer learning, strengthen coordination, and increase the visibility of the impact achieved across its member universities.
Thank you, Granada!
The Coimbra Group sincerely thanks Rector Pedro Mercado, the University of Granada and the entire organising team for their outstanding hospitality and exceptional organisation. From the high-quality academic programme to the memorable social events – including unforgettable evenings at the Palacio de los Córdova overlooking the Alhambra – the conference provided the ideal setting for collaboration, reflection and friendship.
The impeccable organisation, the warmth and professionalism of the staff, and the attention to every detail created an environment where meaningful discussions could flourish and new partnerships could emerge. The spirit felt in Granada is well reflected in the official photos from the amazing communications team at the University of Granada.
As highlighted on several occasions throughout the week, the Coimbra Group is not simply a network of institutions – it is a community. Its greatest strength is its people. As participants have now returned home with new ideas, strengthened partnerships and renewed friendships, we would like to thank everyone who contributed to making Granada 2026 such a striking success!
Looking Ahead
As we conclude a memorable week in Granada, we are already looking forward to the next chapter of our journey together. The Coimbra Group Annual Conference and General Assembly 2027 will take place from 1 to 4 June 2027 at Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Germany. We warmly invite our community to save the date and discover what awaits us next by watching the invitation video from our future hosts.
📅 SAVE THE DATE! 1-4 June 2027 – Coimbra Group Annual Conference and General Assembly 2027 – Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg