The agreement sets out the framework for future cooperation in research and teaching as well as in other areas of common interest. Possible activities include the promotion of visiting professorships and the exchange of researchers, staff and students, mutual assistance in improving the scientific qualifications of academic staff, cooperation in research, joint research applications to funding institutions and the organisation of symposia, workshops and conferences. Experiences on teaching methods and techniques are also to be shared.

The cooperation is a step towards increased internationalisation at the University of Lucerne. It has set itself the goal of becoming one of Europe's leading research and teaching institutions specialising in human sciences by 2030. Prof. Dr Bruno Staffelbach, Rector of the University of Lucerne, explains: "The collaboration with the University of Salamanca opens up many opportunities for exchange or joint projects thanks to its strong focus on the human sciences." Further collaborations with humanities universities in Europe are to follow.

The University of Salamanca was founded in 1218 and is the oldest university in Spain and one of the oldest universities in Europe. It has around 30’000 students and 3700 employees. It is a comprehensive university with a strong focus on human sciences. For the Vice-Rector for International Relations of the University of Salamanca, Raúl Sánchez Prieto, this agreement "offers the possibility of collaborating more closely with the University of Lucerne and, in general, with Switzerland, for the exchange of doctoral and postdoctoral research staff". The agreement allows four doctoral and/or postdoctoral researchers from both universities to carry out stays in Lucerne and at the University of Salamanca for each academic year, which makes the University of Lucerne "our fundamental reference in Switzerland".