University and city strengthen their cooperation

Through the Poitiers-Granada Declaration on Collaboration between Universities and Cities , Europe’s leading universities with a rich tradition reaffirm and strengthen their commitment to working together with their cities and local communities for the well-being of society.

The declaration was officially presented during the closing session of the Coimbra Group’s 2026 Annual Conference and General Assembly at the University of Granada on 19 June 2026. The conference was held under the theme ‘Transforming the Local and Social Environment through Research and Innovation’.

Julius Maximilian University of Würzburg (JMU) and the City of Würzburg also signed the declaration, represented by University President Professor Paul Pauli and Lord Mayor Martin Heilig.

Professor Doris Fischer, Vice-President for Internationalisation and Alumni at JMU, welcomes the initiative: “By signing this declaration, the city and the university are reaffirming their strong and close collaboration. I am particularly pleased that the Coimbra Group is giving this collaboration international visibility through the declaration, whilst at the same time enabling us to exchange experiences and best practices with our Coimbra Group partners.”

Building on an earlier declaration

The Poitiers-Granada Declaration builds on the original Poitiers Declaration on the Collaboration between Coimbra Group Universities and Municipalities, which was adopted in June 2016 during the Coimbra Group’s annual conference hosted by the University of Poitiers (France).

Over the past ten years, the original declaration has developed into a recognised framework for structured collaboration between universities and their local socio-economic environment. It was signed by vice-chancellors and mayors in 21 European countries. Furthermore, in its 2020 publication *Towards a 2030 Vision on the Future of Universities in Europe*, the European Commission highlighted it as an inspiring example of how universities can institutionally embed their role in local research and innovation ecosystems.

Since 2016, collaboration between universities and cities has evolved significantly, both in terms of its scope and its ambitions. Alongside education, research and innovation, the focus today is increasingly on joint responses to challenges such as sustainability and climate action, democratic participation, digital transformation, equal opportunities, inclusion, social cohesion and regional development.

Against this backdrop, the Coimbra Group 2025 initiated a process to revise the Declaration. This was led by the Executive Board and the Rectors’ Advisory Group and implemented in close consultation with the chairs and vice-chairs of its twelve working groups.

A new vision for universities and cities

The Poitiers-Granada Declaration reaffirms the central role that universities and cities play in each other’s development, whilst setting out an updated and more inclusive framework for their cooperation.

The Declaration takes account of the diverse circumstances within the Coimbra Group and is therefore based on a broader understanding of the term ‘cities’. This refers to the comprehensive human, social and civic environments in which universities are rooted and operate – regardless of administrative boundaries.

The declaration is intended as an inspiring yet flexible framework for guidance. It aims to promote structured cooperation without losing sight of the respective local circumstances and priorities. The focus is on shared future goals and the further development of cooperation – not on the assessment of performance. It thus provides guidance on numerous areas of collaboration between universities and their local partners.

Particular attention has been paid to ensuring that the declaration is consistent with the Durham Declaration on Climate Change and Sustainability. This was adopted in March 2025 and signed by the vice-chancellors of all 42 member universities of the Coimbra Group.

The Coimbra Group

Founded in 1985, the Coimbra Group is an association of leading European universities. Its aim is to forge special academic and cultural links in order to promote internationalisation, academic cooperation, excellence in teaching and research, and service to society.

To this end, the 42 members rely on productive exchange amongst themselves. The University of Würzburg has been a member of the Coimbra Group since 2013.

During this year’s meeting, JMU was also officially announced as the host for 2027. President Paul Pauli extended the invitation and presented the university; Vice-President Doris Fischer introduced the theme of the conference: ‘ : Beyond Anxiety: Managing Global Collaboration of European Universities’