Programme

TUESDAY

JUNE

2026

Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud – PTS

10:30 – 13:00 h | Meeting of the Coimbra Group Executive Board (EB members only)

Sala Juntas Facultad Ciencias Salud

13:30 – 14:30 h | Registration and welcome coffee

14:30 – 17:00 h | Working Groups meetings – Parallel sessions (12 WGs)

Academic Exchange and Mobility Working Group
Doctoral Studies Working Group
Education Innovation Working Group
Employability Working Group
Equality and Diversity Working Group
Global Partnerships Working Group
Heritage Working Group
Latin America Working Group
Life Sciences Working Group
Research Support Officers Working Group
Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Working Group
Social Sciences and Humanities Working Group

17:00 – 18:00 h | Paralell sessions

Open thematic session A: Launch of the book “Why EDI Matters: Equ(al)ity, Diversity and Inclusion in European Universities”
Organised by the Equality and Diversity WG
Open thematic session B: “Interconnecting knowledge: intercultural communication, shared civic values and global mobility”
Organised by the EUniverse Erasmus+ project, together with the Global Partnerships, Latin America, and Academic Exchange & Mobility Working Groups

This open session will explore how intercultural communication, shared civic values and student agency can strengthen global mobility. Through concrete tools and experiences, the session will examine how values-based approaches to mobility can support responsible internationalisation, foster belonging, and contribute to more equitable and sustainable partnerships across regions. The session is open to all and organised by the EUniverse Erasmus+ project, together with the Global Partnerships, Latin America, and Academic Exchange & Mobility Working Groups.
Doctoral Studies WG meeting (continued)
Education Innovation WG meeting (continued)
Employability WG meeting (continued)
Heritage WG meeting (continued)
Life Sciences WG meeting (continued)
Research Support Officers WG meeting (continued)
Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics WG meeting (continued)

18:00 h | End of the day

WEDNESDAY

JUNE

2026

Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud – PTS

08:30 – 11:00 h | Registration and welcome coffee

09:00 – 10:30 h | Meeting of the Coimbra Group Executive Board, Coimbra Group Representatives and Working Group Chairs and Vice-Chairs (1st part)

Sala Juntas Facultad Ciencias de la Salud

11:00 – 13:30 h | Working Groups meetings – Parallel sessions (12 WGs)

Academic Exchange and Mobility Working Group
Doctoral Studies Working Group
Education Innovation Working Group
Employability Working Group
Equality and Diversity Working Group
Global Partnerships Working Group
Heritage Working Group
Latin America Working Group
Life Sciences Working Group
Research Support Officers Working Group
Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Working Group
Social Sciences and Humanities Working Group

13:30 – 15:00 h | Lunch

15:00 – 16:00 h | Inter-Working Group meetings – Parallel sessions

Open thematic session A: “EU values shaping inclusive international universities – practical resources and tools from the EUniverse project”
Organised by the Academic Exchange & Mobility and Equality & Diversity Working Groups, together with the EUniverse Erasmus+ project
How can EU values help address challenges in equality, diversity and international student mobility? This open session explores concrete responses developed within the EUniverse project, connecting shared challenges identified by the Working Groups with practical tools that foster inclusion, belonging and civic engagement across our international CG universities and beyond. The session is open to all and organised by the Academic Exchange & Mobility and Equality & Diversity Working Groups, together with the EUniverse Erasmus+ project.
Open thematic session B: “The Africa Charter and university colonial heritage: opportunities for dialogue and learning”
Organised by the Global Partnerships and Heritage Working Groups
This session will contribute to developing the postcolonial approach to dialogue between Africa and Europe and will give opportunities for learning. It will look back to what was done in the past with a focus on dissonant and colonial university heritage and put this in the context of recent forward-looking initiatives and projects. Selected case studies will be presented, linking work on heritage-related projects from a postcolonial perspective to the Africa Charter, encouraging the development of diverse approaches to anticolonial practice. The outcomes of this dialogue will contribute to a practical toolkit to support better communication practices between Africa and Europe. The session is open to all and organised by the Global Partnerships and Heritage and Working Groups.
Open thematic session C: “The future of Social Sciences and Humanities”
Organised by the SSH Working Group
Designed as a collaborative brainstorming space, this session invites CG members to bring to the table ideas and share insights gathered from their institutions to generate concrete proposals for strategies and projects that can strengthen research, teaching, and advocacy in SSH. We hope for an open and forward-looking, productive conversation on how the SSH disciplines can proactively assert their relevance and take the lead in deepening the conversation on and understanding of a changing academic, political and societal landscape. The session is open to all and organised by the SSH Working Group.
Inter-Working Group on Artificial Intelligence meeting (attendance restricted to WG members appointed by their respective WG Chair)
Doctoral Studies WG meeting (continued)
Research Support Officers WG meeting (continued)

16:30 – 17:30 h | Meeting of the Coimbra Group Executive Board, Coimbra Group Representatives and Working Group Chairs and Vice- Chairs (2nd part)

Sala Juntas Facultad Ciencias de la Salud

21:00 h | Evening reception

Palacio de los Cordova

THURSDAY

JUNE

2026

Public Conference – Conference Hall Paraninfo PTS

08:30 – 09:00 h | Registration desk opens

09:00 – 09:30 h | Opening speeches

09:30 – 10:25 h | Session I – Keynote speech: Universities, Science and Territories: Building Shared Futures

Beth Simone Noveck – Keynote Speaker.

Beth Simone Noveck is the author of Reboot: AI and the Race to Save Democracy (Yale University Press, 2026). A professor at Northeastern University, where she directs The Burnes Center for Social Change and The Governance Lab, her work focuses on “Democratic AI”or how to apply AI to strengthen democratic institutions and improve government performance. She previously served in the White House, 10 Downing Street, and the German Chancellery, and founded the White House Open Government Initiative. She leads InnovateUS, which supports free public sector learning and the Observatory of Public Sector AI, and AI for Impact, which designs and deploys AI tools to improve public outcomes. Read more about Beth here and by her here.

10:25 – 10:45 h | Group photo

10:45 – 11:15 h | Coffee break

11:15 – 12:15 h | Session II – Social agents of transformation

Iñigo Arbiol Oñate – United Nations Level

Iñigo Arbiol Oñate is Deputy Director of the Secretariat of the United Nations Local2030 Coalition, a UN system platform that drives the localization of the Sustainable Development Goals through partnerships between governments, international institutions, youth, the private sector, academia, and civil society. Holding a PhD from the University of Deusto, he specializes in international relations and global governance. He has also served as an advisor on sustainable development to the Presidency of the Basque Government and to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Government of Spain.
LinkedIn: Iñigo Arbiol Oñate | LinkedIn
More info: https://www.local2030.org
Hugo Almeida – European Level

Hugo Almeida is Deputy Head of Unit for Rural Areas and Networks (DG AGRI) at the European Commission. He plays a key role in shaping EU initiatives related to agricultural innovation, rural development, and the EU CAP Network, promoting knowledge exchange across Europe.
Carlos Torrecilla Salinas – European Joint Research Centre (JRC)

Carlos Torrecilla Salinas is Head of the “Digital Economy” / “Innovation Policies and Economic Impact” Unit at the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre. With a background in physics, engineering and software engineering, he has over 15 years of experience in digital technologies and innovation policy within the EU.
More info: Carlos Torrecilla Salinas – AI Watch – European Commission
LinkedIn: Carlos Torrecilla Salinas | LinkedIn
Ana Elorza Moreno – National Level (Spain)

Ana Elorza is Strategic Projects Director at the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (FECYT). A scientist and expert in science diplomacy, she works at the interface between science and public policy, contributing to EU science diplomacy agendas and coordinating Spain’s Science & Technology Office at the Congress of Deputies.
More info: Organización | Fecyt
José Mateos Moreno – Regional/Local Level (Provincial Council of Granada-Diputación de Granada)

José Mateos Moreno is Director General for Employment and Sustainable Development at the Provincial Council of Granada (Diputación de Granada). An agronomist with extensive experience in EU-funded territorial development projects, he has led provincial initiatives on sustainability, local development, and rural‑urban integration. He plays a key role in the Impronta Granada initiative, a strategic alliance between the University of Granada and the Diputación focused on territorial development and innovation, contributing to sessions and collaborative activities that highlight the province’s social and economic transformation.
More info: Home – Impronta Granada
LinkedIn: José Mateos Moreno | LinkedIn

12:15 – 13:20 h | Session III – Best Practices from Coimbra Group Universities: Research & Innovation Driving Territorial Transformation

13:20 – 14:30 h | Lunch

14:30 – 15:00 h | 3 Minute Thesis (3MT) 10th Competition live final

15:00 – 16:00 h | Session IV – Best Practices from European University Alliances: Research & Innovation for Territorial Transformation

16:00 – 16:15 h | 3 Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition results announcement

16:15 – 16:30 h | Signing of the Poitiers-Granada Declaration

16:30 – 16:40 h | Closing Remarks

19:00 – 21:00 h | Closed Rectors’ Meeting

Hospital Real

19:00 – 21:00 h | Meeting of Erasmus Student Network local sections with Coimbra Group universities: From dialogue to action: Strengthening ESN-University collaboration for inclusive student mobility

21:00 h | Gala dinner