To the students and staff of the EC2U Alliance member universities,

To the Associated Partners of the EC2U Alliance,

As all European countries, regions and cities are gradually hit by the coronavirus outbreak, we would like to express our strong support to you and call for a reinforced solidarity between the members of our communities and with citizens, in particular with the ones who are fighting the virus.

The EC2U Alliance was created to develop an open and innovative space allowing free mobility among the seven universities and cities, forming a single community of 160 000 students and 20 000 staff, in direct reach to 1 600 000 citizens, thus overcoming clichéd views of regional and national identities. This spirit of openness and solidarity is more than ever important.

The COVID-19 crisis underlines the need for Higher Education Institutions to develop virtual mobility and distant education: these two topics are among the main objectives of the EC2U Alliance. Therefore, this unprecedented situation will not alter our focus to move forward with our project. It will even reinforce our partnership by strengthening our mutual support enabling us to better reach our common goal: the creation of a pan-European campus, connected by a sense of shared European identity, contributing to the development of a smart higher education eco-system through a new model of quality education for an inclusive society.

With all our support,

Prof. Amílcar Falcão, Rector of the University of Coimbra

Prof. Tudorel Toader, Rector of the Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi

Prof. Walter Rosenthal, President of the Friedrich Schiller University of Jena

Prof. Francesco Svelto, Rector of the University of Pavia

Prof. Yves Jean, President of the University of Poitiers

Prof. Ricardo Rivero, Rector of the University of Salamanca

Prof. Jukka Kola, Rector of the University of Turku