Strengthening ties with UNESCO at a pivotal moment
26 August 2026
On 25 August 2026, Professor Ludovic Thilly, Chair of the Coimbra Group Executive Board, and Emmanuelle Gardan, Director of the Coimbra Group Brussels Office, held a high-level meeting at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris with Ms Mariya Gabriel, Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information.
A longstanding friend of the Coimbra Group, Ms Gabriel was presented with a special Coimbra Group 40th Anniversary Award (1985-2025) in recognition of the exceptional cooperation fostered during her tenure as European Commissioner and of her strong commitment to the mission and values of the Coimbra Group.
The meeting offered an excellent opportunity for a substantive and forward-looking exchange on a range of strategic priorities of common interest. Discussions centred particularly on areas falling within UNESCO’s communication and information mandate, including the ethical governance of artificial intelligence (AI), information integrity, and the opportunities and challenges arising from the growing use of AI by younger generations.
The exchange took place at a particularly timely moment, as UNESCO prepares to welcome Pope Leo XIV to its Paris headquarters on 25 September 2026. This visit will be dedicated to contemporary challenges related to AI, information integrity, education and artistic creation in the age of AI.
Beyond these topics, discussions between the Coimbra Group and Mariya Gabriel explored UNESCO’s broader strategic vision and priorities in fields of fundamental importance to the future of our member universities, notably education, democracy, climate action, sustainability and social cohesion. Particular attention was devoted to the synergies between UNESCO’s agenda and the Coimbra Group’s flagship policy initiatives, namely the Poitiers-Granada Declaration on University-City Cooperation and the Durham Declaration on Climate Change and Sustainability, as well as the network’s ongoing work on campus democracy
The meeting also provided an opportunity to present Ms Gabriel with the Coimbra Group’s latest publication, “Why EDI Matters – Equ(al)ity, Diversity and Inclusion in European Universities“, published by Pavia University Press. The volume offers an important contribution to ongoing discussions on equality, diversity and inclusion within higher education and underlines the vital role universities play in fostering inclusive and equitable academic environments.
The Coimbra Group greatly values its relationship with UNESCO and welcomes the prospect of deepening this partnership further in the years ahead. Drawing upon the collective expertise of its member universities, the network stands ready to contribute actively to UNESCO’s efforts to address the major societal, scientific and educational challenges of our time and to advance shared objectives in support of a more sustainable, democratic and inclusive future.
