Coimbra Group Annual Conference 2024

Coimbra Group Executive Board Meeting

Location: The Main Building of the University of Turku  (Yliopistonmäki, 20014 University Hill, please follow the signs)

>>Join virtual Campus Tour before the visit

Meeting Room: Joutsen & Oterma. All times local time.

14:00–18:00 Executive Board Meeting

Meeting of the Coimbra Group Executive Board, Coimbra Group Representatives and Working Group Chairs, Working Group meetings, Working Group meetings or workshops/ Inter-working group meetings

Location: Arken  (Tehtaankatu 2,please follow the signs) 

>>Map of Arken

All times local time. If you have luggage with you, please inform the registration desk. Your luggage will be stored in Arken in a locked room.

8:00 The registration desk opens. 

9:00–10:00 Meeting of the Coimbra Group Executive Board, Coimbra Group Representatives and Working Group Chairs Helikon (A202)

10:15–13:00 Working Groups meetings

13:00–14:00 LUNCH Kårkafé Arken

14:00–15:00 Working Groups meetings and group photo (there will be a group photo of each Working Group, one big group photo will be taken on 6 June in the Public Conference)

Parallel sessions (please choose one)

• 15:00–17:00 Working Groups meetings 

  Academic Exchange and Mobility (AEM) Working Group Meeting

  The Strand (B307)

• 15:00–17:00 Inter-Working Groups Meeting on Artificial Intelligence (1–2 participants/ WG, upon nomination by each WG) FULL! Location: Källan (C201)
• 15:00–17:00 “Decolonizing the University”, Inter-Working Groups Workshop (open to all) FULL! Location: Helicon (A202) also streamed to Voltaire (M127) and Saussure (M128) Download the material here 
• 15:00–17:00 "Good Practices in Science Communication", Inter-Working Groups Workshop (open to all) FULL! Location: Kramer (M220) also streamed to Jöns Budde (M218) Download the material here

17:15–18:15 Meeting of the Coimbra Group Executive Board, Coimbra Group Representatives and Working Group Chairs Location: Helicon (A202)

19–20:30 Evening Reception The City Hall (Aurakatu 2) (for those who have registered for the event)

Public Conference: Research and Education – Most Impactful Together

Location: Logomo (Junakatu 9), TEATRO Hall

>> How to reach Logomo

>> You can follow the online streaming through this link

All times local time. Please note that changes are possible.

8:00 The registration desk opens. 

9:00–12:00 Public Conference: Research and Education – Most Impactful Together

Moderated by Irinja Paakkanen, Head of International Affairs, the University of Turku and Harriet Klåvus, Head of International Cooperation, Åbo Akademi University

9:00–9:30 Opening of the Conference

Opening Speech by Rectors of the organising universities

Jukka Kola, Rector of the University of Turku

Mikael Lindfelt, Rector of Åbo Akademi University

Dance Performance by KDC Dancers

Video greeting by Iliana Ivanova, EU Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Education

9:30–10:00 Keynote speech: Jani Erola,  Professor, INVEST Research Flagship Centre

10:00–10:15 Commenting speech by Rector of Coimbra Group University

Toomas Asser, Rector of the University of Tartu 

10:15–10:30 Questions and discussion

10:30–11:00 Coffee break

11:00–12:00 Panel Session: Research and Education at the core of the knowledge factory

Moderated by Piia Björn, Vice Rector and Member of the Executive Board of the Coimbra Group

Bengt Kristensson Uggla, Professor in Philosophy, Culture & Management, Åbo Akademi University

Rector Roberto Di Pietra, University of Siena

Rector Giovanni Molari, University of Bologna

Tine Delva, Deputy Head of Unit, Higher Education, DG EAC, European Commission 

12:00 Group Photo

12:15–13:15 Lunch 

13:30–14:00 3 Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition Final, Moderator: Gunda Huskobla, member of the Doctoral Studies Working Group

14:00–15:00 Open Session on the European Universities Alliances: “Synergies between education and research: what can we learn from the Alliances?”

Moderated Emmanuelle Gardan, Office Director of Coimbra Group

• 4EU+ Alliance, Ladislav Krištoufek (Charles University)
• Arqus Alliance, Dorothy Kelly (University of Granada)
• CHARM-EU Alliance, Raúl Ramos Lobo (University of Barcelona)
• EC2U Alliance, Nicoleta Popa (University of Iaşi)
• ENLIGHT Alliance, Coco Norén (Uppsala University)
• Una Europa Alliance, Stanisław Kistryn (Jagiellonian University in Krakow)
• Vanessa Debiais-Sainton, Head of Unit, Higher Education, DG EAC, European Commission 
• Manuel Aleixo Head of Unit, ERA, Spreading Excellence and Research Careers, DG RTD, European Commission

15:00–15:30 3 Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition Results Announcement

3MT Jury spokesperson: Antonella Forlino, Pro Rector for Internationalisation, University of Pavia, and Coimbra Group Executive Board member

15:30–16:00 Coffee Break

16:00–18:00 Parallel Meetings

• Closed Rectors Meeting Meeting, Location: Meeting Room GOTO33  (upstairs)
• Working Groups Meeting Global Partnerships, Location: Meeting Room GOTO32 (upstairs)
• Working Groups Meetings Equality & Diversity, Location: TEATRO Hall

16:00–17:30

• The voluntary visit of the Heritage Working Group to the archaeology collection of the University of Turku, Location: Geotalo (Akatemiankatu 1, 20500 Turku)
• Erasmus Student Network Meeting with Coimbra Group Universities, Location: TEATRO Gallery

At 18.50, 19.00, 19.05, 19.10 bus transportation, departure point address: Kauppiaskatu 6, 20100 Turku (in front of Scandic hotel Hamburger Börs. The buses will also stop at Sokos hotel Seurahuone address: Eerikinkatu 23, 20100 Turku)

Please note that pre-registration for the Gala dinner is required as there is a limited number of seats available.

19:30 Welcome Cocktail (for those who have registered for the event)

20:00 Gala Dinner (for those who have registered for the event)

Location: Ruissalon Telakka, Lindblom Hall (Hevoskarintie 23)

Welcome speeches 

Mikael Lindfelt, Rector of Åbo Akademi University

Jani Vahto, Classic Boats Enthusiast and Specialist 

Jukka Kola, Rector of the University of Turku

Table service 

After Dinner DJ Kristian Lakari

Buses back to the centre leave from Lindblom Hall, Ruissalo starting at 23:00. 

There will be also bus pick up at 00:00 and 00:30.

It is also possible to return back to the city with public transportation at 22:11, 23:11 and 00:11 or taxi.  

>>Taxi+358 200 10041

>>Föli time table

General Assembly 

Location: Aurum Lecture Hall Argentum (Henrikinkatu 2, please follow the signs)

>> Map of Aurum

8:00 The registration desk opens.  If you have luggage with you, please inform the registration desk. Your luggage will be stored in Arken in a locked room.

9:00–11:00 General Assembly

11:15–11:45 Open Session – Inspiring examples of communities of practice in higher education in Turku/Åbo, 

Moderated by Marko Joas, Vice-rector for Collaboration, Åbo Akademi University

Ilari Sääksjärvi, Professor, Biodiversity Unit of the University of Turku

Gunilla Widén, Vice-rector for Education, Åbo Akademi University

(partly parallel: 11:15–12:15 Executive Board meeting)

12:00–13:00 Farewell Lunch: Kårkafé Arken (Tehtaankatu 2)

13:00 Cultural Programme (choose one)

Through each link you can read more information about the excursions.

Visit to the Cathedral (Guided tour at the Cathedral starts at 13:15)

Visit to Paimio Sanatorium (the Guided Tour starts at 13:45)

Visit to Kurjenrahka National Park (Walk around the Lake Savojärvi)

Buses to Paimio Sanatorium and Kurjenrahka leave at 13:15 in front of Arken (Tehtaankatu)

The buses will return to the city via Arken-Börs. Estimated times back in Turku Paimio Sanarium 16.00, Kurjenrahka National Park 18.30. If needed, you can leave your luggage to Arken and pick-up them on return. 

Cruise to Naantali with Steam Ship Ukko-Pekka

Meeting Point: Linnankatu 40

Please be by the pier by 10:45 to pick up the ticket from the organisers.

11:00–13:00 Cruise from Turku to Naantali, Guided tour in English (1h)

Free time in Naantali

You can read more about the cruise here

Returning back to Turku with Föli Bus (Public transportation) 

For sustainability reasons, we are not providing the programme and the meeting materials printed during the meetings and conference. All the public material will be added on this website. 

>>The full programme pdf (update on 3 June, please note that changes are possible)