The JKU delegation was met by members from the picturesque city of Coimbra in Portugal.
JKU representatives Adriana Estrada and Maria Buchmayr focus primarily on sustainability in cities and communities and their recent visit to Coimbra also addressed the issue. Adriana Estrada remarked: "The issue of sustainability was a crucial point in exploring a partnership in the European Campus of City-Universities (EC²U) alliance, particularly with regard to the UN's Sustainable Development Goals which also include sustainable cities and communities."
Committing to the UN Sustainable Development Goals
Throughout the visit, the delegation discussed integrating a Master's degree program in Sustainable Cities and Communities within the JKU's academic portfolio. The program would provide students with the expertise and capability to address urban sustainability challenges while aligning with – and adhering to - the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
On top of these discussions and as part of Work Package No. 6, there is a growing interest across the EC2U to write a second book centered on sustainability issues. The publication seeks to feed into the scientific discourse and find hands-on solutions to build sustainable cities and communities. The EC²U Alliance published an initial book in 2023 titled "Cities and Communities across Europe: Governance design for a sustainable future".
The activities also included discussions with students to better understand their perspectives and roles in the EC²U Alliance. The Linz coordinators had the privilege of drawing on their experiences from last year's Student Week and had the opportunity to acquire valuable insight into their involvement and thoughts about future initiatives.
Connecting Universities and Cities
Along with the Vice-Rector at the University of Coimbra, local coordinators Diogo Goncalves and Filipe Rocha, and Silvia Silva warmly welcomed the JKU representatives. Their hospitality and assistance during the JKU visit were invaluable in learning more about the University of Coimbra’s initiatives and the city's rich history.
As part of their visit, Adriana Estrada and Maria Buchmayr also met with city councilwoman Joana Loureiro to discuss potential avenues of partnership and opportunities to strengthen collaboration in support of sustainable cities and communities. The talks proved important in encouraging a collaborative environment in support of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
The JKU team concluded its visit in Coimbra and looks forward to continuing partnerships and collaboration within the EC²U Alliance. Stay tuned for updates as we work towards fulfilling a common goal towards creating vibrant, sustainable cities and communities across Europe!
