The organisaiton, called University Network of European Capitals of Culture (UNECC), seeks to promote cooperation between the universities in the areas of education, research and teacher and student exchange programmes, Pécs University Rector László Lénárd told a press conference on Friday.
The university started contacting the institutions who will form the organisation in December, shortly after Pécs was picked to be Hungary?s European Capital of Culture in 2010. The organisation was set up with the aim of setting allowing the universities to take full advantage of their cities? European Capital of Culture titles.
A meeting of representative from the universities is scheduled to take place in Hungary in May.
At the first general meeting of UNECC on Friday, the rector of the University of Pécs, the mayor of Pécs and the president of the council of Baranya County signed a cooperation agreement. The UNECC meeting will close on Saturday, when members are expected to approve its charter and set a time and a place for the next meeting. The meeting is expected to take place in the Romanian city of Sibiu, which will carry the title European Capital of Culture in 2007.
Thirty-six universities responded to Pécs?s invitation to the organisation, and representatives from 15 attended the meeting on Friday.
