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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+ Programme being a member of the Erasmus Without Paper (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.

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)