What does it mean for Uppsala University and/or for you to be part of the Coimbra Group?
The Coimbra Group represents a commitment to excellence, collaboration and innovation, making it a driving force for positive change in the academic world. Being a member of The Coimbra Group means that Uppsala University has the opportunity to collaborate with other like-minded institutions, share best practices, and contribute to shaping the future of higher education and research in Europe. Since 2021, our Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Coco Norén, has served on the Executive Board of the Coimbra Group. This provides Uppsala University with invaluable insights into international academic collaboration and policy-making.
The different working groups provides our representatives a generous community of colleagues from different countries for open-hearted discussions on common topics and challenges. One great example is the Heritage Working Group where colleagues over the years have collaborated and learned about each other’s University museums and collections and through that how to implement new ideas and new ways to work with heritage as a resource for both teaching and research. Uppsala will host the next group meeting after summer.
What’s your favourite memory/experience?
I am very proud of the High-Level Seminar on education policy on the theme From Learning Spaces to Learning Environments that Uppsala University, in close cooperation with the Education Innovation Working Group, hosted in November 2022. The two-day programme included presentations, workshops and engaged discussions concerning physical and virtual learning environments that may stimulate and facilitate the development of innovative, student-centred teaching and learning activities. The participants were introduced to several of Uppsala University’s wide range of learning environments, from the more modern ones to the University Main Building, built in the 1880s and still used for lectures. Last, but not least, we were happy to welcome our guests to dinner at one of the student nations, which play a fundamental part in student life at Uppsala.
It was over all a very positive experience for us to host our friends from the network and the seminar served well to illustrate the tradition of innovation which is the hallmark of the Coimbra Group.
How can the Coimbra Group most effectively shape the future of higher education and research in your opinion?
Continuing being an open space for discussing and sharing successful examples and strategies with colleagues – opening up to new fields of knowledge.
Influencing policy by engaging and keeping up the dialogue with policymakers to advocate for supportive research funding and education policies.
Promoting interdisciplinary collaboration by encouraging cross-disciplinary research projects to address complex global challenges.
How would you describe the Coimbra Group in one word?
Inspiring!
Anders Hagfeldt, Vice-Chancellor, Uppsala University