Equality & Diversity

Equality & Diversity

Working Group

Chair: Siobán O’Brien Green

Dr Siobán O’Brien Green works as the Head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI), in Trinity College Dublin, the University of Dublin, Ireland. Siobán is responsible for leading and coordinating Trinity’s EDI work areas and Office. Siobán has worked on multiple national and European multi-country gender-based violence (GBV) and equality research projects and has taught, delivered training, published and presented widely on these issues.

Vice-Chair: Iveta Bayerová

Iveta Bayerová works as the Equal Opportunities Agenda Coordinator at Charles University and as the secretary of its Equal Opportunities Board. She is a Ph.D. candidate in Applied Ethics at the Faculty of Humanities, focusing on care ethics and inclusive gender equality in academia. Her professional background includes work in social services and international youth projects, and collaboration with the Czech Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs. She co-represents the Coimbra Group in the ERA Action 5 Sub-group on Inclusive Gender Equality.

Working Group Focus

Equality and diversity are of continuing critical importance to ensure Coimbra Group (CG) universities are sites of excellence in education, research, innovation and societal engagement and are places of work and study that are engaging, attractive, supportive, and inclusive. Challenges in Europe, and globally, to equality and diversity require more than ever that evidence based, research informed, dynamic and inclusive responses are needed – giving CG members a call to action in this era and arena.

The Equality & Diversity Working Group objectives are to provide leadership, expertise and insights in relation to equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) to all CG member universities. We aim to leverage our knowledge and experience across CG members to inform and advise within the CG network and beyond, including responding to European Commission (EC) and other institutions’ calls for submissions. We recognise the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals as guiding our objectives.

Our mission is to work across CG membership and to catalyse our respective university alliances and partnerships (such as the CG MoU with the European Students’ Union) and ensure EDI is core to our joint work and efforts. We will continue to participate in the European Commission’s sub-group of experts on “Strengthening gender equality and inclusiveness in the ERA, notably with an intersectional approach” (European Research Area (ERA) Policy Agenda 2025-2027) and find additional routes and paths to highlight the value of embedding intersectional, sustainable and holistic approaches to EDI. In this context, the WG will also contribute to the implementation of CG Declarations, such as the Durham Declaration on Climate Change and Sustainability, by supporting the integration of EDI principles across research, education, institutional policies and partnerships, while also addressing emerging opportunities and challenges including, climate change and artificial intelligence (AI).

We will support the efforts of our Working Group members to meet and exceed the EC’s Gender Equality Plan (GEP) compliance requirements through sharing good practices and learning together. We commit to ongoing peer explorations of how our universities can contribute to equality and diversity for all staff, students, researchers through sharing our work efforts and then ensuring visibility through proactive and continuous collaboration and communication.

Priorities for 2026 – 2029

• Dissemination and promotion of activities among ED WG and CG members, including a focus on intersectional approaches, equality and diversity data collection, exploring and mitigating barriers faced by marginalised researchers, and tackling gender-based violence within the ERA (e.g. REFLECT, GenderSAFE projects, etc.).
• Collaboration with other CG Working Groups to maximise the reach and depth of the ED WG activities such as through webinars, projects, etc. and to jointly address areas of common interest, such as AI.
• Preparation of submissions and contributions to European Commission consultations related to EDI in academia, research and innovation.
• Continued participation in the European Commission’s sub-group of experts under the ERA Structural Policy on ‘Strengthening gender equality and inclusiveness in the ERA, notably with an intersectional approach’ (ERA Policy Agenda 2025-2027).
• Promotion, dissemination and visibility of the book ‘Why EDI Matters: Equ(al)ity, Diversity and Inclusion in European Universities’ within and beyond the CG network, including across the European Research Area (ERA).

Recent highlights since September 2025

• Organisation and facilitation of a breakout session on “Why EDI Matters: Fostering Inclusive Dialogue and Campus Democracy”, led by the ED WG Chair and Vice Chair, within the programme of the CG’s 40th anniversary High-Level Seminar on ‘Reinventing Campus Democracy: Bridging Divides and Advancing Solutions’ (Brussels, November 2025).
• “Why EDI Matters” book release: organisation of an online webinar with the book’s editors and authors on 16 April 2026, and preparation of the in-person book launch on 16 June 2026 at the CG’s Annual Conference hosted by the University of Granada.
• Policy engagement: submission to the European Commission’s public consultation on the development of European Research Area (ERA) Act and to the European Commission’s call for evidence on the upcoming Action Plan on Women in Research, Innovation and Startups.
• EU Gender Equality recognition: Charles University received the EU Newcomer Award for Gender Equality Champions in R&I in February 2026, building on Trinity College Dublin’s recognition as Sustainable Gender Equality Champion in 2023. Now the CG network is uniquely home to two EU Gender Equality in R&I award winning institutions.
• CG Annual Conference 2026: co-organisation of an open thematic session on “EU values shaping inclusive international universities – practical resources and tools from the EUniverse project” (17 June) together with the Academic Exchange & Mobility Working Group and the EUniverse Erasmus+ project.

Ongoing / Forthcoming activities 2026 – 2027

• Implementation of activities under the Horizon Europe funded project, REFLECT – “Researching Intersectional Equity and Fairness in Lived Experiences and Career Trajectories”.
• Planning of an in-person meeting in Brussels, to coincide with the “16 days of Action on violence against women on International Human Rights Day” on 10 December 2026 and Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the EU. This will build on the similar ED WG successful meeting held in December 2023.
• Planning of an ED WG webinar for the spring 2027. Possible topics include the recent European Commission initiatives such as the Gender Equality Strategy 2026-2030, the Anti-Racism Strategy 2026-2030 and/or the Union of Equality: Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2021-2030.
• Continued dissemination and promotion of the “Why EDI Matters” book.
• Planning of an Erasmus+ Staff Mobility Week in Spring/Summer 2027 with an EDI focus, potentially hosted by the University of Cologne.
• Planning of a dedicated ED WG event/workshop/thematic session during CG Annual Conference 2027 at the University of Würzburg (June 2027).

Forthcoming activities 2027 – 2029

• Continuation of the implementation of the Horizon Europe REFLECT project activities.
• Possible ED WG thematic meeting linked to Italy’s EU Presidency of the Council of the EU (2028), in collaboration with ED WG Italian members.
• Exploration of further ED WG Erasmus+ visits and staff mobility weeks, building on past experiences (at Charles University, Jagiellonian University, etc).
• Planning of an ED WG webinar in the autumn 2027. Possible topics include recent European Commission Gender Equality Strategy 2026-2030, EU Anti-Racism Strategy 2026-2030 and/or Union of Equality: Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2021-2030.
• Exploration of the implementation and impact of the EU Pay Transparency Directive in CG universities with a focus on ED aspects.

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

Academic Exchange and Mobility

Working Group

Chair: Chantal Riccardi

Vice-Chair: Daniela Sauge

Working Group Focus

The Academic Exchange and Mobility (AEM) Working Group is dedicated to both student and staff mobility, as well as international exchange, tackling a broad set of related challenges. Its activities aim to increase participation, encourage more sustainable travel choices during the mobility experiences, promote inclusiveness, ensure proper recognition of students’ international experiences and examine emerging mobility formats developed within the European University Alliances. Given the current complex political landscape, the design and implementation of mobility initiatives require strong collaboration, the sharing of practices, and creative approaches among partner institutions.

While the Working Group operates within national and European policy frameworks, its members treat these guidelines as a foundation for inspiration, striving to develop and test innovative solutions. To address its wide-ranging scope, the WG also establishes thematic sub-groups focusing on specific areas of interest, enabling more targeted discussion and action.

The main activities are to:

• share knowledge and good practices regarding successful approaches and common difficulties faced in the everyday management of student and staff mobility in higher education institutions (HEIs)
• promote and increase academic exchange among Coimbra Group universities and valorise the Coimbra Group Student Exchange Network (SEN)
• promote the activities of the AEM WG and of the Coimbra Group itself in the international context
• design collaborative initiatives that enhance the quality of mobility, promoting, among other aspects, more sustainable practices, inclusion, the recognition of transversal skills gained through international experiences and the mental well-being of students during mobility periods
• advise the Coimbra Group Executive Board on possible actions to influence the development of European education programmes with mobility components, including through the production of policy documents or recommendations
• strengthen civic engagement and the co-creation of good practices in close collaboration with student associations, including the Erasmus Student Network (ESN) International and the European Students’ Union (ESU)

Priorities for 2026 – 2029

• Inclusion and support to students with fewer opportunities
• Well-being and mental health
• Soft skills and mobility
• Next Erasmus+ programme 2028-2034
• Guidelines for the collaboration between HEIs and ESN local sections

Recent highlights since September 2025:

• Joint online semester meeting between the Coimbra Group and ESN within the framework of the 2021 Memorandum of Understanding 9 April 2026.
• Organisation of thematic sessions at the ESN Erasmus Generation Meeting 2026 (Split, Croatia), 18 April 2026:
  • “Valorisation of the activities and support of local ESN sections through collaboration with IROs”, together with ESN Charles University.
  • “Inclusive mobility for all: breaking barriers in international exchange”, together with Fundacion ONCE and ESN Spain.
  • “ESNers, exchange students and soft skills : results of our survey”, together with ESN Switzerland.
• Co-organisation of an open thematic session on “Interconnecting knowledge: intercultural communication, shared civic values and global mobility”, together with the EUniverse Erasmus+ project and the Global Partnerships and Latin America Working Groups, at the Coimbra Group Annual Conference 2026 in Granada, 16 June 2026.
• Co-organisation of an open thematic session on “EU values shaping inclusive international universities – practical resources and tools from the EUniverse project”, together with the EUniverse Erasmus+ project and the Equality & Diversity Working Group, at the Coimbra Group Annual Conference 2026, 17 June 2026.

Ongoing / Forthcoming activities 2026 – 2027:

• Inter-Working Group activities with the Global Partnerships Working Group on Erasmus+ KA171 actions or on mobility with the Global South.
• Participation as speakers in the session on “A Mental Health Transformation in Student Mobility” proposed by ESN international at the EAIE 2026 Conference in Glasgow (September 2026).
• Joint online semester meeting between the Coimbra Group and ESN within the framework of the 2021 Memorandum of Understanding (Autumn 2026).
• Follow-up on the ESN Erasmus Generation Meeting 2026 session “ESNers, exchange students and soft skills : results of our survey” in collaboration with ESN Switzerland, to gather results across Coimbra Group universities.

Forthcoming activities 2027 – 2029:

• Participation in future ESN Erasmus Generation Meeting Conferences (Spring 2028, Spring 2029).
• Possible participation in other international events: ENIS conference, e.g. CEEDUCON, EAIE.
• Initiation of activities on inclusive mobility for CG students and staff (possible collaboration or activity with Fundacion ONCE).
• Mental well-being: training for staff at CG universities.
• Inter-Working Group activities related to employability.
• Continuation and further initiatives in line with ESN on student mobility among CG universities.

Contact person at the CG Office: Ester Zangrandi (zangrandi@coimbra-group.eu)

Global Partnerships

Working Group

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.

Vice-Chair: Nuné Nikoghosyan

Nuné Nikoghosyan is partnerships manager at the International Relations and Partnerships Office of the University of Geneva, Switzerland. She manages international collaboration agreements as well as multilateral partnerships and seed funding schemes for research. With a PhD in sociology, her main interests lie in internationalization of higher education as well as cultural and science diplomacy. Being originally Armenian and having lived in various countries, her background lies in multicultural environments, and she is convinced of the strong benefits of interculturality and international cooperation for humanity and development. 

Working Group Focus

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, 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 decolonisation and education.

Priorities for 2025-2026

• Supporting the implementation of the Africa Charter for Transformative Research Collaborations through close collaboration with Perivoli Africa Research Centre, University of Bristol, UK.
• Implementation of joint training sessions and education programmes (e.g. summer / winter schools) to contribute to the improvements of institutional capacities, and implementation of joint training sessions and education programmes in the framework of Erasmus+ projects.
• Sharing knowledge and experiences on research for cooperation models, including a critical review of cooperation with the global majority 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 partnerships.
• Development of a Global Partnerships (and eventually Coimbra Group) language policy in the context of communication on eye-level with the global majority.

Recent highlights since June 2024

• Workshop Decolonising the University, CG Annual Conference in Turku, 5 June 2024.  Joint session organised by the Heritage, Latin America and Global Partnerships Working Groups with support from the Coimbra Group WGs Funding Scheme. The purpose of the workshop was to induce a profound rethinking of the colonial entanglement in academic relations through which all sides can mutually benefit.
• The third International Summer School on European Multilingualism took place at the University of Niš (Serbia) on 23-29 June 2024. The activity involved teachers from universities of Coimbra, Graz, Jena, Poitiers (project coordinator) and Salamanca. The aim of the intensive short programme on European Multilingualism and Cultural Mediation Studies was to share innovative linguistic approaches to teaching and learning languages. The programme offered courses of translation and language application in several small tandem groups: English, German, French, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish. In addition, Language Discovering Workshops enabled 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 offered two LWULT Workshops: Serbian and Turkish.
• Conference: The Africa Charter: Advancing transformative research collaborations between Africa and the rest of the world, in Brussels on 6-7 November 2024, with support from the Coimbra Group WGs Funding Scheme. A two-part, interactive workshop, convened jointly by the University of Bristol and the Coimbra Group Global Partnerships WG, with the support of the University of Bergen, to present and discuss the Africa Charter for Transformative Research Collaborations.  The Africa Charter, co-created by Africa’s major higher education constituencies, is an Africa-centred framework for advancing a transformative mode of research collaborations that will serve to uphold the continent’s place in- and foster a more equitable- global system of scientific knowledge production. It was co-facilitated by the University of Bristol’s Perivoli Africa Research Centre. The Coimbra Group was amongst the first signatories, which now number more than 100 institutions.
• Conference: Building together: European and African Collaboration in Research and Innovation, at the University of Pavia (Italy) on 27 November 2024.  The conference aimed to foster a collaborative spirit by bringing together leading professors from Africa and Europe and representatives of public institutions to explore synergies, share knowledge, and co-develop solutions to global challenges. The experts of the event included members of two important European networks, the European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI) and the Global Partnerships WG, alongside representatives from African universities.

Ongoing/forthcoming activities 2025-2026

• The fourth International Summer School on European Multilingualism will be held at the University of Coimbra, Portugal, on 22-28 June 2025. The event will involve faculty from various European universities, including those in Graz, Würzburg, Salamanca, Pavia, Poitiers, and Coimbra. The programme focuses on innovative language teaching approaches, offering courses in translation and language application in small tandem groups for languages such as German, French, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish. Additionally, the Summer School will feature a Language Discovering Workshop highlighting Less Widely Used and Lesser Taught languages (LWULT), with special workshops on Kurdish and Romani to emphasize their role in preserving language diversity and multilingual heritage.
• Continued cooperation with the Perivoli Africa Research Centre, University of Bristol (UK) on the implementation of the Africa Charter for Transformative Research Collaborations. The Charter demands more equitable and more inclusive research relationships with higher education institutions in Africa. The Global Partnerships WG will work closely with all CG universities and other WGs to organise events to promote and disseminate knowledge on the Charter.
• Preparation of an application for COST funding together with interested CG members to advance active engagement with – and an implementation of – the principles and aspirations of the Africa Charter across disciplinary fields.
• WG sessions at the CG 2025 Annual Conference at the University of Bologna:
  • University and local authorities: joint models of global partnerships and actions organised by the Global Partnerships WG and open to all delegates (11 June 2025).
  • The role of universities as agents of global cooperation: the role of the recent geopolitical situation in our cooperation with the Global Majority in research and co-creation organised by both the Global Partnerships and Academic Exchange and Mobility WGs. The specifics are still being finalized (11 June 2025).
• Coimbra Group Initiative of Peace and Conflict Studies: Reimagination of the programme with new partners. The redesign is underway, with final details yet to be confirmed.
• One-day symposium on Africa-Europe research collaboration in Bergen, Norway on 3 December 2025.
• Formation of a sub-group on Climate action and Sustainability following the Coimbra Group Climate Symposium at the University of Durham, 24-26 March 2025.

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).

Working Group Focus

The proposed actions aim to enhance 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 considered in their broadest context. The focus of the working group is on the development of common strategies for teaching and research. Master’s programmes are of utmost importance for high-level education and the development of skills for future high-level life scientists, as well as the first step in the development of life science research and the promotion of careers in the life sciences. We have identified Master’s projects of common interest to exchange students involved in these programmes.

Priorities for 2025-2026

• Master Cancer Biology
• Master Global Change Ecology
• Blended Intensive Programmes and Student’s Mobility
• Exploring the possibility of creating joint double degree or European degree programmes
• Discussing the impact of AI on life science research and teaching

Recent highlights since June 2024

• BIPs (Blended Intensive Programmes)
  • Environmental Remote Sensing 2024-2025, coordinated by Dr. Shawn Carlisle Kefauver, University of Barcelona with the Universities of Pavia, Poitiers, Würzburg (CG Universities), the University of Twente, the University of Helsinki, University College Dublin and the University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine.
    • 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.
      
  • Human Organoids: model systems for human biology and medicine 2024, coordinated by Dr. Ana Sevilla, University of Barcelona, with the Universities of Montpellier and Vilnius (CG Universities), Karolinska Institute and the University of Strasbourg.
    • 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, qPCR and FACS analysis.
  • Redox Biology in Health and Diseases 2025, coordinated byProf. Teresa Carbonell, University of Barcelona, with the Universities of Coimbra and Pavia (CG Universities) and the University of Wroclaw.
  • • Stress signalling, 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 signalling 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.
• European Joint Degree project.

Ongoing/forthcoming activities 2025-2026

Master’s Programmes in Biosciences:

• Cancer Biology 2025

The Universities of Åbo Akademi, Barcelona, Coimbra, Cologne, Montpellier, Pavia, Salamanca, Tartu, Turku, Utrecht, Vilnius and Würzburg are involved. We are planning to reorganise the programme’s supporting activities (e.g. summer school, webinar) and the requirements for the Coimbra Group certificate.

Re-application for Erasmus Mundus funding (Pavia, Montpellier, Montreal) coordinated by the University of Pavia.

• Master Global Change Ecology 2025

A Double Degree programme of the Universities of Bergen and Würzburg has started. Other universities may be involved.

• Double degree and/or European degree Master programmes 2027

We are exploring the possibility of setting up a joint programme on a topic that we will identify as the most promising in terms of existing collaborations and novelty, building for example on the collaborations and networking already established with the BIPs.

• BIPs (Blended Intensive Programmes):
  • Liposomes to improve pharmacological treatments of infectious and cancer diseases
    2026, coordinated by Prof. Amparo Sanchez Navarro and Maria Sacristan, Universities of Salamanca and 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 targetingIntegrate 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.

• New editions of the following BIPs (see above under “recent highlights” for details):
  • Environmental Remote Sensing coordinated by Dr. Shawn Carlisle Kefauver, University of Barcelona.
  • Human Organoids: model systems for human biology and medicine, coordinated by Dr. Ana Sevilla, University of Barcelona.
  • Redox Biology in Health and Diseases coordinated byProf. Teresa Carbonell, University of Barcelona.

• Preparation of a new BIP on Advanced Immunology for 2026-2027, coordinated by Marie-Alix Poul University Montpellier with the University of Barcelona.

Contact person at the CG Office: Ester Zangrandi (zangrandi@coimbra-group.eu)

Heritage

Working Group

Chair: Stuart Hunt (Durham University)

Vice-Chair: Markéta Křížová (Charles University)

Working Group Focus

The Coimbra Group Heritage Working Group (HER WG) provides a space for everyone working with cultural heritage, including professional staff and researchers, to come together, share ideas and reflect on the role of cultural heritage in universities, and on what opportunities are provided by cultural heritage in universities. We have developed a work plan focused on fostering collaboration and addressing the issues faced by cultural heritage practitioners in universities.

Our work plan is divided into six main areas:

• Cultural heritage and the University
• Universities‘ built 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 to navigate. We are increasingly focusing our efforts on understanding what we can contribute to the European cultural heritage space, where it makes sense for us to take a leading role and where partnership with others is more appropriate. The creation of the European University Alliances has also provided us with opportunities to collaborate with a new set of networks that have a strong interest in culture.

Priorities for 2026 – 2029

• International conferences and workshops (setting up Erasmus+ winter/summer schools on a regular basis).
• Promotion, networking and outreach (incl. a dissemination project on problematic heritage; establishment of a conservators’ network; continued inter-WG cooperation with the Global Partnerships WG; development of a dedicated declaration on heritage).
• Joint projects and grant opportunities (with a current focus on CG funding and inter-WG initiatives e.g. the Africa Charter for Transformative Research Collaborations).
• Special focus on problematic heritage (including intangible cultural heritage, risk management and sustainability).
• Publications of international seminars( proceedings (in the journal “MUSEA. Journal for museology, museum practice and audience”).

Recent highlights since September 2025

• International seminars and workshops:
  • International seminar on teaching with objects: “University museums, exhibitions and collections as learning spaces and new approaches to interpretation and teaching with objects” held on 24 October 2025 at Gustavianum, Uppsala University, organised by Mikael Ahlund and Britt-Inger Johannson
  • Contribution to CG High-Level Seminar “Reinventing Campus Democracy seminar” (21 November 2025) in Brussels, with a presentation of the temporary exhibition “Experiencing democracy. Your voice. Your vote. Your future…” by Bernadette Biedermann (University of Graz).
• Publication in the MUSEA Journal, Issue 4: MUSEA / Jg. 2 (2026) H. 4, including a special focus based on the HER WG international seminar held at the University of Tartu on 15 November 2022 on the built heritage of universities.
• Two meetings of the Horizon Europe funded project COLUMN (“Colonial Legacies of Universities: Materialities and New Collaborations”), led by Utrecht University (Gertjan Plets), in Prague (15-17 October 2025) and in Cape Town (22-25 February 2026).
• Planning of an open inter-WG session at CG Annual Conference 2026 in Granada, together with the Global Partnerships WG, on the Africa Charter for Transformative Research Collaborations.
• Continued work on a declaration on heritage, with initial outcomes to be shared at CG Annual Conference 2026 in Granada (June 2026).
• Submission of a proposal for a Winter School under the CG funding scheme for WGs, to take place at the Jagiellonian University of Krakow in autumn 2026.

Ongoing / Forthcoming activities 2026 – 2027

• Inter-WG cooperation with the Global Partnerships WG on the Africa Charter for Transformative Research Collaborations.
• Continued work on a declaration on heritage alongside the planning of an international seminar on risk management and sustainability at the University of Poitiers in autumn 2026.
• Planning of a Winter School to take place at the Jagiellonian University of Krakow in autumn 2026.
• Development of a practical toolkit / handbook for managing problematic collections.

Forthcoming activities 2027 – 2029

• Regular autumn meeting of the HER WG in 2027: to be jointly organised by Durham University and the University of Edinburgh.
• Future priorities to be developed by the incoming HER WG Chair and Vice-Chair, who were elected during the CG Annual Conference 2026 in Granada.

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

Research Support Officers

Working Group

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.

Vice-Chair: Annett Margull

Working Group Focus

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 unite over 60 university representatives to enhance research strategies through idea exchange and expert collaboration.

Actively engaging with European Research Area (ERA) priorities, the group focuses on:

Collaborative synergy: Strengthening interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral research collaborations, ensuring alignment with ERA’s strategic framework on research integrity, security, and AI in research.

Strategic policy advocacy: Assisting the Executive Board in shaping research policy, crafting position papers on European Research Policy, and engaging with other stakeholders. This aligns with ERA’s focus on inclusive and sustainable research environments, open science, and research security.

Best practice & experience sharing: Hosting experts and knowledge-sharing events on research management, funding, and policy, aligning with ERA’s knowledge valorisation and excellence agenda.

Facilitating knowledge exchange: Promoting mobility of research support staff to enhance collaboration and expertise sharing across European institutions, contributing to research careers and mobility objectives of ERA.

Priorities for 2025-2026

• Exploring Generative AI in Research Management – Understanding AI-driven tools for enhancing productivity, in line with ERA’s focus on AI in science and research assessment reform.
• Best Practice in Research Support within European University Alliances – Strengthening international research competitiveness and collaboration.
• Synergies between Education and Research – Enhancing the integration of teaching and research for societal impact and excellence.
• Enhancing Research Resilience & Crisis Management – Developing strategies for research continuity, aligned with ERA’s research security framework.
• Research Integrity and Ethics – Supporting ethical research practices and integrity in response to evolving challenges in the research landscape.

Recent highlights since June 2024

• March 2025, RSO WG study trip to Brussels
  • Purpose: Engage with key EU institutions to enhance RSOs’ strategic knowledge and collaboration.
  • Meetings with EU institutions: Discussions with the ERC Executive Agency, DG EAC’s MSCA Unit, and DG RTD on research funding, evaluation, and future framework programmes.
  • Networking & strategy development: Exchange with the Austrian Liaison Office and UiB Brussels Office on stakeholders’ communication and collaboration.
• November 2024, RSO WG meeting at the University Coimbra
  • Focused on generative AI in proposal development and general research support work.
  • Key topics included:
    • Presentation on Responsible AI Use in Research by the University of Bologna’s ARIC – Research Division’s approach.
    • Hands-on showcase on how AI tools are being integrated into everyday office work and proposal writing.
    • Discussions on AI in research support, including:
      • A repository of AI-related events.A list of common-use AI tools for research support.
      • A list of common-use AI tools for research support.
      • Further investigation into AI’s role in research support.

Ongoing / Forthcoming activities 2025-2026

• Online RSO WG meetings every two months, sharing best practices on various topics and the latest EU policy developments. Several topics have already been identified:
  • Best practices on Gender & Research – sharing insights on promoting gender equality and inclusive research environments
  • RM Framework practices – exploring how we are approaching this and the possible implementation of the RM Framework
  • ResearchComp – how do you implement this with your HR services, and how sustainable is it?
  • Progress in the use of generative AI in daily work
  • Research security and dual-use of results
  • Exchange of knowledge on how we are working with audits – can audits influence the financial services of the university?
• Discussion on the first Work Programme for FP10 (2026) – providing input to shape future European funding priorities.
• Exploring funding opportunities via COST.
• Regular RSO WG Spring meeting in Brussels with the European Commission.

Contact person at the CG Office: Stefania Parnici (parnici@coimbra-group.eu)

Latin America

Working Group

Chair: Omar Garcia

Professor García is a Hispanist, who studies both Latin America & Spain, and a Comparatist, a published, award-winning poet and a human rights activist. He joined TCD in January 2020 with the specific remit of developing Latin American Studies, and was at Queen Mary University of London from 1992 to 2020, where he was Professor of Hispanic Studies and Comparative Poetics (2010-20). He brings to the role over 33 years of experience in Higher Education at international level.

Vice Chair: Irene Pedreira

Irene Pedreira Romero is Director for International Projects and Networks at the Vice-Rectorate for Internationalization of the University of Granada (UGR) since June 2019. With over 25 years of experience in higher education, she specializes in EU-funded academic cooperation projects and multilateral networks. In this context, she manages the UGR’s participation in international academic projects focused on institutional cooperation, acting as the main contact for the administration, coordination, and overall management of these initiatives. She has extensive experience collaborating with universities in Latin America, participating in various academic mobility and capacity building projects, as well as training activities in the last two decades. She has given seminars on various aspects of the internationalisation of higher education at different universities in the region and is a member of the LAWG since 2020.

Working Group Focus

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 DG RTD, 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 2025-2026

• To elaborate and disseminate the call for papers for the second edition of the book “Why Latin America Matters” (link to first edition) 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 2025/beginning 2026.
• To enable a platform for exchange with similar networks in the region (focusing on CLACSO and AUGM), in order to develop joint activities with a concrete impact in shaping the research and education EU-LAC collaborative landscape.
  • We strive to organize a joint high-level event in collaboration with CLACSO (end of 2025 in Brussels). Its main focus is to set up a co-created cooperation agenda that will enhance the potential of EU-LAC cooperation bridging different initiatives in both regions (e.g. Global Gateway, new EU R&I framework programme etc.)
• 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.
  • The CG Durham Declaration offers a broad and inclusive framework aligned to the objectives of EU-LAC cooperation. We will henceforth focus on finding an appropriate funding scheme to implement the principles of the declaration in cooperation with partners in the region.

Recent highlights since June 2024

• Following up on the LA WG participation at the CLACSO conference in 2023 and initial conversations during CG high level event in Montevideo, Uruguay, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Coimbra Group and CLACSO in August 2024.
• Together with the Global Partnerships and Cultural Heritage WGs we organized a first workshop on “Decolonizing the university”,with support from CG WGs funding scheme. The core idea of the workshop was to share experiences of researchers who have built solid research/teaching experiences with non-European realities based on intercultural and collaborative principles in order to enhance added value and good practices.
• Development of an Erasmus+ funding application submitted in February 2025 under the title INCAS (‘INstruments to Connect Academia to Society’).

Ongoing/forthcoming activities 2025-2026

• Cooperate in an international, interdisciplinary and multi-actors event organized around the celebration of Coimbra Group 40^th anniversary, both in Europe and Latin America (around the upcoming COP 2025 in Brazil).
• LA WG event in Brussels, Autumn 2025. This event aspires to highlight the spirit, and crucial importance, of intellectual independence in securing the traditional role of universities as knowledge-based influencers on public policy. The event will join academics, researchers, and policymakers from Europe and Latin America fortifying partnerships based on the fundamental principles of academic freedom that have long defined university traditions in both regions. Eyed outcome: two (thematic) policy briefs on academic freedom as a prerequisite for being able to provide sound and reliable research on global challenges important for Latin America, the Caribbean (LAC) and Europe. The policy briefs will be submitted to the EU Commission/EEAS before the high-level EU-CELAC meeting.
• Develop a funding application, in either education or research, under the framework of relevant European Commission programmes (e.g. Erasmus+, Horizon Europe, etc.)
• 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.
• Continue to engage with EU-LAC Foundation and the Academic Forum of the Permanent Academic Forum between Latin America and the European Union – FAP ALC-UE (and other relevant networks), through participation at key events and collaboration in the development of concept notes and supporting documentation for international organisations and governments in both regions.
• Foster ties, and explore possibilities for formal cooperation agreements, with central European actors in LAC such as Fundación Carolina, DAAD, SEGIB, CALAS and others.
• Elaborate and disseminate the call for papers for the 2^nd edition of the book “Why Latin America Matters” (potentially in cooperation with CLACSO). We aim at having a final draft ready for publishing in the beginning of 2025.
• Explore the possibility of organizing a second CG 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 2022under the title “Strengthening academic collaboration between Latin America and Europe”).

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

Doctoral Studies

Working Group

Chair: Adriana Zait

Adriana Zait is professor and director of the Doctoral School of Economics and Business Administration from University Alexandru Ioan Cuza of Iaşi. 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 the 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.

Working Group Focus

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 Coimbra Group Universities and corresponding European University Alliances in the organization of doctoral programmes and support of early research careers. We assist Coimbra Group 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 2025-2026

• International collaboration and mobility in doctoral education and research, fostering debates and initiatives for joint programmes, cotutelles, best practices exchanges.
• Participation in research and education projects.
• Reaching out to other Coimbra Group WGs for tackling together common interest topics
• 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,
  • reflecting on challenges and trends.

Recent highlights since June 2024

• DS WG online meetings in November 2024 and March 2025, to discuss previous outcomes, as well as priorities and future activities.
• DS WG presentation “Doctoral thresholds – could our data predict the abandon rate?”, EUA-CDE Annual Meeting, 26-28 June 2024, Barcelona.
• Internal analysis on European University Alliances best practices, challenges and future intentions regarding doctoral education and research. Synthesis prepared for the CG Annual Conference in June 2025, Bologna.
• DS WG poster “Doctoral education and Climate action – challenges and solutions” for the Coimbra Group Climate Symposium, Durham, 24-26 March 2025.
• Discussions with Eurodoc and EDEN for fostering common activities in the interest of doctoral students and early research careers.
• Preparing the Coimbra Group 3MT Competition Live Final, 12 June 2025, University of Bologna.
• Joint meeting with the Coimbra Group Employability WG during the 2025 Annual Conference, University of Bologna, 11 June 2025.

Ongoing/forthcoming activities 2025-2026

• Important milestones for higher education and doctoral studies, from the creation of Coimbra Group Universities until now – highlighting the DS WG evolution, June 2025.
• Supporting researchers’ careers: “Round table discussion – After the PhD”, with the participation of CG Universities early career researchers, October 2025.
• Contributing to the coordination committee in charge of developing the initiative to designate 13 May as European Doctoral Day
• Revisiting the Coimbra Group experiences and member universities mechanisms for joint degrees /cotutelles, end of 2025.
• Publication of updated results/report from the doctoral supervision work stream, end of 2026.

Contact person at the CG Office: Stefania Parnici (parnici@coimbra-group.eu)

Education Innovation

Working Group

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.

Vice-Chair: Vanessa Vigano

Vanessa Vigano is a Digital Educationalist at the University of Montpellier, where she leads the EdTech and AI work package for the CHARM-EU European University Alliance. She specializes in hybrid and international course design, with a strong focus on challenge-based learning. Her work includes supporting teaching staff across Europe, coordinating the development of hybrid classrooms, and improving virtual learning environments. With a background in communication, UX research, and IT accessibility, she brings a user-centred and inclusive approach to educational innovation.

Working Group Focus

This Working Group aims to share best practices in pedagogy across various domains, learning spaces, internationalisation 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. The internationalisation of the curriculum involves infusing global perspectives, cultural competencies, and international experiences into the academic programme. We work also on blended mobility and internationalisation at home as possibilities to expand the international aspect of studies.

The WG will focus its upcoming strategic initiatives on advancing technology-enhanced teaching and learning across multiple domains. Central to this effort is the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into educational practices, while simultaneously developing robust digital literacy programmes that prepare students to navigate an increasingly complex information landscape. We will also work on learning analytics to discuss about student engagement and performance. And the last axis of the work will consider ongoing professional development for educators to deal with those new digital tools.

Priorities for 2025-2026

• Survey on Generative AI in Coimbra Group Universities, production of a white paper.
• Gather information regarding technology enhanced teaching and learning among Coimbra Group Universities.
• Continue the work on AI in Higher Education with the inter-WG on AI.

Recent highlights since June 2024

• Webinar “AI Transforming Teaching in Higher Education. The UNESCO Frameworks” with  Francesc Pedró, Director of UNESCO IHELAC, 24 April 2025 (link to replay).
• Seminar on Digital Literacy at Durham University, 4 April 2025.
• CG High Level Policy Seminar on Education Policy “(Generative) AI in Higher Education”, with a project exhibition on Artificial Intelligence, 21-22 November 2024, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iași.
• Launch of the Inter-Working Groups on AI in Higher Education.
• WG meeting at the Coimbra Group Annual Conference and General Assembly, 10 June 2025, University of Bologna.

Ongoing/forthcoming activities 2025-2026

• WG online meeting in the fall 2025 to define the WG priorities for the next years.
• Continuation of the activity of the inter-WG on AI.
• WG meeting and inter-Working Groups meetings during the Coimbra Group Annual Conference and General Assembly, University of Granada, June 2026.
• CG High Level Policy Seminar on Education, 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.

Working Group Focus

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics are disciplines that have long been at the heart of societal progress and innovation. Through research, education, and public engagement, they remain a pillar of modernisation and progress.

Our Working Group aims to highlight the role of Coimbra Group universities in fostering several STEM fields. We explore how each of our institutions addresses key dimensions, such as excellence and innovation in research, science communication, collaboration, inclusiveness, interdisciplinarity, and the integration of emerging technologies.

Priorities for 2026 – 2029

• Good practices in science communication: To attract younger generations to STEM fields, effective science communication initiatives are of paramount importance. The decision to pursue science often begins at a very young age, highlighting the need for activities that spark curiosity and fascination. At the same time, the several layers and inherent complexities of STEM disciplines require clear and engaging explanations to reach a broader audience and highlight the significance of key scientific results. Our goal is to identify and analyse the activities implemented by the Coimbra Group universities represented in our Working Group to facilitate access to STEM, with a focus on both national and local initiatives. The analysis will eventually be summarised into a dedicated compendium.
• Research assessment in STEM disciplines: The principles promoted by the Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment (CoARA), of which the Coimbra Group and several of its member universities are part, have set the direction for transforming how research is evaluated and funded. These changes will continue shaping the future recruitment and promotion of researchers and academics across Europe. It is crucial to share best practices in STEM disciplines currently implemented by Coimbra Group universities to enhance research quality, uphold scientific integrity, and strengthen societal engagement. These reforms are also redefining the role of quantitative metrics such as the h-index, citation counts and journal impact factors. Our objective is to continue gathering insights on key innovations and future trends in research assessment, building on the outcomes of the STEM WG workshop hosted by UCLouvain in November 2025.
• Women in STEM: There is a persistent underrepresentation of women in STEM fields, particularly at PhD, postdoctoral and academic levels. The STEM WG aims to conduct an analysis (via interviews or online surveys) at Master’s, PhD, and postdoc levels to better understand the expectations and main difficulties faced by early-stage female researchers in STEM . This project could be developed in collaboration with other WGs, such as Doctoral Studies and Equality and Diversity. Furthermore, the WG aims to gather testimonials from successful STEM female researchers to serve as inspiring role models.
• New teaching & learning methodologies in STEM: STEM disciplines suffer from a low number of new students, as well as significant dropout rates. Innovation and new teaching methodologies in STEM (such as active learning) can help counter this trend by enhancing students’ learning experiences. We aim to identify and discuss which innovative and active learning practices are implemented within each CG university in STEM disciplines. In addition, significant attention will be given to exploring the integration of teaching methodologies in the context of the rise of artificial intelligence, examining both its positive and negative impacts on students.

Recent highlights since September 2025

• Organisation of the workshop “The Reform of Research Assessment” (UCLouvain, 20 November 2025), focusing on CoARA’s principles, with the participation of the CoARA Chair, Prof. Henk Kummeling.

Ongoing / Forthcoming activities 2026 – 2027

• Good practices in science communication:
  • restart of data collection within the CG on good practice of initiatives aimed at encouraging and attracting young people to STEM fields.
  • drafting of a questionnaire (to be reviewed during CG Annual Meeting 2026 in Granada) focusing on key aspects, to be formally submitted afterward.
  • final data collection and review with members expected around autumn 2026.
  • beginning of the compendium writing.
• Women in STEM: interviews with female Master’s students, PhD candidates and postdoctoral researchers to gather insights into their role models in science, their expectations for the future, and the main challenges they have faced in the early stages of their careers.
• New teaching & learning methodologies in STEM: organisation of several talks throughout autumn 2026 and spring 2027 on the impact of AI in teaching and education.

Forthcoming activities 2027 – 2029

• Finalisation and publication of the compendium on good practices in attracting young people to STEM fields.
• Organisation of a one-day workshop or a series of talks to further explore the implications of research assessment reforms, following the 2025 workshop.

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.

Working Group Focus

We are living in fast-paced, dynamic, and uncertain times where economic, societal, environmental 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 grow sustainably.

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 EmployabilityWG of the Coimbra Group aims to:

• Improve the visibility and recognition of the value of careers and employability services across Coimbra Group 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.
• Explore how Coimbra Group universities can support initiatives under the EU’s Union of Skills.
• Develop careers and employability initiatives to support Coimbra Group’s Durham Declaration on Climate Change and Sustainability.

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 for the benefit of our students.

Priorities for 2025-2026

• Increase our awareness and understanding of micro-credentials and the opportunities they present for careers, employability, and skills development within Coimbra Group universities.
• Drive understanding of key future skills and labour market trends across careers and academic staff and how we can support students to build their capability in key skills areas.
• 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
• Explore how AI can influence and enhance our service delivery and how we work.
• Increase awareness of the value and relevance of careers and employability services in Coimbra Group universities through publications, workshops, and increased collaboration with other Coimbra Group Working Groups.

Recent highlights since June 2024

• Response to the European Commission’s Call for Evidence for an EU Quality Jobs Roadmap.
• Publication of a position paper on AI and Digital Competence through Higher Education.Completion of the WG Situational Analysis Report on employability and careers services across Coimbra Group universities for publication in Q2 2025.
  • Research overview and recommendations on Skills for the Future of Work.
• Delivery of a successful professional training workshop on Future Skills on 27 and 28 November 2024 at Trinity College Dublin, attended by 16 CG universities, with support from the Coimbra Group WGs Funding Scheme
• EMP WG member (Katrine Moland Hansen, University of Bergen) selected as Co-Coordinator of CG inter-WG cooperation on AI.
• 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).

Ongoing/forthcoming activities 2025-2026

• Plan a joint workshop focussing on careers and employability services support for PhD students in collaboration with the Doctoral Studies Working Group.
• Develop a Future Skills toolbox of resources, materials, and guides for use in training sessions with students to include green and digital skills.
• Map involvement and experiences on micro-credentials across Employability WG members including recommendations for the future.
• Develop new strategies / exchange practices on supporting students with disabilities.
• Development of a good practice framework for Career Services for working with academics and supporting academic-enterprise engagement, e.g., work-based learning.
• Advance work of the Student Engagement and AI Subgroups to deliver on planned objectives.
• Collaborate with the Academic Exchange and Mobility WG to clearly identify and articulate the skills that can be gained through exchange and how these contribute to students’ employability.
• Develop strategies / exchange practices on supporting international students to transition into national and European labour markets.

Contact person at the CG Office: Ester Zangrandi (zangrandi@coimbra-group.eu)

Social Sciences & Humanities

Working Group

Chair: Ilaria Poggiolini

Ilaria Poggiolini is Chair Professor of International History and former Pro-Chancellor for International Relations at the University of Pavia. She is a member of the teaching staff of the University’s Doctorate Programme in History and of the Committee for the publication of Italian Diplomatic Documents (Italian MFA, Rome) and Associate of Italian Studies at Oxford. She is WP Co-Leader for the EC2U Aliance. She has recently published a book reassessing the history of Britain in and out of the EC/EU. She teaches in Italian and in English: History of International Relations, European integration and Public Diplomacy.

Vice Chair: Balázs Apor

Dr Balázs Apor is associate professor in European Studies in the School of Languages, Literatures and Cultural Studies at Trinity College Dublin. His research interests include the Sovietisation of Eastern Europe after World War II and the cultic veneration of communist leaders. Most recently, his work focuses on the legacies of communism and cultural forms of opposition in post-communist Hungary. He is founder and Director of the Trinity Centre for Resistance Studies at Trinity College Dublin.

Working Group Focus

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. Its primary objective will be to support the SSH research initiatives of member universities. To achieve this, the WG will organize multidisciplinary seminars, roundtables and conferences on key themes—such as the role of AI and languages in research—related to the future of SSH disciplines in the context of pressing social challenges. The WG aims to participate in policy-related debates at European level with the aim of bringing together the contributions of member universities and provoke fresh debates about the value of our disciplines..

Priorities for 2025-2026

• Organise academic events on key topics relevant to the network..
• Exploring future inter-European University Alliances activities.
• Discuss pressing issues concerning the current state and future of the SSH in Europe.
• Gaining a deeper understanding of local challenges faced by CG Universities.
• Engage actively in the European policy and research debates on SSH.
• Highlight Europe’s potential to be a safe hub for SSH and foster connections with non-EU partners.

Recent highlights since June 2024

• Call for papers (link) and organisation of Inter- European Universities Alliances Conference “Debating Transnational Solidarity. Multidisciplinary interpretations and projections on future scenarios“, 19-20 March 2025, University of Pavia.
• Call for papers (link) and organisation of International Conference “Old Cities, Former Capitals and the Nation-State Building in Europe (18th-20th centuries): regional and national identities”, 19-21 November 2024, Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iași.
• Call for Papers on “AI currents and European Universities” (link), September 2024.

Ongoing/forthcoming activities 2025-2026

• Participate in the CoARA WG “Evaluating SSH research globally”.
• Explore opportunities for collaboration with the European Alliance for Social Sciences and Humanities (EASSH).
• Prepare an event focusing on the use of languages in scholarship in SSH disciplines. 
• Develop the concept of “SSH WG Roadshow” discussions and organise the first event in spring 2026.
• Continue active participation in Coimbra Group’s inter-WG group on AI.

Contact person at the CG Office: Stefania Parnici (parnici@coimbra-group.eu)