On 15 May, the University of Algarve welcomed a delegation from La Rochelle Université (France), with the aim of initiating institutional relations and exploring new opportunities for academic cooperation within the framework of the Erasmus+ Programme.
The French delegation was composed of Eric Monteiro, former Vice-Rector for International Relations at La Rochelle Université (2016–2023), Martine Raibaud, Director of the Confucius Institute of La Rochelle, and Sylvain Landron, Head of the International Relations and Cooperation Office. The representatives were received by Professor Patrícia Pinto, Vice-Rector of the University of Algarve responsible for the SEA-EU – European University of the Seas Alliance, and by Marleni Azevedo, Coordinator of the International Relations and Mobility Office (GRIM) and local SEA-EU manager at UAlg.
La Rochelle Université leads EU-CONEXUS, the first European university alliance dedicated to the theme of Smart and Sustainable Urban Coastal Development, bringing together nine partner institutions with a strong interdisciplinary focus and an integrated approach to education, research, and innovation. The geographical proximity to the coast, the focus on sustainability, the commitment to pedagogical innovation, and internationalization were identified as natural points of convergence between UAlg and La Rochelle Université, as well as between the two alliances they are part of – SEA-EU and EU-CONEXUS.
The meeting provided a valuable opportunity to identify synergies between the strategic visions of both institutions and to strengthen the role of European alliances as transformative cooperation platforms in Higher Education. The potential for joint international PhD programmes, the creation of joint academic programmes, and the enhancement of international mobility were among the key topics discussed, with both parties expressing a clear interest in establishing a long-term partnership.
This visit reinforces the University of Algarve’s commitment to internationalization, the strengthening of collaborative networks within the European Higher Education Area, and its active contribution to building an inclusive, sustainable, and innovative European university.
