Having met physically the previous time in the EC2U Forum in Iaşi, Romania in October 2022, a face-to-face meeting of the local coordinators was much anticipated among the group. Hosted by colleagues of the University of Coimbra, the group got the chance to acquaint themselves with the beautiful campus of the University of Coimbra, the university itself dating back to 1290.

During the meetings held in different campuses of the university, the local coordinators, some of whom joined online, discussed what it means to be a local coordinator at their respective universities and shared some of the challenges that remain, brainstorming on how to best tackle these challenges. Some of the topics from the previous local coordinators’ meeting held in Turku, Finland in June 2022 were used as a starting point for the discussion.

The workflow between the local and global coordination teams was also on the agenda as well as the preparation for the upcoming months by reviewing the situation with the different activities planned for the remainder of the pilot phase that will go on until the end of October 2023.

In addition to the work meetings, one objective was to reinforce the mutual bond of the group and to help build a strong team spirit. Meeting physically offered the coordinators a chance not only to reinforce their collaboration but also to learn more about each other as individuals. Working closely together means learning about how different people and organisations operate and how to best iron out any obstacles.

During the week, the coordinators were treated to an exquisite moment of Coimbra fado, a Portuguese style of singing accompanied by two acoustic guitars. During a field visit to the nearby Figueira da Foz, everyone enjoyed seafood and waves by the Atlantic Ocean as well as sampled delicious Portuguese pastries along the way.

On the hilly streets of Coimbra each participant got to experience the charm of the city, leaving back home that much more close-knit as a group.