Equality & Diversity

Working Group

Chair: Annalisa Oboe

Professor of English and Postcolonial literatures (Department of Linguistic and Literary Studies) at the University of Padua, Italy, where she currently serves as the Director of the ‘Elena Cornaro’ University Centre for gender studies and policies. Her research focuses on postcolonial theory and cultures, contemporary Anglophone literatures, women’s writing, African and Black Atlantic narratives, postcolonial Italy. She is the founder and editor-in-chief of the online open-access scientific journal From the European South: a transdisciplinary journal of postcolonial humanities. A complete list of academic publications is available at the RESEARCH Padua Archive.

Vice-Chair: Vera Sokolova

Associate Professor of History and the Head of Graduate Program in Gender Studies at Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic. She is a coordinator of the Gender 4EU+ network of the 4EU+ European University Alliance; a member of the Working Group for Equal Opportunities at Charles University; former member of the Committee for Sexual Minorities of the Government Council of the Czech Republic; and member of several editorial boards of academic journals and research boards of academic societies. She specializes in comparative history of gender and sexuality, stratified reproduction and reproductive technologies, collective memory and public space. She is the author of four books and numerous chapters and research articles, mostly in English.

Focus of Working Group

ED WG aims at working with and providing support to Coimbra Group Universities in the areas of inclusive education and leadership, equality between men and women, diversity and intersectionality.

Equality and inclusion are of crucial importance in facilitating long-term improvement of the quality and excellence in research and innovation, and for that reason, the ED WG continues to focus its primary attention and activities in this direction. As global challenges and threats affect all humanity and answers must be increasingly sought together, equality and diversity become increasingly entangled concepts.

The ED WG’s secondary focus is on promoting the incorporation of equality and diversity into pedagogical practices, collaborative research projects and institutional measures across the CG. In the next 3 years, the ED WG will continue to hold and improve regular WG meetings as an essential mode of sharing good practices and jointly thinking through the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) agenda in the CG institutions in international and EU contexts.

The main tasks of the ED WG in the upcoming three years are the following:

  • to open up ED WG’s debates and initiatives to all CG universities and the European University Alliances by sharing workshops, webinars and advocacy initiatives on urgent questions of antiracist and antisexist education, as well as collaborative work towards non-discrimination in academia;
  • to embrace the challenge of facing and digging into the digital domain, looking at algorithmic biases in Artificial Intelligence in relations to questions of ethics and social justice;
  • to continue serving as an EDI advisory body for the leaderships of our respective universities in the area of diversity, inclusion and intersectional policies and practices;
  • to continue participating in the Commission’s sub-group of experts on ‘Inclusive Gender Equality in the European Research Area’ (ERA Policy Agenda Action 5).

Priorities for 2024 – 2026

  • Moving beyond Gender-Based Violence in academia and in society.
  • Continuing work on/around Intersectionality, particularly as regards sexism and racism.
  • Surveying how CG Universities, as scientific and pedagogical institutions, collect and use data to fight against discriminations.
  • Jointly working with other CG Working Groups on the impacts of AI on academia.
  • Consulting EC documents and policies about EDI dimensions in academia, research and innovation.

Recent highlights:

  • “Racism at Coimbra Group Universities”: joint open session developed in collaboration with the Heritage Working Group at the CG 2023 Annual Conference held at the University of Cologne. The session aimed to promote inter-university dialogue on the problems of intellectual heritage of colonialism and authoritarianism and the role of universities in shaping the identity practices in present-day Europe (June 2023-.
  • Intersectionality: How do we bridge the gap between the concept and its implementation? ED WG online meeting with invited speakers (September 2023).
  • The violence of gender discrimination from an intersectional perspective: moving forward: ED Working Group in-presence meeting in connection with the UN ‘16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence’ annual international campaign (1 December 2023).

Ongoing/forthcoming activities:

2024-2025

  • Practicing intersectionality and inclusive pedagogy: continue ED WG’s investigation of the theme, especially concerning how we may bridge the gap between the concept and its implementation. We will collect data on the incorporation of diversity into pedagogical practices from an intersectional perspective across CG, particularly as regards antiracist and antisexist education (Spring-Summer 2024).
  • On the question of data collection and use in relation to equality/equity in academia, we plan to organize two webinars with invited speakers, with follow-up actions by CG universities:
    • 1. Webinar on Data collection and how it impacts on the archives of knowledge, inclusive gender equality, and other kinds of equal opportunity and affirmative action practices (Autumn 2024).
    • 2. Webinar on the issue of Data, the Reform of Research Assessment and the slow progress of women in academic careers (Spring 2025).

2025-2026

  • Focus on the digital domain and social justice through the organization of two webinars with invited speakers, with follow-up actions by CG universities, one in autumn 2025 and one in Spring 2026:
  • Webinar on algorithmic bias in Artificial Intelligence (Autumn 2025).
  • Webinar on feminist digital justice, with Anita Gurumurthy, Executive Director of ITforChange India, and activist for the rights of women in communication (Spring 2026).
  • Collaboration with STEM WG on the topics of EDI in digitalization and Artificial Intelligence, participation in promotion and outreach of our collaborative efforts.

Contact person at the CG Office: Emmanuelle Gardan (gardan@coimbra-group.eu)

Academic Exchange and Mobility

Working Group

Chair: Chantal Riccardi

Chantal Riccardi works as International Mobility Officer at the University of Pavia and she has over 17 years of experience in the field of international students mobility. She graduated in Political Sciences (master’s degree in African and Asian Studies) at the University of Pavia. She has been recently involved in the Mobility Task Force and a technical Work Package of the European Alliance EC2U. She is taking part actively in the digitization process of the Erasmus Program being a member of the EWP National Working Groups set up by the National Agency.

Vice-Chair: Daniela Sauge

Daniela Sauge is the Head of the Academic Exchange Office of the University of Geneva since 2018. The office actively contributes to the implementation of UNIGE’s international strategy through the setting up of academic exchange, mainly for studying but also for research. It is also responsible for the maintenance and conclusion of collaborations at the European level.

Focus of Working Group 

The AEM Working Group is concerned with staff and student mobility and international exchange with many issues to address, like increasing mobility numbers, more environmentally friendly mobility options, inclusive mobility, virtual exchange, and novel forms of mobility introduced by European University Alliances, difficult political situations,  the planning and implementation of staff and student mobility calls for a collaborative, understanding, and creative approach from all involved institutions. While the WG adheres to national and EU policies, its members view them as a source of inspiration and use their efforts to try to introduce innovative approaches. Due to the variety of activities, the group also organises thematic subgroups to deal with specific topics.

The main tasks of the AEM are:

  • to increase academic exchanges (students, scholars and administrative staff) amongst Coimbra Group universities;
  • to share information on best practices and challenges in the daily work of academic institutions dealing with mobility of students and staff;
  • to develop joint projects aimed at improving quality of mobility, encouraging amongst others sustainable behaviour as well as implementing new schemes and tools supporting mobility;
  • to advise the Coimbra Group Executive Board on possible actions to be taken to influence the development of European educational programmes with mobility components, including through the production of policy documents or recommendations;
  • to strengthen civic engagement and co-creation of good practices with a close collaboration with students associations (Erasmus Student Network (ESN) International and European Student Union (ESU).

Priorities for 2024-2026

  • Grow the SEN network and the number of exchanges by working on:
    • Student exchange challenges.
    • New mobility formats,also virtual exchange.
    • Collaboration with other Coimbra Group WG.
    • Mobility,Diversity and Inclusion
  • Sustainable Mobility – Greener Exchanges and BIP.
  • Joint projects of AEM WG members with students (ESN) and for Civic Engagement.
  • Involvement of International Relations Offices (IROs) into European Universities Alliances.

Recent highlights:

  • Participation as speakers in 3 sessions at the 2023Erasmus Generation Meeting organised by ESN in Bucharest in April 2023:
    • Session on the synergies between CG and ESN sections: Coimbra Group organised this session, with an introduction on how the ESN-CG collaboration started, followed by presentation of good practices from ESN local sections and CG Universities, and a discussion with the audience on future opportunities;
    • Session on student engagement in European Universities Alliances: a session presented and moderated by ESN, where CG presented the results from a short survey to the 8 Alliances with CG members;
    • Session on the implementation of E+ priorities: a session coordinated by ESN to discuss how to improve the implementation of Erasmus+ and its priorities from different perspectives, bringing together Universities, National Agencies, and stakeholders such as ACA and EAIE. CG presented what its members are doing to make mobility more inclusive, make the programme greener, or boost its international dimension – but also what would have to change to take these improvements to the next level.
  • Position Paper “Coimbra Group’s Recommendations for the Erasmus+ Programme 2021-27 Interim Evaluation” published on 8 December 2023.
  • Participation in the European Commission’s DG EAC expert group on the implementation of Erasmus+ in Higher Education in Brussels on 12 October 2023.
  • Participation in the European Commission’s DG EAC workshop on “Key issues for a possible successor programme of Erasmus+” in Brussels on 20 March 2024.

AEM WG Meetings:

  • AEM WG Subgroups’ online meetings (Joint projects and Alliances and Student exchange challenges): September 2023, January 2024, March 2024.
  • Participation as speakers in 3 sessions at the 2024 Erasmus Generation Meeting organised by ESN in Sevilla, 4-7 April 2024:
    • Ensure a smooth Collaboration with your Higher Education Institutions – The Case of the Coimbra GroupThe future of Internationalisation in Higher Education
  • I want a Green Erasmus but Cannot Afford It!

Ongoing/forthcoming activities:

2024 – 2025

  • Participation as speakers in the session on “Digitalising Erasmus+” proposed by ACA at EAIE 2024 in Toulouse (17-20 September 2024).
  • Continuation of the series of activities on CG students and staff sustainable mobility.
  • Continuation of the cooperation and further initiatives in line with ESN – mobility of students among CG universities.
  • Sharing good practices between European Universities Alliances.
  • Giving more visibility to the Coimbra Group Student Exchange Network (CG SEN) by creating a dedicated webpage.

2025 – 2026

  • Reports on CG SEN Student mobility.
  • Continuation of the series of activities on CG students and staff sustainable mobility.
  • Inter-Working Groups activities related to employability.
  • Continuation of the cooperation and further initiatives in line with ESN – mobility of students among CG universities.
  • Training the staff of CG universities.
  • Sharing good practices between European Universities Alliances.

Contact person at the CG Office: Martina Tesseri (tesseri@coimbra-group.eu)

Global Partnerships

Working Group

Chair: Sarah-Marleen Dannenberg

Sarah-Marleen Dannenberg is Regional Offices & DWIH Manager at the International Affairs Division of University of Cologne (UoC). She studied International Information Management with focus on Intercultural Communication at the University of Hildesheim and holds an M.Phil. in Linguistics from Trinity College Dublin. She went to California State University, Northridge and Motril, Spain for research stays. When still a student, she was an active member of the ESN network and Vice President of ESN Germany from 2013 to 2014.
 

Vice-Chair: Nils Gunnar Songstad

Nils Gunnar Songstad is administrative leader of Global challenges, one of the strategic prioritized areas of University of Bergen, Norway. The unit holds an annual PhD research school, established in 2008, with participants from all over the world. He holds a PhD in health systems research, and his background is in social anthropology and political science. He has extensive work experience in East Africa through development, research and research administration. His main focus is to promote collaboration between scientific disciplines in addressing global challenges, and to stimulate collaboration with the Global South based on mutual responsibilities.

Focus of Working Group

The global social responsibility of universities requires their active engagement with global cooperation issues and challenges. The Coimbra Group aims at increasing such engagements to create an effective response to major cooperation challenges and a fruitful relation with the main global partnership and development agencies, in primis the European Union (EU).

The academic world plays an important role as promoter of a broad and solid approach to global cooperation, based on the issues of capacity strengthening, the promotion of a global citizenship education and the implementation of a participative approach to research and for global partnerships.

The activities of the Global Partnerships Working Group align with global and European policies in the sense that they refer to actual challenges in global partnerships, especially concerning the SDGs and their implementation in decolonization, education, and migration.

Priorities for 2024 – 2026

  • Implementation of joint training sessions and education programmes (e.g., summer / winter schools) to contribute to the improvements of institutional capacities; Implementation of joint training sessions and education programmes in the framework of Erasmus+ projects.
  • Sharing knowledge and experiences on research for cooperation models and evaluation, including a critical review of cooperation with low-income countries and the actions of the main international donors.
  • Investigation on the role of universities as agents of global cooperation at the country or regional level, including the co-designing of experiences of higher education fostering ownership and human and institutional capacity strengthening.
  • Development of a European language policy in the context of global partnerships for education and modern languages.

Recent highlights

  • In March 2023, the 1st Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) on “Memory Studies: Peace, Conflict and Transformation” was organized at the University of Vilnius (coordinator), in cooperation with the Universities of Jena and Granada.
  • International Conference “European Universities‘ Collaboration with China: Opportunities and Risks for Academic Exchange”: this conference was organized by the University of Würzburg in collaboration with other CG members, on 29 February-1 March  2024. It debated how to better understand our Chinese partners and how to fruitfully cooperate in a changing world and research landscape. The main panels covered the following sub-topics:
    – Developments of EU-China relations,
    – Developments in science diplomacy,National strategies to deal with Chinese HEIs
    The conference was very well received, and follow-up actions are planned. 

Ongoing/forthcoming activities

  • The third “International Summer School on European Multilingualism” will take place at the University of Niš (Serbia) from 23 to 29 June 2024.
  • With the support of CG universities, as well as the Erasmus+ KA131 action, teachers from the University of Coimbra, Graz, Jena, Poitiers (project coordinator) and Salamanca, all CG members, will propose, in collaboration with the teachers from the University of Niš an intensive short programme on European Multilingualism and Cultural Mediation Studies.
  • The aim is to share innovative approaches to teaching and learning languages. The intensive short programme offers courses of translation and language application in several small groups: Bulgarian, English, German, French, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish. In addition, Language Discovering Workshops enables all participants to learn about the Less Widely Used and Lesser Taught languages (LWULT) and their important role in keeping language diversity and the world’s multilingual heritage. The Summer School two LWULT Workshops: Modern Greek, Serbian and Turkish.
  • Joint session in cooperation with the Heritage and Latin America Working Groups on the decolonization of universities. The session will be held at the CG Annual Conference in Turku, June 2024. It is planned to organize an event at a larger scale in 2025.
  • Planned cooperation with the University of Bristol on the “Africa Charter for Transformative Research Collaborations”. The Charter demands more equitable and more inclusive research relationships with higher education institutions in Africa. It was endorsed by the Coimbra Group, the African Union, the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA), and other essential stakeholders. In addition to a conference planned in Brussels in the autumn 2024, the GP WG will organize several events in order to promote and disseminate knowledge on the Charter.
  • Collaboration with The China Competence Centre of the University of Würzburg (CCCUW) on developing a policy brief as a follow-up to the international conference “European universities‘ collaboration with China: opportunities and risks for academic exchange”.

Contact person at the CG Office: Catarina Moleiro (moleiro@coimbra-group.eu)

Life Sciences

Working Group

Chair: Lino Ometto

Lino Ometto holds the position of Associate Professor of Zoology at the Department of Biology and Biotechnology of the University of Pavia. He grew up with a keen interest in animals and he likes to think of himself as a zoologist with a sweep net in one hand and a genome in the other. His research interests are aimed at better understanding the origin of adaptive traits in insects (& friends) using population genetics and molecular evolution approaches. After graduating in Biology from the University of Padova, he obtained his Ph.D. in Natural Sciences from the Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich under the supervision of Wolfgang Stephan. He then studied the evolution of gene expression in ants in Laurent Keller’s lab at the University of Lausanne. He has always enjoyed sharing his passion and interests with students and people in general, and he is regularly involved in outreach initiatives. He is president of the Italian Society for Evolutionary Biology.

Vice-Chair: Marta Camps Camprubí

Dr. Marta Camps Camprubí is Associate Professor in Biochemistry and Vice-Dean for international relations and student mobility of the Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona. She has been in charge of the student mobility at Faculty of Biology from 2009. Her research interests and expertise cover adipose tissue, obesity and diabetes and she is the author of more than 50 scientific papers in the biomedical field. She has been a member of the Life Sciences Working Group (Coimbra Group) since 2017 and from 2022 she has been coordinating the Life Sciences WG Blended Intensive Projects (BIPs).

Focus of Working Group

Proposed actions aim at increasing the excellence and competitiveness of our Universities in the context of the Life Sciences, considering the whole field of academic engagement, i.e., teaching, research and transfer, all understood in their widest context. The focus of the WG is clearly oriented towards the development of common strategies of teaching and research. Master programmes are considered of utmost importance for high level education and development of skills for future high level bioscientists as well the initial step for the development of bioscience research and the promotion of vocations in the bioscience area. Several Master programme projects have been identified of common interest.

Priorities for 2024-2026

  • Master Cancer Biology
  • Master Global Change Ecology
  • Master Infection Biology
  • Blended Intensive Programmes and Student Mobility

Recent highlights 

  • Preparation of joint BIPs (Blended Intensive Programmes) between CG Universities involved in the Life Sciences Working Group (LS WG).
  • Follow-up of developments towards a European Joint Degree and exploration of potential opportunities for the Life Sciences WG.

Ongoing / Forthcoming activities

MASTER BIOSCIENCES PROGRAMMES

  • Master Cancer Biology, 2025: Reapplication for Erasmus Mundus funding (Pavia, Montpellier, Montreal) under the coordination of the University of Pavia. The universities of Åbo Akademi, Barcelona, Coimbra, Köln, Montpellier, Pavia, Salamanca, Tartu, Turku, Utrecht, Vilnius and Würzburg are involved.
  • Master Global Change Ecology, 2024: Double Degree programme of the Universities of Bergen and Würzburg, other CG universities may be involved.
  • Master Infection Biology 2026: Starting with a BIP, a double degree programme will be developed by the Universities of Montpellier and Würzburg. More CG universities will be involved.

BLENDED INTENSIVE PROGRAMMES

  • Environmental Remote Sensing (2024-2025), coordinated by Dr. Shawn Carlisle Kefauver, University of Barcelona:
    • Presentation of basic to advanced techniques and concepts of environmental remote sensing in the field of applications in agriculture and forestry, ecology, water quality, oceanography, urban planning, air pollution monitoring, and climate change.
    • Theory and current use of fixed sensors, field sensors, manned and unmanned aerial platforms, and ESA and NASA satellites.
    • Discuss concepts, methodologies, and best practices related to the remote sensing of different natural, anthropogenic and hybrid environments, including quantitative measurements related to plants, water, soil, geological, and urban assessments.

  • Stem Cells and Gene Editing (July 2024) coordinated by Dr. Ana Sevilla, University of Barcelona, with the Universities of Montpellier and Vilnius:
    • Stem cells biology and regenerative medicine.
    • Reprogramming methods, characterization, differentiation to specific lineages, brain organoids and genetic manipulation.
    • Ethics, public engagement/ and science communication.
    • Immunofluorescence, PCR and FACS analysis.
  • Modern methods in Infection Biology (2025) coordinated by Prof. Mauld Lamarque, University of Montpellier, and Susanne Kramer and Christian Janzen, University of Würzburg:
    • Acquire the fundamental knowledge in microscopy.
    • Introduce basic concepts of image analysis.
    • Develop transdisciplinary approaches applied to infection biology including biology / bioinformatics, biology/one health using a range of human parasites.
    • Develop critical thinking about the technical limitations of the microscopy techniques.
    • Acquire diverse expertise in infectious microbiology, complex datasets analyses (“omics”…), images and FACS analyses.
    • Become sensitized to the integrated “One Health” concept.
    • Develop oral presentation skills, language proficiency and collaborative teamwork.
  • Redox Biology in Health and Diseases (2025) coordinated by Prof. Teresa Carbonell, University of Barcelona, with the Universities of Coimbra, Montpellier, and Pavia:
    • Stress signaling, survival and resilience during the evolutionary development of life.
    • Redox chemistry based on sulphide, nitrogen and oxygen.
    • Formation of ROS in the body. Enzymatic production of superoxide, hydrogen peroxide, nitric oxide and derived species. redox interactome.
    • Effects of free radicals on biomolecules: lipoperoxidation. Protein oxidation. Oxidation of carbohydrates. DNA oxidation.
    • ROS scavenging: the Keap1-Nrf2 pathway. Enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants. The glutathione system.
    • Oxidative stress in physiology. Nutrition and antioxidants. Aging and frailty.
    • Redox signaling as a fundamental control for adaptations to the physiology of physical exercise.
    • Redox imbalance and oxidative damage in pathological processes: Metabolic diseases. Atherosclerosis Neurodegenerative diseases. Cancer.
    • Methodologies for the analysis of markers of oxidative stress, oxidants and antioxidants.

  • Liposomes to improve pharmacological treatments of infectious and cancer diseases (2025) coordinated by Prof. Amparo Sanchez Navarro, University of Salamanca, with the University of Würzburg:
    • Relevance of nanotechnology in the pharmaceutical area to improve the benefit/risk balance of pharmacological treatments, in particular for cancer and infectious diseases.
    • Advantages and disadvantages of liposomes as drug nanocarriers for drug targeting.
    • Integrate molecular biology of cancer or infections with pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology.
    • Design liposomes tailored for the efficient delivery of drugs at the tumours or infected tissues.
  • Skeleton, from new research technologies to therapeutics  (2025) coordinated by Prof Antonella Forlino and Prof. Antonio Rossi, University of Pavia, with the Universities of Ghent, Linz, Lublin and Paris Cité:
    • Overview of modern skeletal biology as emerged from the latest genetic and molecular characterization of rare and common disorders.
    • Bone: evolutionary developmental biology (Ghent University, Belgium).
    • Modelling skeletal diseases: from cells to mammals (University Paris-Cité, France).
    • Genetics and Omics; from Common to Rare bone diseases (University of Barcelona, Spain).
    • Innovative therapy targeting bone signaling pathway (University of Pavia, Italy).
    • Provide the students with a deep knowledge of skeletal biology focusing on the new discovered therapeutic targets used for innovative therapeutic approaches.
    • Provide the students with a deep knowledge of skeletal biology focusing on the new discovered therapeutic targets used for innovative therapeutic approaches.

Contact person at the CG Office: Martina Tesseri ( tesseri@coimbra-group.eu )

Heritage

Working Group

Chair: Bernadette Biedermann

Bernadette Biedermann (Mag. Dr. phil.) studied museology and art history at the University of Graz. She currently works as museologist, curator and researcher at the University Museums of the University of Graz. She is Deputy Head of University Museums of the University of Graz. Her research focuses are: theoretical museology, object-based research, museum documentation, museum communication and forms of museum presentation; she is co-editor of the journal “Curiositas”.

 

Vice-Chair: Jeremy Upton

Jeremy Upton is the Director of Library and University Collections at the University of Edinburgh, a post he took up in 2015.  His remit covers library and museum collections including the world renowned musical instrument collection held at St Cecilia’s Hall.  Jeremy started his professional library career as a music librarian before moving in to general University Library Management. Prior to working in Edinburgh, he was Deputy Director of the library at the University of St Andrews.

Focus of Working Group

The Coimbra Group Heritage Working Group (HER WG) provides a space for all people working with cultural heritage, professional staff and researchers, to come together, to share ideas and to understand what the role of cultural heritage is, and what opportunities are provided by cultural heritage in universities. We have developed our work plan so that it focusses on fostering collaboration and asks questions about the issues facing cultural heritage practitioners in universities.

Our work plan is divided into six main areas:

  • Cultural and built heritage and the University
  • Contested / problematic heritage
  • Conservation
  • Shared Collections
  • Joint projects and grant opportunities
  • Promotion, networking and outreach

We recognise that the HER WG operates in a heritage space which is very large, complex and at times confusing. We are increasingly putting our efforts into understanding what we can contribute to the European cultural heritage space, where it makes sense for us to take a lead and where it makes more sense for us to partner with others. The creation of the European University Alliances has provided us with opportunities to collaborate with a new set of networks with a strong interest in culture.

Priorities for 2024-2026

  • Contested / problematic heritage.
  • Built heritage of Universities.
  • Shared Collections.
  • International conferences and workshops.
  • Joint projects and grant opportunities.

Recent highlights

  • Call for papers for a publication on contested /problematic heritage (to be published in summer 2024 with Coimbra Group funding).
  • Horizon Europe funding proposal submitted (lead: University of Utrecht, February 2024).
  • Promotion and outreach: shared collections CG platform to be established.
  • Cooperation with UMAC and UNIVERSEUM and other networks in the field.
  • Inter-Working-Groups workshop on “Decolonising the University” at the CG Annual Conference in Turku in cooperation with the Latin America WG and the Global Partnerships WG (5 June 2024).

Ongoing/forthcoming activities

2024 – 2025

  • Publication of open access book on contested / problematic heritage at the University of Edinburgh (planned for summer 2024).
  • Annual HER WG autumn meeting to be planned and organised (2024).
  • Working on a publication on the HER WG international seminars’ series (University of Graz, planned for summer 2024).
  • Following up the inter-Working Groups cooperation on decolonising the university (probably a joint workshop at the CG Annual Conference  in Bologna in June 2025).
  • Establishing a platform to share already existing online collections and exhibitions at CG Universities (online, hosted by the University of Cologne).
  • Establishing a conservator’s platform (online, hosted by the University of Edinburgh).
  • Establishing a practical toolkit to handle contested / problematic heritage.

2025 – 2026

  • Exchange on student / teaching level based on shared collections (online?).
  • Continue to work on above-mentioned projects and topic.
  • Publication of a practical toolkit to handle contested / problematic collections at universities.
  • Continue the cooperation with other networks in the field.
  • Organising international seminar series and joint workshops.

Contact person at the CG Office: Emmanuelle Gardan (gardan@coimbra-group.eu)

Research Support Officers

Working Group

Chair: Adéla Jiroudková

Adéla Jiroudková serves as the Head of the Research Support Office at Charles University, bringing over a decade of specialized experience in research administration to her role. Her journey in this field began with a position as Project Manager, where she was responsible for both pre-award and post-award management. Adela now directs a wide array of research support activities, from project planning to funding. In addition to her primary responsibilities, she actively contributes to various institutional initiatives, such as the implementation of the Human Resources Strategy for Researchers (HRS4R) and the Gender Equality Plan. On the national level, Adela serves as a Board Member for CZARMA, the Czech counterpart of the European Association of Research Managers and Administrators (EARMA).

Vice-Chair: Jutta Schloon 

Dr. Jutta Schloon is a Senior Research Advisor at the University of Bergen’s Division for Research and Innovation. She provides comprehensive pre-award services to researchers seeking European funding and large national grants, with a particular focus on the Social Sciences and Humanities. In addition, she coordinates the Trond Mohn Research Foundation-UiB Career Program for young researchers. Jutta holds a PhD in Literary Studies and has an academic background in German Studies, French Studies, and Business Administration. Her extensive international experience spans both the academic and cultural sectors, having worked in Germany, Switzerland, France, and Norway. Jutta began her career in research management as a scientific coordinator for a Collaborative Research Centre at the University of Freiburg, Germany, before relocating to Norway in 2013.

Focus of Working Group

The Coimbra Group elevates research as a key component alongside education and innovation within its member institutions, addressing challenges at various scales. It provides a unique platform for shaping European research policies and fostering best practices in research support.

The Research Support Officers WG (RSO WG) unites over 60 university representatives to enhance research strategies through idea exchange and expert collaboration. Actively engaging with European Research Area priorities, they focus on strategic advocacy, knowledge dissemination, and fostering innovation, ensuring their activities align with both the Coimbra Group’s mission and the evolving research landscape. The WG’s focused endeavours include:

Strategic Policy Advocacy: The group assists the Executive Board in shaping research policy by crafting insightful position papers on European Research Policy. This initiative is further enhanced through proactive engagement with analogous networks and national stakeholders, aiming for cohesive advocacy efforts. This engagement is now more crucial than ever, given the European Research Area (ERA)’s recent focus on inclusive and sustainable research environments, ensuring that policies reflect the evolving needs of the research community.

Best Practice and Experience Sharing: The group continues to serve as a central hub for the dissemination of best practices and experiences in research management and support. We continuously advance our knowledge by hosting experts from diverse fields and institutional backgrounds, such as individuals from the European Commission, other networks or members of relevant projects. This objective has gained additional significance with the ERA’s renewed emphasis on fostering excellence and competitiveness across European research institutions, encouraging a culture of continuous improvement and adaptation to global standards.

Facilitating Knowledge Exchange: The promotion of knowledge exchange via the mobility of research support staff remains a key area of focus. This initiative is directly aligned with the ERA’s objective to enhance human resource policies and ensure the free circulation of researchers and knowledge within the EU. The group thereby contributes to building a more cohesive, ERA-wide research ecosystem.

Collaborative Synergy: Collaboration between the Working Groups amplifies Coimbra Group’s impact related to Research and Innovation. This approach fits into ERA’s strategic framework, which advocates for interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral research collaborations. Thereby, the RSO WG taps into collective expertise, fostering innovation and addressing societal challenges.

Priorities for 2024-2026

  • Exploring the use of generative AI in the Research Management and Administration (RMA) profession: To understand and optimize the application of generative AI technologies in streamlining research management processes, enhancing productivity, and fostering innovation within the RMA profession.
  • Best practice in Research Support within European University Alliances: To foster a collaborative and efficient research support framework that leverages the strengths of European University Alliances, enhancing the international competitiveness and visibility of European research.
  • Any good practices on synergies between Education and Research: To strengthen the integration of research with teaching and learning processes, ensuring that education contributes to and benefits from cutting-edge research, thereby enhancing the quality and relevance of higher education.
  • Closely observe the development of ERA Action 17 which is focused on enhancing the training and skills of research management staff, improving management competencies of researchers and innovators, increasing networking among research managers, and promoting the recognition of the research and innovation (R&I) management profession at institutional and governmental levels.

Recent highlights

  • On 22 November 2023, RSO WG members gathered at Charles University for a workshop providing hands-on experience with AI applications, particularly focusing on ChatGPT and other large language models. This workshop provided a great boost in practical knowledge, benefiting all participants in their work.
  • The conference on the “Responsible Use of AI in Universities”, held at Charles University on 23 November 2023, attracted 110 registered participants from 29 universities, 6 ministries, the Czech Academy of Sciences, and 3 private companies. The event provided a comprehensive exploration of the responsible integration of Large Language Models into academic settings, addressing both its advantages and challenges. The event was selected for funding by the Coimbra Group. Check the conference short report.
  • Feedback continues to be received on the Coimbra Group’s position paper regarding the “Past, present, and future of the European Research & Innovation Framework programmes 2014-2027“, even a year after its publication, for instance during exchanges with members of the Commission’s high level expert group on the interim evaluation of Horizon Europe. Particular attention is being paid to the recommendations for enhancing the integration of Social Sciences and Humanities.

Ongoing / Forthcoming activities

2024-2025

  • Discuss the impact of European University Alliances co-operation.
  • Continue the work on Open Science and Open Research, including the current discussion on research security.
  • Share best practice and experience related to the integration of RSOs into the project’s lifecycle.
  • Support for incoming researchers.
  • Research Integrity and Research Ethics.

2025-2026

  • Share best practice on Gender and research.
  • Assess the Social Impact of the EU R&I Framework Programme, including specific viewpoints from the SSH.
  • Discuss first WP for FP10 in 2026.
  • Conference on Sustainability in Research Practices (Q2 2025 or 2026, venue TBC): Sharing insights and strategies for incorporating sustainability into research methodologies, funding, and dissemination, aligned with global sustainability goals.

Contact person at the CG Office: Emmanuelle Gardan (gardan@coimbra-group.eu)

Latin America

Working Group

Chair: Mara Constantinescu

Mara Constantinescu is Coordinator for Latin America at Leiden University. Professionally qualified in International Relations, her research interest lies on higher education policy in Latin America and knowledge production in cooperation with Latin America. She has obtained a MA Suma cum Laude in Latin American Studies from Leiden University. She is currently overseeing research and education collaborative projects with Latin American partners and represents Leiden University in Leiden-Delft-Erasmus consortium initiative on cooperation with the Global South.

Vice Chair: Rosa Nogueira

(To be updated soon)

Focus of Working Group

The Latin America Working Group (LA WG) aims to promote a space for scholarly exchange and interaction between Latin American Universities and Universities in the Coimbra Group, through which to ensure collaborative action takes place, that is impactful in both regions. Research, policy development and knowledge exchange, and knowledge diplomacy, should be rooted in understanding local and national priorities within Latin America, as well as strengths and benefits of collaboration in both regions, in order to implement long-term, sustainable partnerships.

Collaboration for academic advancement, knowledge dialogue and research development between European universities and Latin American institutions have a long tradition. The Coimbra Group has played an important role in providing links to institutions and networks which are relevant to this cooperation and has also in the past facilitated many initiatives and projects to the benefit of member institutions. Aimed to increasing knowledge of the opportunities and challenges in both regions, the LA WG will pursue a jointly agreed set of shared goals and synergies among Coimbra Group Universities, in order to increase the quality and quantity of academic cooperation with Latin American institutions, networks and agencies. With this perspective the LA WG will follow the numerous opportunities created by ongoing high level policy dialogues between the two regions. It is essential to understand the Latin American context from a ‘global’ perspective and define the role of Latin American experiences in tackling global challenges. 

A key priority for the LA WG has been to reinforce and develop cooperation with networks in Latin America, such as AUGM, CLACSO, UDUAL, among others, with an approach that is based on building trust through activities promoting knowledge exchange and development. These include: research round tables, leading to joint research proposals; jointly created enhancement programmes and shared capacities around themes of mutual interest; mobility and exchange opportunities; as well as joint activities aimed to generate interaction at postgraduate level.

Contributing to the achievement of the above aims, the LA WG has focused on engagement with a range of institutions and organisations across Europe and Latin America (e.g. EU-LAC Foundation, EU Commission’s Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, CLACSO, UNESCO, etc.) to support policy and practice discussions, contributing to plans and actions that are inclusive of Latin American higher education cultures and expertise, including research, teaching and professional services.

Priorities for 2024-2026

  • To elaborate and disseminate the call for papers for the second edition of the book “Why Latin America Matters” as a platform for discussion and interaction on the role of the region in future global development, this time from a Latin American perspective. We aim at having the final draft ready for print by the end of 2024/beginning 2025.
  • To enable a platform for exchange with similar networks in the region (UDUAL, CLACSO, AUGM), in order to develop joint activities with a concrete impact in shaping the research and education EU-LAC collaborative landscape.
  • To engage with EU and Latin America-based institutions and political representatives in both regions to contribute to policy development that promotes sustainability and socio-economic inclusion in Latin America and that enables a reflection over the role of Latin America in global politics and sustainable development.
  • To explore the potential of joint activities across CG working groups, enhancing Coimbra Group’s expertise in European engagement with the Majority World.
  • Explore funding opportunities across EU programmes (Erasmus+, Horizon Europe, etc.) as well as Latin America-focused funding bodies (UNESCO, EU-LAC Foundation, etc.), to support collaboration across research and education.

Recent highlights

  • Participation at the EU-LAC International Foundation Knowledge Forum, which took place in Montevideo, Uruguay, in April 2023, where the LA WG contributed to the agenda for bi-regional cooperation, that was then presented at the Summit of Heads of State and Government held in Brussels in July 2023 in the field of access to knowledge, higher education, and science, technology, and innovation.
  • Active participation in the Academic Forum of the Permanent Academic Forum between Latin America and the European Union (FAP ALC-UE) that took place in Alcalá de Henares, on 7-8 July 2023. LA WG has participated in the panel “The contribution of the LA-EU academic community to the strategic autonomy and the inherent challenges of XXI century – the Common Area of Higher Education, Science, Technology and Innovation”.
  • Co-organisation of  the workshop on “Encouraging equitable research and innovation partnerships with low- and middle-income countries”(18 January 2024) in collaboration with the European Commission, The Guild, the German Commission for UNESCO, Euroscience, Institut de recherche pour le développement (IRD), TRUST project, Spain, France, Australia and South Africa. Developed in the framework of the European Commission’s Multilateral Dialogue on Values and Principles underpinning international research and innovation (R&I), it has gathered 123 participants from 35 countries and 16 stakeholders. The aim of this workshop was to have an open discussion in order to establish an understanding of the main commonalities, differences, challenges and best practices that exist in different countries (regions) of the world.
  • INCAS Erasmus+ funding application submitted in February 2024.
  • Coimbra Group Statement on Universities in Nicaragua (24 April 2024).

Ongoing/forthcoming activities

2024 – 2025

  • Participation at the EU-LAC International Foundation Knowledge Forum, which took place in Montevideo, Uruguay, in April 2023, where the LA WG contributed to the agenda for bi-regional cooperation, that was then presented at the Summit of Heads of State and Government held in Brussels in July 2023 in the field of access to knowledge, higher education, and science, technology, and innovation.
  • Active participation in the Academic Forum of the Permanent Academic Forum between Latin America and the European Union (FAP ALC-UE) that took place in Alcalá de Henares, on 7-8 July 2023. LA WG has participated in the panel “The contribution of the LA-EU academic community to the strategic autonomy and the inherent challenges of XXI century – the Common Area of Higher Education, Science, Technology and Innovation”.
  • Co-organisation of  the workshop on “Encouraging equitable research and innovation partnerships with low- and middle-income countries”(18 January 2024) in collaboration with the European Commission, The Guild, the German Commission for UNESCO, Euroscience, Institut de recherche pour le développement (IRD), TRUST project, Spain, France, Australia and South Africa.
  • Developed in the framework of the European Commission’s Multilateral Dialogue on Values and Principles underpinning international research and innovation (R&I), it has gathered 123 participants from 35 countries and 16 stakeholders. The aim of this workshop was to have an open discussion in order to establish an understanding of the main commonalities, differences, challenges and best practices that exist in different countries (regions) of the world.

2025 – 2026

  • Develop a funding application, in either education or research, under the framework of relevant European Commission programmes (e.g. Erasmus+, Horizon etc.)
  • Explore the possibility of organizing a second high-level event with significant academic input and the broad participation of private and public stakeholders aiming to co-create a joint agenda for collaboration (first edition took place in Montevideo, Uruguay, 5-6 December 2022).
  • Publication “Why Latin America Matters – volume II” in collaboration with CLACSO.
  • Joint (potentially with CLACSO) academic seminar in LAC (Colombia, around the dates of the CLACSO conference) on selected common/cross cutting challenges for LAC and Europe.
  • Foster ties, and explore possibilities for formal cooperation agreements, with central European actors in LAC such as Fundación Carolina, DAAD, SEGIB, CALAS and others.

        Contact person at the CG Office: Catarina Moleiro (moleiro@coimbra-group.eu)

Doctoral Studies

Working Group

Chair: Adriana Zait

Adriana ZAIŢ is professor and director of the Doctoral School of Economics and Business Administration from University Alexandru Ioan Cuza Iasi, Romania. She holds a PhD in econometrics and teaches business research methods, intercultural management, services marketing and public relations. As PhD theses coordinator in Marketing, she supervised 29 doctoral students from 2007 to the present, and has been member in more than 30 doctoral coordination commissions.

Her main interests are in ensuring an interdisciplinary and intercultural education for doctoral students, in a research environment in quest of a better adaptation to the complexity, volatility and incertitude of our world.

Vice-Chair: Elise Pinta

Head of Research Career Unit PhD Elise Pinta is long-standing developer of doctoral training at University of Turku. She holds a PhD in medicinal biochemistry and is also trained as a teacher, rector and university administrator. Pinta has been establishing doctoral programs and graduate school activities, such as university-wide transferable skills training, supervisor training and different mentoring programs. Pinta is also an active player in national and international networks (latest, European University EC2U consortium’s Cotutelle & Doctoral Training Cooperation task force and National ERA4 action group coordinated by Unifi (Council of Rectors of Finnish Universities)). It was Pinta’s initiative to organise the first national doctoral education day in Finland, now an annual tradition. Her development efforts are currently focused on strengthening cross-sectoral cooperation and supporting the well-being of early-career researchers.

Focus of Working Group

Doctoral Studies constitute a key activity and major priority for multi-disciplinary research universities and represent one of the most important contributions of universities to the development of societies, through creative and collaborative approaches. Significant challenges and changes in higher education and substantial reforms of doctoral education and early research careers across Europe are central to the strategies of universities, and the DS WG fully assumes its important role in this process, fostering both rigorous doctoral training and meaningful doctoral research results.

The main remit of the Working Group is on a permanent exchange of information, sharing of best and innovative practice and joint activities of CG Universities and corresponding European University Alliances in the organization of doctoral programs and support of early research careers. We assist CG Universities in their aim of increasing participation in European research and education projects and offer our expertise as an excellent basis for possible contributions of the Coimbra Group to European policy-making relating to doctoral studies and early research careers.

Priorities for 2024-2026

  • International collaboration and mobility in doctoral education and research, fostering initiatives for joint programmes and thematic doctoral networks.
  • Participation in research and education projects.
  • Valorisation of European University Alliances experiences in doctoral education.
  • Permanent focus on improving doctoral supervision, research communication, inter- and trans-disciplinary doctoral research, supporting academic and non-academic early research careers.

Recent highlights

  • Working Group online meetings in November 2023 and March 2024, to discuss priorities and future activities.
  • Internal scoping survey on European University Alliances best practices, challenges and future intentions regarding doctoral education and research.
  • Internal survey for a potential WG name change.
  • Collection of a pool of subjects of interest for doctoral education and research.
  • Contribution to European Commission’s DG EAC Consultation “Reflections on the future of the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions”.

Ongoing/forthcoming activities

2024-2025

  • Preparing the Coimbra Group 3MT Competition Final, Turku, 5 June 2024.
  • 3 Working Group meetings per year (1x in-person at the CG Annual Conference in Turku, June 2024; 1x open/depending on topic and possible side-events in autumn/winter 2024, 1x online in winter 2024/spring 2025).
  • Preparing a short report for the European University Alliances internal survey, early 2025.
  • Initiating an exchange of information, priorities and finding common ground for future collaborations with Coimbra Group RSO, Employability, Equality and Diversity, and Education and Innovation Working Groups.
  • Collecting internal information on the subject of “Data in shaping doctoral education”, for a better perspective of CG Universities’ doctoral contexts.

2025-2026

  • Supporting researchers’ careers – “Round table discussion – After the PhD”, with the participation of CG Universities early career researchers
  • Potential WG name change to better reflect the focus of the DS WG (2025), following EB analysis and decision.
  • Revisiting the Coimbra Group template for joint degrees / co-tutelles (end of 2025).
  • Publication of updated results/report from the doctoral supervision work stream (end of 2026).
  • Joint staff training week with the Coimbra Group Employability WG (was on hold due to the pandemic).
  • Possible cooperation with the Coimbra Group Research Support Officers WG.

Contact person at the CG Office: Emmanuelle Gardan (gardan@coimbra-group.eu)

Education Innovation

Working Group

Chair: Nicoleta Laura Popa

Dr. Nicoleta Laura Popa is Professor of Educational Sciences and Vice-Rector for International Relations and Academic and Research Partnerships at the Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi in Romania. She was a Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences between 2016-2024. Her research interests and expertise cover intercultural education, mobility and migration, educational assessment and evaluation, gifted education. She has held teaching and research fellowships in several European universities, with activities connected to the theme of education and transnational migration. She coordinates the Research Center in Educational Sciences and is a member of the Research Laboratory for Studies on Intercultural Relations, Migration and Education. She has been a member of the Education Innovation Working Group (Coimbra Group) since 2016.

 

Vice-Chair: François Lecellier

François Lecellier is Associate Professor in Computer Science at the Institute of Technology of the University of Poitiers in France. His research interests are focused on image, videos and data processing and clustering. He also works in the field of Learning Analytics in the program Elans to allow a “tailor-made” follow-up, essential to better accompany students’ learning trajectories. He is also chair of Coda project regarding links between high schools and universities. In pedagogy, he works on gamification and use of video games to enhance students’ engagement.

Focus of Working Group

The EDU Working Group aims to share best practices in pedagogy across various domains, learning spaces, internationalization of the curriculum, and the integration of technology for teaching and academic pedagogy.

Regarding learning spaces, we exchange innovative approaches to classroom design, instructional delivery methods, and student engagement techniques. By sharing insights and experiences related to optimizing learning spaces, educators can enhance the effectiveness of their teaching practices and create environments conducive to student success.

For the internationalization of the curriculum, it involves infusing global perspectives, cultural competencies, and international experiences into the academic programme. We work also on blended mobility and internationalization at home as possibilities to expand the international aspect of studies.

More recently, our Working Group exchanges on technology enhanced teaching and learning by focusing on Learning Analytics and then on Artificial Intelligence (AI). More specifically, we focus ourselves on the development of generative AI in the different fields of higher education.

Priorities for 2024-2026

  • CG High Level Policy Seminar on Education Policy “AI in Higher Education”, with a forum on Artificial Intelligence (21-22 November 2024, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iași).
  • Survey on the different aspects of Technology Enhanced Learning and Teaching.
  • Development of a web-resource on Learning Spaces.
  • Inter-Working Groups meetings on AI.

Recent highlights

  • Walkabout Session at the 2022 Coimbra Group High-Level Seminar on Education Policy, “From learning spaces to learning environments”, organized at the University of Uppsala. EDU WG members contributed to the event with examples of innovative teaching and learning activities during the Walkabout Session which featured innovative use of learning spaces across the CG network. The WG also proposed the creation of a collegial network on learning environments.
  • 2023 Webinar on “Hybrid and Virtual Learning Spaces” at the Open Education Week hosted by the EDEN Network. The webinar built on the work conducted by EDU WG members on innovative learning spaces. Hybrid and virtual learning spaces are increasingly planned, designed and evaluated for their rich instructional potential, especially in the context of transnational teaching and learning initiatives, but also as an effect of post-pandemic developments in higher education institutions.
  • 2023 EDU WG Seminar on Learning Analytics. This seminar launched the work on Technology Enhanced Learning and Teaching through the scope of Learning Analytics. The strong increase of Learning Management Systems (LMS) usage in Higher Education due to the COVID crisis also increased the amount of data that are collected by those systems. With Learning Analytics, it is possible to analyse and to provide information to students and teachers on Intelligent Tutoring Systems for example. It also allows three levels of application, micro-level (ITS, individual engagement), meso-level (for the whole classroom and/or the whole university) and macro-level (for the whole educational system).

Ongoing/forthcoming activities

2024-2025

  • Working Group Meeting at the Coimbra Group Annual Conference and General Assembly, June 2024, University of Turku
  • CG High Level Policy Seminar on Education Policy – AI in Higher Education, 21-22 November 2024, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iași.
  • Working Group Meeting in Spring 2025.
  • Continuing EDU WG Subgroups’ activities.
  • “AI in the Coimbra Group Universities”: inter-WGs activities with online webinars and/or white papers on the topic.

2025-2026

  • EDU WG meeting and thematic seminar, March/April 2025, University of Durham. Provisional topic: “Digital understanding, knowledge, and competence”.
  • EDU WG meeting during CG Annual Conference and General Assembly, University of Bologna, June 2025.
  • EDU WG online meeting in Fall 2025 to define the WG priorities for the next years.
  • Continuation of the “AI in Coimbra Group Universities” inter-Working Groups activity.
  • EDU Working Group meeting and inter-Working Groups meetings during the CG Annual Conference and General Assembly, University of Würzburg, June 2026.
  • CG High Level Policy Seminar on Education Policy, Fall / Winter 2026, on at topic to be defined in connection with the Executive Board.

Contact person at the CG Office: Rúben Castro (castro@coimbra-group.eu)

Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics

Working Group

Chair: Francesco De Anna

Francesco De Anna is a lecturer of the Institute of Mathematics at the University of Würzburg. He completed his PhD at the University of Bordeaux in 2016, working under the guidance of Marius Paicu. His doctoral research centered around the dynamics of complex fluids. Subsequently, he spent two years at Penn State University, during which time he held the position of Chowla Research Assistant Professor. His focus there revolved around collaborative work with Chun Liu, delving into variational theories related to liquid crystals. In 2018, Francesco De Anna moved to Würzburg, embarking on an independent and innovative research path. His primary research revolves around the derivation and analysis of nonlinear partial differential equations. These equations serve as foundational models for capturing the intricate dynamics of certain anisotropic fluids. The underlying analysis draws upon a diverse spectrum of methodologies, notably techniques from functional analysis, harmonic analysis and Fourier analysis.

Vice-Chair: Giulia Marina Licini

Giulia Licini is professor of Organic Chemistry at the University of Padova (Italy). She got her PhD in Chemical Sciences at the University of Padova. After one-year postdoc at the Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA, she moved back to the University of Padova where she is now full professor.  At the University of Padova she has been part of several committees related to student tutoring, PhD studies, internationalization and teaching assessment. She is also active in the frame of the Italian Chemical Society activities. She has been chair/co-chair of international conferences and schools.

Her main research activities are related to homogeneous catalysis and molecular recognition for biomimetic processes and sustainable biomass valorization. She has been/is supervisor of PhD and master students, also in cotutelle. She is co-author of more than 100 publications in peer-reviewed journals and has been invited as speaker at national and international conferences and schools. She has been involved in several national/European projects also with industrial partners.

Focus of Working Group

Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (in this established acronym-friendly order) have benefited, over the centuries and still today, from fundamental contributions of scholars from universities which are now members of the Coimbra Group. STEM remains a major factor of modernization and progress for society at large. As research-intensive universities, the members of the Coimbra Group are firmly committed to and constantly develop and expand their research and education in STEM, also including societal outreach related to these fields.

Priorities for 2024-2026

  • Good practices in science communication: Effective initiatives to encourage and attract young people and in particular girls to STEM fields are of fundamental importance.  We want to establish which activities are carried out in the STEM WG Universities to facilitate the entry in STEM studies of young people (national and local projects), paying particular attention to actions for gender balance. Eventually, the analysis will be expanded to all CG Universities. The initiative started under the coordination of Geneva and Kraków STEM WG representatives. The results are to be published in an online compendium. Additionally, they will be presented at the CG Annual Conference & General Assembly in Turku in June 2024.
  • New teaching & learning methodologies in STEM: STEM disciplines chronically suffer of a low number of new students and a significant drop-out, after the COVID-19 crisis.  Innovation and new teaching methodologies in STEM (active learning) can help to facilitate learning and keep regular the student carrier. We want to establish and discuss which innovative and active learning activities are carried out at local level of each CG Universities in STEM disciplines, with particular attention to training labs (virtual-experimental labs). Additionally, significant attention will be given to exploring the integration of teaching methodologies with the advent of artificial intelligence, examining both the positive and negative impacts on students.
  • Women in STEM: There is a chronical low presence of women in STEM fields at all levels, in particular at PhD, post-docs and academic level. We will carry out an analysis (on-line surveys, interviews) at Master, PhD, post-docs levels to gain information on which are the expectations and main difficulties of early-stage female-researchers in STEM fields. There are possibilities for carrying out this project also at inter-WG level (Doctoral Studies and Equality and Diversity WGs). Furthermore, we want to collect testimonials from STEM female-researchers as positive and successful models (interviews).
  • Research assessment in STEM disciplines: The new principles promoted by the Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment (CoARA), of which CG and several of its members are members, is likely to transform the way research will be evaluated and funded in the coming years. These changes will influence the future recruitments and promotions of researchers and academics in the EU. It is important to share the good practices in STEM disciplines that are and will be implemented by CG universities to increase the quality of research, to promote scientific integrity and engagement with society. This reform will change the way quantitative indicators will be considered, including the use of h-index, citations and journal impact factor. We thus aim to gather information and host a one-day conference where experts will discuss the key innovations and future trends in research assessment.

Recent highlights

  • Coimbra Group STEM WG Winter Meeting 2023, held online on November 13, 2023.
  • Participation in the Coimbra Group WGs funding scheme (deadline 31 March 2024), with proposals focusing on active learning in STEM disciplines.
  • Presentation of the results from the initiative “Good Practices in Science Communication” at CG Annual Conference & General Assembly in Turku, scheduled on 5 June 2

Ongoing / Forthcoming activities

2024 – 2025

  • Good practices in attracting young people to STEM fields: Compendium of CG good practice of initiatives to encourage and attract young people and in particular girls to STEM fields (coordinated by Geneva and Kraków representatives).  Publication and dissemination of the online compendium (CG website, Newsletter and targeted recipients).
  • New teaching & learning methodologies in STEM:
    • Survey on innovative and active learning activities carried out at local level of each CG Universities in STEM disciplines, with particular attention to training labs (virtual-experimental labs).
    • Organization of a one-day workshop on the topic (Padova, 14 November 2024) aligned with the Teaching4learning project, back-to-back with a STEM WG meeting.
  • Research assessment in STEM disciplines: workshop to be organised in the Spring 2025 dedicated to exploring the implications of new forms of research assessment. This event will feature experts discussing on the propositions emerging from the work of the CoARA and related topics.

2025 – 2026

  • Women in STEM:  analysis (on-line surveys, interviews) at Master, PhD, post-docs levels to gain information on which are the expectations and main difficulties of early-stage female-researchers in STEM fields. Preparation of the survey, distribution of the questionnaires, data analysis, preparation of the report (Spring 2025 – Winter 2025).
  • Promoting academic cooperation in STEM programmes:  organization of a one day-workshop on Research Evaluation in STEM fields and in the different realities of the CG Universities (back-to-back with a STEM WG meeting).

Contact person at the CG Office: Rúben Castro (castro@coimbra-group.eu)

Employability

Working Group

Chair: Orla Bannon

Orla Bannon is the Director of Careers at Trinity College Dublin. She has responsibility for managing the scale and quality of academic and student engagement with careers, as well as partnerships with employers, to deliver a truly world-class careers service at Trinity. She provides leadership to the Careers Team, promotes the value of the Careers Service across the University, and acts as a centre of expertise, advising and contributing to the University’s objectives in terms of employability and skills development, and the wider student experience.

Orla holds a degree in Biochemistry from Trinity, an MBA from UCD/RCSI and a Diploma in Personnel Management (NCI). She has over 25 years of management experience in both the public and private sectors in areas such as healthcare, higher education, IT and publishing.

 

Vice-Chair: Annette Retsch

Annette Retsch is head of the Career Centre at the University of Würzburg since its inception in 2007. Her responsibilities include the strategic direction of the development, planning, evaluation of about 100 transversal skills workshops and lectures every year. She specialises in individual career consulting and methods for sustainable professional development. Furthermore, she was responsible for the conceptual development of an individualised Virtual Exchange Program and allowing its embedding in curricula.

Prior to her commitment to employability activities, she graduated in German and English Studies with the state examination for the teaching profession at secondary schools and completed her PhD thesis in German and English linguistics on paratextual elements in German literature.

Focus of Working Group

We are living in fast-paced, dynamic, and uncertain times where economic, societal, and global needs are rapidly changing and where a highly skilled adaptable workforce is essential. A strong knowledge economy needs opportunities for lifelong skills development, which matches the skills needs of employers, both now and in the future. These skills allow for new value creation and problem solving addressing the challenges of our time. Continuous innovation and agility in higher education and research is required to futureproof the graduate pipeline with the skills that will allow society and industry to flourish and develop continuously.

Enhancing students’ employability to meet the rapidly evolving needs of learners, society and industry is now a core part of a higher education institution’s objectives. In this context, the collaboration and exchange of experiences within the Employability Working Group of the Coimbra Group (CG) aims to:

  • Improve the visibility and recognition of the value of careers and employability services across CG universities;
  • Increase joint collaborative projects on how career services are organised, deliver their services, and support their universities (professionalisation of career services);
  • Prepare students for the 21st century global labour market and lifelong learning through the acquisition of key future skills.

We are an active Working Group which constantly seeks to identify new areas for conjoint work, to explore common issues and challenges across our universities, to share our learnings and drive innovation for the enhancement of our services.

Priorities for 2024-2026

  • Increase awareness of the value and relevance of careers and employability services in CG universities through publications, workshops, and increased collaboration across the CG Working Groups.
  • Develop a good practice framework for Careers Services working as consultants to academics (teachers, researchers, programme directors) and acting as facilitators of academic-enterprise engagement.
  • Using our defined key future skills, explore how to support students to develop these both within and outside the curriculum, including tailoring to different student groups (e.g., students, doctoral students, international students, and students with the status of refugees).
  • Explore how to improve student engagement with careers and employability services and ensure that our services remain relevant to students and meet their evolving needs.
  • Increase our awareness and understanding of micro-credentials and the opportunities they present for careers, employability, and skills development within CG universities.
  • Explore how AI can influence and enhance our service delivery and how we work.

Recent highlights

  • Work has been ongoing over the past year on a Situational Analysis Report on employability and careers services across CG universities. This includes:
    • Results from a benchmarking survey of EMP WG members carried out during Summer 2023.
    • A detailed SWOT overview analysis based on inputs from EWG members aimed at identifying areas where we are doing well and the challenges we need to address.
    • Research overview and recommendations on Skills for the Future of Work.
  • Working Group members attended and actively contributed to several recent European Research Area Action 11 workshops on “The Green Transition and Working life”, “The Digital Transition and Working Life”, and “Twin Transitions and Vulnerable Groups” (ERA4FutureWork).
  • An EC representative from DG EAC with expertise in Micro-credentials presented at our EMP WG meeting in Brussels in December 2023.
  • Fruitful discussions around key areas of focus for the coming years resulted in updates to our work plan to include AI, improving student engagement, and how to involve others in our service delivery.

Ongoing/forthcoming activities

2024-2025

  • Final approval of our Situational Analysis Report on Employability and Careers Services across CG Universities at the June 2024 meeting in Turku.
  • Focussed discussion session on supporting international students to be held in June 2024 in Turku.
  • Professional training workshop of Future Skills planned at Trinity College Dublin in Oct/Nov 24 (with Coimbra Group funding). This will allow for the development of specific skills training sessions based on the future skills already identified (focus on sustainability, digital, and intercultural working) and the targeting of this training for different student groups.
  • Development of a good practice framework for Career Services for working with academics and supporting academic-enterprise engagement, e.g., work-based learning.
  • Prepare an internal EMP WG report on micro-credentials and open badges (definitions, differences, relevance for employability, etc) to create a shared understanding by end 2024.
  • Establishment of two new Subgroups and development of detailed plans to:
    • improve student engagement with our services (Student Engagement Subgroup).
    • explore how AI can influence and enhance our service delivery and how we work (AI Subgroup).

2025-2026

  • Plan a joint seminar focussing on careers and employability services working to support PhD students – link with Doctoral Studies WG.
  • Develop a toolbox of resources, materials, and guides for use in Future Skills training sessions with students.
  • Map involvement and experiences on micro-credentials across EMP WG members including recommendations for the future.
  • Advance work of the Student Engagement and AI Subgroups to deliver on planned objectives.
  • Develop new strategies / exchange practices on supporting students with disabilities.

Contact person at the CG Office: Martina Tesseri (tesseri@coimbra-group.eu@coimbra-group.eu)

Social Sciences & Humanities

Working Group

Chair: Raúl Sánchez Prieto

Raúl Sánchez Prieto is professor of German and Dutch linguistics at the University of Salamanca, Spain, and the head of the Department of Modern Philology. He is also coordinating the EC2U University Alliance in Salamanca, where he was involved from the beginning. Prof. Sánchez has been principal investigator in several third-party funded local, regional, national and European research projects and has extensively published on contrastive linguistics and sociolinguistics.

He has been representing the University of Salamanca in various task forces and working groups of the Coimbra Group since 2012.

Vice Chair: Natasza Styczyńska

Dr Natasza Styczyńska is an assistant professor at the Institute of European Studies of the Jagiellonian University. Her academic interests include party politics, nationalism, populism and Euroscepticism in Central and Eastern Europe and the Balkans. She leads JU team in H2020 REGROUP Rebuilding Governance and Resilience out of the Pandemic research project and is a director of studies of Una Europa Joint BA in European Studies at Jagiellonian. Previously, she participated in numerous research (H2020, Polish National Science Center, UK Economic and Social Research Council, Jean Monnet Networks) and educational projects (Jean Monnet Module, EurAsia Erasmus Plus Capacity Building Project, Visegrad Fund).  

Focus of Working Group

In the forthcoming years, the Coimbra Group Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) Working Group (WG) will continue its focus on tasks and activities related to research and education, as well as outreach and visibility. However, its primary objective will be to support the SSH research initiatives of member universities.

To achieve this, the WG will organize seminars and conferences on the implications of multidisciplinary SSH research projects within CG universities. Additionally, the WG will prioritize the collection of new data and the provision of increased research opportunities. It is worth noting that new research themes, including digitalization, machine learning, the ongoing situation in Ukraine, narratives in climate change, and emergent crises and conflicts within societies, will feature prominently in SSH activities from 2024 to 2026. These new topics will address the current surge in AI within the SSH, societal crises, and the concept of solidarity. The SSH WG will also focus on redefining the role of languages in modern society.

Secondly, building on the insights gained from seminars and conferences, the WG aims to develop successful research proposals for international funding bodies, such as EU funding bodies. Previously, the multidisciplinary requirements of EU calls have posed challenges for SSH scholars. Therefore, the WG will emphasize a multidisciplinary research approach and highlight the collaborative nature of SSH to tackle this issue. Additionally, the WG will disseminate information on timely research funding opportunities across member universities and actively participate in the CoARA (Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment Agreement on Reforming Research Assessment) Working Group “Evaluating SSH research globally”.

Thirdly, the SSH WG will serve as an overarching and coordinating structure in the research and educational domains of SSH within the framework of the European Universities Alliances Initiative. Consequently, the WG will act as a liaison between different working groups (self-steering committees/virtual institutes, etc.) from Alliances associated with the Coimbra Group.

Priorities for 2024-2026

  • At least one international conference per year will be organized and the proceedings published.
  • As an important long-term goal, the WG will look into general themes and specific calls in which SSH research undertaken at CG Universities might find success. Prior work on funding proposals has been conducted, in connection to meetings and conferences.
  • An inter-European University Alliances coordination committee will be set up for exploring, mapping and then planning future inter-Alliance activities.
  • We will continue to stress the role of SSH for postgraduate and doctoral education and increase our levels of collaboration with other CG representatives at the home universities, if possible via Blended Intensive Programmes (BIPs). We will use BIPs for intra-CG cooperation on postgrad and doctoral levels.

Recent highlights

  • CG Conference “Reflecting on peace in Ukraine: long term narratives, wars of disinformation, peace diplomacy and peace building” (23-24 January 2023, Brussels).
  • Inter-European Universities Alliances International Conference “New Narratives for a Damaged Planet: Humanities and Social Sciences Perspectives on the Climate Crisis” (16–17 November 2023, Jagiellonian University, Kraków).

Ongoing/forthcoming activities

2024 – 2025

  • Educational Workshop on changing times in the SSH (AI – big data – ChatGPT) at Charles University in Prague (Fall 2024, one and a half days).
  • SSH conference “Old Cities, Former Capitals and the Nation-State Building in Europe (18th-20th centuries): regional and national identities” (Fall 2024 or Spring 2025).
  • Actively taking part in the CoARA WG “Evaluating SSH research globally”.

2025–2026

  • SSH conference “Thinking between/beyond languages” (Spring 2025 or Fall 2025, host university tbd).
  • Conference “Concept of solidarity in Europe – a transdisciplinary approach” (Fall 2025 or Spring 2026, University of Pavia).

Contact person at the CG Office: Emmanuelle Gardan (gardan@coimbra-group.eu)