NUI Galway and Galway City Council have both endorsed a global declaration which strengthens the link between a city and its universities.
The Poitiers Declaration is an initiative of the Coimbra group of 40 international universities, of which NUI Galway is a founding member and which hosted the group's annual gathering in 2013.
The city council held its monthly meeting at the university to mark the joint signing of the agreement by NUIG president Dr Jim Browne and Galway city mayor, Pearce Flannery.
Speaking at the special signing at NUI Galway’s Aula Maxima on Monday night, Dr Browne said the declaration re-affirms that the university has a central role in the development cities and demonstrates the intrinsic link between ‘town and gown.’
Dr Browne said; "It is a great honour to have the city council host its monthly meeting here [at NUI Galway]. The university has attracted from all over the world and they have become they lifeblood of the city. The university has empowered the city culturally and economically.
"I would like to thank Galway City Council for signing up and bringing this endorsement to fruition. This cooperation benefits both city and university in terms of greater wealth, greater social cohesion and human friendly technologies. I would also like to remember past councils who have done so much to foster cooperation."
