UPCoimbra Joins European Cultural Routes Network

University establishes three-year cooperation protocol to bridge academia and the Council of Europe's program.

Generic image of a traditional Portuguese tile pattern in blue and white, with a blurred building in the background.
AI

Generic image of a traditional Portuguese tile pattern in blue and white, with a blurred building in the background.

The Polytechnic University of Coimbra (UPCoimbra) is now part of the University Network for Cultural Routes Studies, an international network aiming to strengthen research and cooperation on the Council of Europe's Cultural Routes.

The cooperation protocol, signed today, October 14th, by UPCoimbra's Vice-Rector, Ana Veloso, and the Director of the European Institute of Cultural Routes, Rui Gomes, formalizes a three-year partnership. The agreement was celebrated during the conference “Coimbra in European Cultural Routes,” held at Café Santa Cruz and Casa da Escrita.
The main objective is to foster research, knowledge sharing, and academic exchange, exploring the multidisciplinary dimension of Cultural Routes. Professor Mariana Cabral de Carvalho will coordinate UPCoimbra's involvement in this partnership.
Planned initiatives include creating teaching modules, student internship programs, joint research projects, and training for local and regional entities. The network will grant UPCoimbra access to the European Institute of Cultural Routes library and integration into expert networks.
UPCoimbra commits to integrating Cultural Routes content into its curricula, developing joint research projects, and encouraging master's and doctoral theses on the subject. This collaboration aims to deepen the connection between higher education, research, and territories, enhancing cultural heritage.
The conference “Coimbra in European Cultural Routes,” promoted by the Association of Cafés with History, discussed the role of Cultural Routes in public policies and territorial cohesion, as well as the management and challenges of these itineraries in Portugal.
A panel at the Casa da Escrita, moderated by Maria Gorete Dinis, featured Eduardo Natividade (Instituto Superior de Engenharia de Coimbra), Pedro Bingre (Escola Superior Agrária de Coimbra), and João Pedro Gomes (Escola Superior de Educação de Coimbra), focusing on UPCoimbra's contribution to this field.
Based on information from the official source: Politecnico de Coimbra (IPC) (14/10/2026)