Towards the creation of a EU-LAC (European - Latin American Countries) knowledge area

Rectors of the Universities gathered at the initiative of Leiden University with the support of the Coimbra group and the Grupo Montevideo met in Leiden on January 19 and 20, 2006, in order to discuss issues for consideration in the IVth Summit Meeting between Heads of State and Governments of Latin America, The Caribbean, and the European Union.

The Rectors and representatives of Universities identified the facilitation of academic and research mobility and the funding of strategic cooperation in priority areas as crucial issues in educational and research cooperation. In order to work towards the creation of a EU-LAC common knowledge area they recommend the following practical steps:

1. alleviate visa requirements in order to facilitate academic mobility;
2. remove the legal obstacles for the recognition of academic degrees (including joint degrees);
3. prioritise strategic cooperation in the following specific areas: biodiversity and environment; public health; sustainable development; nanosciences, nanotechnology, and new materials; public safety, human rights, (im)migration and urban issues; and cultural diversity;
4. offer funding for

• the establishment of bi-regional doctoral programmes and postdoctoral fellowships,
• the opening up of a Latin America window within Erasmus Mundus,
• the establishment of bi-regional networks of higher education and research,
• the improvement of IT-infrastructure for teaching and research.

During the Leiden meeting the Rectors and representatives composed a document in which the above issues are addressed in more detail.

On the basis of their longstanding, successful, and qualified experience in EU-LAC cooperation, the Coimbra group and the Grupo Montevideo offer their expertise to the governments in order to ensure the implementation, continuity, and quality of such a bi-regional educational collaboration.