Dr. Cecilia Zsögön, an academic staff member at the Institute of Sociology and Philosophy, participated last week in an Erasmus academic exchange at the University of Coimbra, Portugal. Founded in 1290, the University of Coimbra is the oldest university in Portugal and one of the oldest continuously operating universities in the world.

During her visit, Dr. Zsögön delivered lectures at the Faculty of Economics of the University of Coimbra (FEUC) for both undergraduate and doctoral students in sociology. Her activities were carried out with the support and collaboration of Prof. Hermes Costa, Full Professor at FEUC and coordinator of the PhD Programme in Sociology: Labour Relations, Social Inequalities and Unionism, as well as Prof. Madalena Duarte, Associate Professor at FEUC and researcher at the Centre for Social Studies (CES). Their support and hospitality were invaluable throughout the exchange.

Dr. Zsögön also held a productive meeting with Prof. Walter Rossa and Marcela Maciel Santana, representatives of the UNESCO Chair on Intercultural Dialogue on Heritage of Portuguese Influence, established in 2018. It is worth noting that “University of Coimbra -Alta and Sofia” was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2013, in recognition of its historical and cultural significance. This meeting is expected to enhance collaboration between the UNESCO Chair at our university and partner UNESCO Chairs across Europe.

This mobility aligns with our university internationalization strategy by creating new pathways for knowledge exchange and cross-cultural collaboration. It also lays the groundwork for long-term cooperation, including joint research, co-taught courses, and extended exchange programmes, supporting broader educational goals in a global context.