It has been ten years since the Jagiellonian University became a member of the Coimbra Group, and thus one of only three universities (along with Prague and Budapest) from a formerly communist country. For us at the Jagiellonian University, membership of this prestigious organisation was not only a symbol of recognition of our belonging to mainstream academics in Europe, but also had an important practical value, by enabling the Jagiellonian University to participate in European projects and exchange schemes.

The Coimbra Group is an organisation consisting of 35 leading European universities. Among the criteria of membership, academic excellence and cultivation of great European university traditions come first.  Universities in the Coimbra Group are, as a rule, old and complete universities (complete in the sense of having at least most of the traditional university faculties, departments and disciplines, which excludes technical, medical and other “one-dimensional” schools). The criterion of age is of course relative, as in some parts of Europe an “old” university is a medieval institution, while in other European regions the development of higher education began much later.  Another criterion may seem to be rather unusual – the member universities are located in relatively small towns, as a rule not capital cities, and determine the character of their venues, making them university towns. There are a few exceptions to this rule—such as Dublin, Prague, and Budapest—but in general Coimbra Group members are located in nice, small towns, dominated by students and pleasant to live in.

When the Jagiellonian University became a member, the Coimbra Group was mainly preoccupied with student exchange networks. Erasmus and Tempus were just being developed, and ECTS was soon to become a major topic of discussion among European academic teachers. The new members greatly benefited from the opportunities created by the fact that they were part of a well-known and prestigious organisation. Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary benefited from a great deal of know-how in the field of university administration. The two largest Tempus projects granted at that time were won by consortia composed of Coimbra Group universities, both with the participation of the Jagiellonian University.

Today, while student exchange is still one of the most important concerns of the Group, there are also other important fields of co-operation and activity.  Student exchange is now taking new forms. Erasmus networks work very well, and ECTS has generally been introduced throughout Europe and has become a part of every-day academic life. The time has come to try more ambitious forms of exchange and co-operation, such as double degree agreements between two or more universities, and developing a European accreditation system. European-wide recognition of certificates, degrees, and academic as well as professional qualifications are essential prerequisites of the fulfilment of the most important of all European liberties – the free movement of people. This freedom will be meaningless and empty unless it is accompanied by recognition of qualifications. Coimbra Group, the oldest and one of the most influential European university networks, plays a leading role in the debate on these advanced forms of academic exchange. 

Research and academic staff exchange are also among the most important concerns of the Group, which acts as an academic lobby and keeps its members up to date with European projects which may be of interest to universities or which are specifically designed for them. The fact that Coimbra Group has an office in Brussels is an important asset, facilitating access to valuable sources of information. The office distributes current information among member universities, nowadays using electronic mail, and co-ordinates grant applications and other common activities.

Coimbra Group rectors and representatives meet once a year at a General Assembly, where most important discussions take place and decisions are taken. The last General Assembly took place a few days ago, from April 18 to April 21 in Bristol, UK. In between assemblies the Coimbra Group works through its Task Forces and Committees, coordinated by the elective Steering Committee.

For many years, the Task Force for co-operation with Central and Eastern European countries has been one of the most active and most successful. It initiated and co-ordinated many projects with universities of Central and Eastern Europe. A recent project that has already proven successful is the Coimbra Group Hospitality Scheme for young scholars from the Balkan non-accession countries (those not negotiating their membership in the EU). This scheme is modelled upon a well known Oxford and Cambridge hospitality scheme (both Oxford and Cambridge are Coimbra Group members).

Another very important task force deals with mobility programmes, involving both staff and student exchange, as well as double degrees, European degrees and accreditation. Quality control and evaluation procedures is currently a central, though very controversial, issue in the European academic world. It has also become an important concern in Polish academia. The Coimbra Group is an active participant in these discussions, serving as a European “think tank” by offering advice and expertise, and devising programmes for its members. The principle adopted by the Coimbra Group to wave tuition fees for exchange students helps to build and maintain student exchange networks and promotes integration among the Group’s member universities.

There are also smaller, but still very productive, initiatives. Coimbra Group Lectures are given at member universities by prominent academics from other member universities; they are important and prestigious intellectual events, attracting much public attention. Still another task force works on continuing education and life-long learning. There are also task forces whose aim is to establish links between Coimbra Group members and universities outside Europe, such as in Africa, the Caribbean and Pacific, Latin America and the Mediterranean area. Over the years these task forces have undertaken out many fruitful projects, helping partner universities and promoting European academic traditions and achievements. Coimbra Group committees also reflect upon such important issues as European culture and identity and new technologies in education. In general, task forces and committees, reporting regularly to member universities and co-ordinated by the Steering Committee, are created to deal with specific problems and processes relevant to the European academic world.

Sometimes there are special events that are celebrated together by Coimbra Group member universities. Important anniversaries are occasions on which rectors come together to discuss specific problems and to recognize the events they consider significant for the European university tradition. This year, on May 11, Coimbra Group rectors will come to Kraków to take part in a one-day conference organised to celebrate the closing event of the 600-year anniversary of the re-foundation of the Jagiellonian University. The general theme of the conference will be “Unity of Science – Plurality of Cultures”, and the rectors, themselves prominent specialists in their own fields, will work on three panels devoted to the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities, and they will be joined in the discussion by a number of prominent scholars form the Jagiellonian University. We hope that this conference will be an important academic occasion, and a good closing event of our anniversary celebration.