From March 23 to March 25, 2026, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iași (UAIC) hosted the annual Work Package 4 (WP4) Board onsite meeting. This three-day event brought together academic leaders, researchers, and students from the European Campus of City-Universities (EC2U) Alliance to advance the missions of the GLADE Virtual Institute and the LIFELINE Joint Master Programme.

The meeting was inaugurated by Prof. Nicoleta Popa, UAIC Vice-Rector for International Relations and Academic and Research Partnerships, and Prof. Daniela Șoitu, EC2U WP4 Leader. As the coordinator for WP4 activities, UAIC continues to play a pivotal role in fostering international cooperation and educational excellence within the Alliance.

The sessions focused on the long-term development of WP4 initiatives through 2027, with high-level discussions focusing on:

  • strategic planning for the future curriculum development of the LIFELINE Joint Master Programme and its upcoming re-accreditation processes;
  • workshops dedicated to the GLADE PhD Network and the integration of the Virtual Institute within the broader community;
  • detailed reporting and resource planning for WP4 activities and events scheduled through the end of 2027.

In addition to sessions on academic content, the event agenda emphasized the city–university connection, highlighting:

  • a social event showcasing Romanian culture and traditional tastes;
  • a guided Iași Academic City Tour exploring the city’s academic historical significance;
  • specialized workshops at the Anastasie Fătu Botanical Garden, focusing on urban biodiversity, Japanese floral arts (Oshibana and Kokedama), and photography.

This meeting marks a significant milestone in the EC2U Alliance’s commitment to creating a synchronized European education ecosystem centered on health, innovation, and community engagement.

The European Campus of City-Universities Alliance (EC2U) is an academic consortium of nine universities from different regions of the European Union: Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iași (Romania), University of Pavia (Italy), University of Poitiers (France, coordinator), University of Coimbra (Portugal), University of Salamanca (Spain), University of Turku (Finland), Friedrich Schiller University Jena (Germany), Johannes Kepler University Linz (Austria), and Umeå University (Sweden).

The Alliance is based on a unique cooperation between universities and cities, involving academic communities, municipalities, regional authorities, socio-economic actors, and citizens. EC2U promotes an unprecedented, challenge-driven global initiative e at the forefront of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

More information about the EC2U Alliance is available here: https://ec2u.eu/