Coimbra Group

Coimbra Group converges on campus

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Some highlights from Friday's keynote speeches from the Coimbra Group conference.

The University recently played host to the annual conference of the Coimbra Group - an association of 40 leading European universities. The highlight of the four-day conference was the symposium on 'Creativity, Research and Innovation in Universities' hosted by President Browne, which featured keynote speeches from such esteemed guests as:

• President of Ireland, Dr Michael D. Higgins
• Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, European Commissioner for Research Innovation and Science
• Prof. Carol Becker, Dean of Faculty and Professor of the Arts at Columbia University, New York
• Prof. Joep Leerssen, Professor of Modern European Literature, University of Amsterdam, Netherlands
• Prof. Mark Ferguson, Director General, Science Foundation Ireland & Chief Scientific Advisor to the Government of Ireland

This was the second time NUI Galway hosted the prestigious event and it was a chance to focus the Group's attention on some of the biggest challenges facing universities today. After a busy schedule of task force meetings, Rectors meetings, General Assembly, discussion groups and working lunches, the delegates were treated to a sample of Irish culture at their conference dinner, with an evening of drama from the Druid Theatre, and music from Galway Ensemble in Residence, ConTempo Quartet and other performers.