Warmly welcomed by the local team in Poitiers, the working group members began their tasks, discovering the richness and diversity of the university's collections. This introductory session recalled the fundamental role of historic universities in preserving and enhancing European scientific, artistic, and material heritage.
The event also marked a symbolic milestone: the very first in-person meeting of the Conservators’ Network, a specialized network recently established within the group to address the specific challenges of conservation and restoration in a university setting.
The 2026-2029 work plan, validated by the Coimbra Group's executive committee, is structured around six strategic axes: Cultural Heritage and University, University Built Heritage, Conservation and Restoration, Shared Collections, Joint Projects and European Funding, and Valorization, Networks, and International Outreach.
Among the flagship projects finalized during this session is the final version of the Declaration on Heritage, which introduces sustainable development and social responsibility as major stakes. The resilience of university heritages in their diversity (built, books, scientific collections...), particularly against risks, was also widely discussed during this Poitiers session.
The next meeting is scheduled for early June for the annual conference of the Coimbra Group at the Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg in Germany.
The University of Poitiers is proud to have contributed to the dynamism of this European community committed to the transmission, study, and safeguarding of university heritage.
