The visual shows at the left a text saying "Empowering Students for a Sustainable Future, coimbra group". At the right there is a picture of seven ESNer volunteers that went there
Wednesday, 5 November, 2025 - 14:46

ESN at the Coimbra Group Annual Conference and General Assembly 2025

From 11 to 13 June 2025, the Erasmus Student Network participated in the Coimbra Group Annual Conference and General Assembly 2025, hosted by University of Bologna in Italy. The event brought together staff and students from the Coimbra Group’s member universities to celebrate forty years of achievements and to design the future path towards sustainability, inclusion and global engagement under the theme “Forty Years of Impact: Universities and Cities Shaping a Sustainable Future”.

Within the walls of the oldest university in Europe, sustainability emerged as one of the central pillars of the gathering. Months after the adoption of the Durham Declaration on Climate Change and Sustainability, member universities reaffirmed their commitment to embedding sustainability in all areas of academic life. They presented a roadmap to transform these commitments into tangible actions, placing environmental issues at the core of the Coimbra Group’s mission moving forward.
Notably, one of the key points raised during the session “From Durham to Bologna; the Durham Declaration on Climate Change and Sustainability” came from a student of Durham University -  young people coming through universities are ambitious when it comes to climate change and through their engagement, want to be an active part of the solution.

The event, marking the 40th anniversary of Europe’s oldest university network, also addressed many of the current trends shaping the European higher education landscape, including the European Universities Initiative. During its Open Session on the European Universities Alliances, the Coimbra Group focused on how the Alliances involving Coimbra Group universities are addressing their role as drivers of societal change in their local communities.
Representatives from eight different Alliances showcased initiatives illustrating how they have approached social responsibility within their networks. They shared the impact these projects have had, as well as the challenges encountered in their implementation. These presentations shed light on how universities are not only centres of education and research but also key actors in shaping social, economic and environmental development in their regions.
The session was concluded by Susanne Conze, Head of Unit for Higher Education at the European Commission, who highlighted the crucial role that universities play as agents of societal transformation.

A highlight of the conference for the Erasmus Student Network was the dedicated session “Erasmus Student Network Meeting with the Coimbra Group Universities”, which brought together ESN volunteers from Coimbra Group universities and members of the Coimbra Group’s Academic Exchange and Mobility Working Group. The session provided a creative platform to deepen the partnership between the two organisations and to explore practical ways to improve support for international students.
The meeting began with presentations on the Durham Declaration on Climate Change and Sustainability, key findings from the 15th edition of the ESNsurvey and ESN’s ongoing work to improve student integration and inclusion through welcome activities and peer support. These insights set the stage for an engaging interactive segment where participants broke into smaller groups to discuss collaboration at the local level, share best practices and identify joint initiatives that could strengthen student mobility and engagement.
The discussions highlighted the shared commitment of both ESN and the Coimbra Group to creating more inclusive, sustainable and student-centred mobility experiences. Participants clarified mutual expectations, examined ways to align their efforts and explored new opportunities for cooperation - such as joint projects, increased civic engagement and the promotion of sustainable mobility choices.

Another key moment of the conference was the session “Is Your University Truly Inclusive and International?”, organised in the framework of the EUNIVERSE project, in which the Erasmus Student Network partners with the Coimbra Group and several leading universities across Europe. The session sparked an open and sometimes provocative dialogue on the need for universities to reflect on their own structures, values and approaches to inclusion and internationalisation.
The EUNIVERSE project, coordinated by the University of Poitiers, seeks to make higher education institutions more inclusive, globally connected and socially responsible. By integrating European values and civic engagement into challenge-based learning activities, EUNIVERSE empowers students to play an active role in shaping their campus environments. 

The Coimbra Group Annual Conference and General Assembly in Bologna was not only an occasion for discussions and collaboration but also a moment of celebration and renewal for the network itself. The General Assembly formally welcomed three new members: the University of Leeds and Newcastle University from the United Kingdom and the University of Wrocław from Poland. With these additions, the Coimbra Group has expanded its membership to 42 universities, further strengthening its diversity, global reach and shared commitment to inclusive, research-led and socially engaged higher education.

With new members, renewed governance and a clear commitment to shaping a sustainable and inclusive future, the Coimbra Group leaves Bologna energised and ready for the next chapter of its 40-year journey!

A delegation of ESN volunteers from across our Network was also a part of the conference: