EC2U Forum in Poitiers

7th EC2U Forum

Poitiers, 17-19 October 2023

Join us for the 7^th EC2U Forum at the University of Poitiers from the 17^th to 19^th October 2023.

The EC2U Alliance celebrates its first three years of collaboration and invites you to take part in creating a very new chapter!

The EC2U Forum offers a unique experience for students, teachers, researchers and staff members of the EC2U Partner Universities as well as citizens and stakeholders to engage in a European event. A programme of diverse and entertaining activities is open to all, from a Higher Education Round Table to the final edition of the EC2U Science Battle… There is something for everybody!

A specific student programme is also organised throughout the week to offer students the opportunity to actively engage in the shared future of the EC2U Alliance: while the 7th EC2U Forum takes place from the 17th to the 19th of October 2023, the student programme starts one day earlier, on the 16th of October (to the 19th of October).

The EC2U Forum is the opportunity to foster deep reflection and actionable steps towards sustainability, aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Seize this chance to drive positive change and allow progress towards a better future.

Welcome words

Virginie Laval – President, University of Poitiers

“It is an honour for me to invite you to the 7th EC2U Forum from the 16th to the 19th of October 2023 at the University of Poitiers, the coordinating university of the EC2U Alliance.

The EC2U Forum in Poitiers will be a unique event, as we will transit from the pilot phase to the consolidation phase of the EC2U Alliance: in this particular context, we have prepared a specific programme that will provide the opportunity to all of you to actively participate.

This event will be the opportunity to present all the achievements of the pilot phase (2020-2023) and present the objectives of the consolidation phase (2023-2027). In addition to the now traditional public sessions of the EC2U Forum, you will have the possibility to attend the Higher Education Round Table focused on the long-term sustainability of Alliances, in the presence of high-level guest speakers. The final competition of the EC2U Science Battle is also expected to be one of the memorable moments of the Forum in Poitiers.

In the future, our Alliance will provide students with excellent multi-disciplinary training in response to the major societal challenges of our time. For researchers, it will mean innovative research projects in response to these challenges, facilitated by increasing cross-fertilization. Training and research will be fully geared towards civil society, with the inclusion of local citizens and the involvement, alongside our municipalities, of our university hospitals as well as local and European companies in the consortium.

I look forward to welcoming you at the University of Poitiers and to continuing to create our joint future: together, we Empower, Connect, Cooperate and Unite!”

Léonore Moncond’huy – Mayor of Poitiers & Florence Jardin – President of Grand Poitiers Urban Community

“We are extremely pleased to welcome you all to Poitiers and Grand Poitiers for the 7^th EC2U forum! Our university and territory have committed from day one to work together with all the stakeholders of this important European university alliance, and we hope that this new session will provide us with an opportunity to think about our common ambitions going forward.

We are very proud to contribute to the work of EC2U which has allowed us to further expand our European networks, as well as to actively promote the engagement and integration of our youth in such a strong European dynamic.

Take full advantage of your time here to advance your discussions, between stakeholders from all over Europe. We hope that this city and land of youth (with the university as its cornerstone), of equality between women and men, of innovative and bold citizens, will be the greatest sources of inspiration for the 7^th forum’s discussions and to help us create the future of EC2U all together. Welcome to Poitiers and Grand Poitiers!”

Manon Colombo & Laura Bagage – EC2U Students-Poitiers

“EC2U Students-Poitiers is more than pleased to welcome the EC2U Community for the seventh Forum of the Alliance.
Founded after the forum in Salamanca, our association’s values and ideas are those of the Alliance. We are proud to be finally hosting this European event, which has had a prominent impact on many students already.
EC2U Students-Poitiers’ members and volunteers look forward to meeting you all and making this unforgettable week.”

Sasha Bosman – Student Vice-president

“The University of Poitiers is pleased to host the Forum of the EC2U Alliance and is very happy to welcome you. We hope that this week will be, once again, an opportunity to exchange on our respective good practices, to innovate in favour of the student and European experience, but also to congratulate ourselves on the achievements of the past three years. Looking forward to seeing you in our beautiful France, I wish you all a very nice trip.”

Programme

Students Programme

The student programme, designed with students, for students, fosters intercultural and interdisciplinary exchanges.

The student programme includes a variety of sessions, from sport to environmentally-friendly activities. A social programme, led by ESN Poitiers and the association EC2U Students Poitiers, allows students to discover Poitiers and create long-lasting friendships.

A highlight of the EC2U Forum is the Voice of Students session, a public session included in the EC2U Forum programme. The EC2U Alliance places students’ concerns, suggestions and creativity at the forefront of its initiatives, and the Voice of Students session during the EC2U Forum is just that: the opportunity to reflect on current practices and share your experiences with the community.

This session is prepared by student participants throughout the week, via preparatory sessions. Inclusion and gender equality, in the broadest sense, will be the focus point as students will work with local experts and artists to bring life to their insights and ideas. The theme was selected by students of the EC2U Alliance and the public Voice of Students session will be the opportunity to showcase a variety of artistic performances created over the week.

Staff programme

Registration to the different sessions

Online Forum

Practical Information

Discover more about Poitiers

Walk through the city by using the EC2U app

If you want to find more about the city of Poitiers and its university, you can use the EC2U Mobile Application: https://mmt.ec2u.eu/

Tips on how to get to Poitiers

The easiest way to travel to Poitiers is to fly into Paris (aéroport Charles de Gaulles) and catch the train to Poitiers.

► Directly from the airport

There are several direct trains from the aéroport Charles de Gaulles to Poitiers per day – however the last one leaves generally before 6pm.

► From Gare Montparnasse

You can also catch a train from the Gare Montparnasse (overlooked by the famous Tour Montparnasse). Trains run regularly from 6am to 9pm.

To get to the Gare Montparnasse, you can:

– Catch the RER B – the station is located in the airport and goes directly into the centre of Paris. Stop of at Denfert Rochereau.

– From Denfert Rochereau, catch the Metro line 6 (M6) towards Charles de Gaulle-Etoile and stop of at Montparnasse (three stops in total).

Accès directs

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