FORTY YEARS OF OVERCOMING ACADEMIC DIVISIONS: IMPORTANCE OF HIGHER EDUCATION FOR DEMOCRACY AND CULTURE

Just as democracy spread from the streets of Timisoara to all of Romania in 1989, in 1983, the DRC founding member universities formed the DRC network, striving to establish institutional contacts with universities behind the Iron Curtain and operating under communist regimes. On the occasions of the 40th anniversary since the founding of the Danube Rectors’ Conference and the designation of the city of Timisoara as the European Capital of Culture for 2023, beyond representing the beginning of Romanian democracy, the representatives of DRC member universities gather at the West University of Timisoara to not only celebrate the network’s anniversary, but also to discuss current burning issues related to the roles of higher education and research with reference to democracy and culture. 

Building on the last four decades of inter-institutional cooperation and joint activities and projects, representatives of the four founding universities look back on the history of the DRC, evaluate its position in the current European higher education structures and map out the future role of the network. In addition, the conference explores the consequences of the Russian invasion on Ukrainian university facilities, their functioning in the times of war, as well as war-induced academic migration. Finally, the DRC Initiative Fund project will be presented and its participants – doctoral students from DRC member universities – will meet with the winners of the Danubius Awards 2023, who will be officially introduced during the award ceremony. 

The 2023 Annual Meeting of the Danube Rectors' Conference takes place at the West University of Timisoara, Romania, on 19–20 October 2023.

Hotel and transport information

Registration form for the DRC Annual Conference 2023