The Rector of the UT elected a member of the council of rectors of the Coimbra Group
On 13 June 2014, at the annual conference of the Coimbra Group, the Rector of the University of Tartu, Professor Volli Kalm, was elected a member of the council of rectors of the group.
The Coimbra Group has, at the European level, achieved over the years an esteemed status and evolved into an important discussion partner to the European Commission. The number of members of the network is not big and thus the organization is flexible, allowing for smooth co-operation between rectors, representatives of faculties and international departments. Among the members of the Coimbra Group are, among others, Europe’s oldest, best-known and most highly appraised universities of Edinburgh (England), Lyon (France), Leuven (Belgium), Barcelona (Spain) and also the oldest university in the world, the University of Bologna (Italy), which was founded in 1088.
The idea of the Coimbra Group dates back to 1985 when representatives of universities from twelve old university cities met at the leading university of Belgium, the Catholic University of Leuven. The purpose of the meeting was to develop and strengthen cultural, educational and scientific relations between universities.
The University of Tartu is the only Baltic university in the Coimbra Group, having joined the organization in 2003. Former rector of the University of Tartu, Alar Karis, was a member of the advisory council of rectors between 2009 and 2013. Former science vice-rector of the University of Tartu, Ain Heinaru, was elected in the management committee of the Coimbra Group in 2005 and participated in the work of the committee until 2013.
The annual conference of the Coimbra Group was held in the Netherlands, in Groeningen, which at the time also hosted the celebrations of the 400th anniversary of the University of Groeningen.
Additional information: Sirje Üprus, Head of International Protocol, liaison of the Coimbra Group in the University of Tartu, (+372) 737 5615, sirje.uprus [ät] ut.ee.