News

Join the Arqus European Student Assembly 2026

2025-10-24T07:00:39+03:00

Arqus invites students from all its universities to apply for the 5th edition of the European Student Assembly (ESA 2026), which will take place from 20 to 22 April 2026 at the European Parliament in Strasbourg. Applications are open until 2 November at 23:59 CET to students from all nationalities, fields, and levels of study, from the second year of Bachelor’s to PhD.

The European Student Assembly is a grassroots project that gathers each year more than 200 students from different European University Alliances (EUAs) to debate current issues, draft political recommendations for the future of Europe, and advocate them among stakeholders and decision-makers.

From January to April 2026, the selected students will work and debate on 8 topics related to the future of Europe with members of their same panel, to deepen their understanding of their chosen topic and to start drafting policy recommendations.

As part of the programme, they will be responsible for proposing concrete solutions to these challenges, to be implemented by stakeholders at various decision levels. To fulfill this goal, they will meet experts and follow online training on policy drafting and moderation, enabling them to analyse the political and legal context, identify the main challenges raised by the topic, and decide the priorities they wish to deal with.

This several-month project will culminate with a democratic exercise in a deliberative Assembly gathering at the European Parliament in Strasbourg from 20 to 22 April 2026. During 3 days, participants will discuss and finalise their policy recommendations with members of their panel and hear other panels’ recommendations and debates, to end up voting in a plenary session on all the policy recommendations prepared and helping in dissemination activities afterwards. In addition to this, many other activities will be organised for students and the 65 EUAs.

For more information, click here.

Arqus Universities Explore New Double Degree Opportunities at the University of Minho

2025-10-24T04:00:17+03:00

The School of Economics, Management and Political Science (EEG) of the University of Minho hosted an Arqus meeting on the double degree in business, data analytics, and economics. The initiative took place between October 1-3, and it was attended by a delegation from �۶��Ƶ and the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy.

Coordinated by Ana Paula Faria, a professor at EEG, the meeting introduced the courses of the University of Minho to the school of economics, management, and political science to design a possible path for students from Vilnius and Kyiv-Mohyla Academy who wish to attend UMinho, focusing on a potential double degree between the Arqus Universities and the Ukrainian partner University.

According to Ana Paula Faira, the implementation of this double degree will provide students of the degree in economics at EEG, University of Minho, not only with two diplomas but with skills in digital technologies that are and will become essential in the job market, in addition to a deeper internationalisation experience than that lived in an Erasmus program.

The design of this type of programme reflects a common perspective of Arqus universities on the curriculum and its implementation, as well as on the procedures and processes of assessment and accreditation. Reinforcing the Alliance’s commitment to student-centred and research-based learning through joint and flexible curricula.

Arqus Alliance Launches New English-Medium Instruction Seminar Series on Effective Assessment

2025-10-23T07:00:30+03:00

The Arqus Alliance is pleased to announce the first webinar in its English-Medium Instruction (EMI) Seminar Series for the academic year 2025-2026, run by Maynooth University. The topic of this year’s series is: Effective assessment in English-taught programmes and classes.

Titled, Assessment in English-Medium Instruction: Challenges, Practices, and Collaboration. This webinar will be delivered by Dr Pinar Kocer, postdoctoral researcher at KU Leuven (Belgium), and it will take place online on Thursday, 20 November 2025, from 12:00 to 13:00 (CET).

The seminar will provide participants with an overview of the key principles, challenges and current debates surrounding assessment in EMI. It will explore the complexities of assessing both content and language, outline the range of assessment practices observed across EMI contexts, and discuss how collaboration between content lecturers and language specialists can promote fairness, transparency, and validity in assessment design.

Participants will gain insights into current research and emerging trends in EMI assessment, and they will be encouraged to reflect on their own practices and the broader implications for teaching and learning in multilingual higher education settings.

For more information and registration, click here.

Arqus Opens a New Call for the Criss-Cross Online Mobility

2025-10-23T04:00:58+03:00

You can now register for the autumn and spring semester open call for criss-cross online mobility in the academic year 2025/2026.

This special mobility provides students with a unique, integrated learning experience where they can combine a traditional Erasmus+ semester with shorter criss-cross experiences. In addition, the programme offers all students of the Arqus Alliance the opportunity to carry out one or more online activities to enrich and enhance their study path.

Criss-Cross mobility aims to promote a culture of innovative mobility, provide seamless mobility opportunities, and improve and promote online mobility, while letting students create a personalised academic journey that can leverage the strengths of different European Institutions.

The autumn call will close by the end of October. For more information, click here.

Arqus invitation Webinar on the joint call for Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programmes

2025-10-21T12:44:03+03:00

The University of Padua welcomes participants to a webinar dedicated to the Arqus Alliance joint call for Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programmes (BIPs). The session will present this opportunity, focusing on BIPs taking place during the second semester of the 2025/26 academic year, and will be followed by a Q&A session to address any questions.

Please note that the call for BIPs is currently open, and the deadline for proposal submissions is 15 November.

The webinar will take place on Friday, 24 October, at 3:30 p.m. CET.

Join via Zoom.

Applications Open for the First Arqus Open Science Award

2025-10-21T04:00:33+03:00

Arqus announces the opening of applications for the first Arqus Open Science Award. Launched during the 2025 Arqus Annual Conference at Leipzig University, this award recognises early-career researchers who champion open science. It celebrates those who set an example for the entire Arqus scientific community by advancing accessibility, reusability, and reproducibility in research.

The call for applications is open from 20 October until 14 December 2025 (23:59 CET). For more information and to apply, click here.

Call for Applications: 3rd Arqus Alliance Ambassadors Programme

2025-10-20T08:45:49+03:00

The Arqus Alliance announces the launch of its 3rd Arqus Alliance Ambassadors Programme. This initiative, led by the Arqus Student Agora, aims to create a network of student ambassadors who will promote the values and initiatives of the Arqus Alliance while engaging with students, staff, and local communities.

As ambassadors, students will disseminate information about events and activities, engage with fellow students and staff members, and contribute to the Alliance’s outreach and engagement initiatives. They will actively promote the values and activities of the Arqus Alliance and act as points of contact for students interested in learning more about the Alliance and its programmes.

To ensure the success of the programme, the Arqus Alliance will provide ambassadors with comprehensive training and support, giving them access to resources such as open-source materials, training sessions on effective communication and leadership, and guidance on best practices.

Ambassadors will also benefit from networking opportunities, gain visibility and recognition through the Arqus Alliance’s communication channels, and receive exclusive access to events and resources offered by the Alliance.

Eligibility

The Arqus Student Ambassadors Programme is open to all students enrolled at the member universities of the Arqus Alliance. Eligible candidates should demonstrate a strong interest in international collaboration and cultural exchange, possess good communication skills, and show initiative and creativity. Previous international experience, such as participation in study abroad programmes or language exchanges, will be highly regarded.

Application

Students interested in becoming an Arqus Alliance Ambassador should complete the application form by 15 November, including their CV and a motivation statement that highlights their institutional engagement, experience working with international students, and dedication to promoting international cooperation.

Arqus Student Ambassadors will enhance the student experience and uphold the values of openness, diversity, and excellence in research and education by supporting the Arqus Alliance, promoting cultural exchange, and fostering international collaboration.

To apply, click here.

The Arqus Libraries of the Future Hybrid Seminar Series Comes to Graz

2025-10-14T04:00:32+03:00

The Arqus Community of Practice “Libraries of the future” invites staff members of the Arqus universities to their hybrid meeting “Impact of AI on Arqus Member Libraries”, organised by the University of Graz on 6 and 7 November 2025.

Over two days, professionals from Arqus member libraries, research offices, and academic departments will come together to discuss the current challenges associated with expanding knowledge and the latest AI-related developments across the Arqus Alliance university libraries.

With contributions from speakers from the University of Graz and other Arqus member institutions, the meeting will address key topics in the field, including:

Internal opportunities and risks of AI use.
Library user-centred AI usage.
Competence building for library staff (prompting, analyses, etc.).

The meeting will include an online part on 6 November and an in-person meeting on 7, where participants will have the opportunity to join a dinner in the evening.

This event is only open to members of the nine Arqus Alliance Universities (Universities of Granada, Graz, Leipzig, Lyon 1, Maynooth, Minho, Padua, Vilnius, and Wrocław), and it is primarily aimed at library staff, however, any Arqus staff member interested in Artificial Intelligence is welcome to attend.

For more information, click here.

Creating Spaces for Sustainable Learning: Arqus Online Seminar

2025-10-13T04:00:31+03:00

The Institute of Pedagogy, University of Wrocław, and the Faculty of Education Sciences, University of Granada, joined by the Froebel Department of Primary and Early Childhood Education at Maynooth University, invite the Arqus community to participate in this one-day scientific seminar, which will take place online on 10 November 2025.

This seminar will provide a space for discussing research findings, sharing practical experiences, and engaging in dialogue on how to foster meaningful and sustainable learning environments in kindergarten, school, and outside of it.

Participants will explore innovative, interdisciplinary approaches that bring together the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Outdoor Education, and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics).

Attendees will also have the opportunity to present their research and share examples of good practice. While the seminar is particularly interested in contributions related to its main themes, other innovative approaches to teaching and learning are also welcome.

The registration deadline is:

5 November 2025, for participants willing to present their own research and work.
9 November 2025, for general participation.

For more information, click here.

Strategic Development and Quality at the Centre: The Arqus Development Team Met in Granada

2025-10-10T14:00:00+03:00

From 29 September to 1 October, the Arqus Development working group met in Granada to thoroughly analyse the planning programme towards the final report of the second Erasmus+ funding period of the Alliance.

The agenda was packed with essential topics. Participants reviewed the Arqus First Progress Report, laying the foundations for an informed and forward-looking planning process. Looking ahead, the group devoted significant time to designing the updated Alliance Mission Statement.

Another central theme of the meeting was quality assurance. The Arqus Development team examined the Quality Manuals of both the educational offer and the Alliance as a whole and prepared the groundwork for the upcoming quality audit. The development and refinement of Standard Operating Procedures were also high on the agenda, covering the implementation of Key Progress Indicators and the design of joint calls and joint programme accreditation.

In addition, the group addressed the selection of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion indicators, the integration of new digital tools, and the enhancement of the Arqus Strategic Development Dashboard. These discussions aimed to ensure that Arqus can monitor its impact effectively while promoting inclusiveness and accessibility across all its activities.

This meeting in Granada represented a decisive step in strengthening cooperation, refining internal processes, and advancing the long-term strategic vision of the Alliance. The Arqus Development team’s work continues to be crucial in ensuring that Arqus not only maintains but also enhances the quality and relevance of its initiatives in the years ahead.

Vote for Your Favourite Project of the Arqus International Innovators Award

2025-10-10T10:00:38+03:00

Arqus launches the six finalist projects of the Arqus International Innovators Award 2025 – vote for your favourite.

The Arqus International Innovators Award is an online competition recognising the most innovative and internationalised start-ups across the Alliance, encouraging students and researchers to present their projects in a European context.

From 6 to 20 October, members of the Arqus community can vote for their favourite business models. The winner will be announced on 22 October at Start Cup Veneto in Padua.

The award helps start-ups showcase their international business models, gain visibility, and create new opportunities for networking and collaboration across Europe.

VOTE HERE

Register for the 11th Edition of the Arqus Café

2025-10-03T12:21:33+03:00

Following the great success of the Arqus Dives activity on 26 September, organised by the Arqus Café team, registration for the next edition of the Arqus Cafés is now open. The Arqus Café is a virtual or on-site meeting place where students and staff from the Arqus partner universities can practice their language skills outside of the language classroom.

The sessions are not led by teachers but instead by language tutors who are native-level speakers. This is a great way to expand your language and cultural knowledge informally and with other language learners in a relaxed atmosphere. You should have a working knowledge of the language (min. A2/B1) so that you can actively participate in the sessions.

The online cafés will run from 6 October to 12 December. Participants will be able to practice the following languages:

Albanian
Arabic
Chinese
Dutch
English
French
German
Italian
Portuguese
Russian
Spanish
Spanish
Turkish
Ukrainian
Urdu
Vietnamese

For registration, click here.

Applications Are Open for the Third Call of the Archifun Doctoral Programme

2025-10-03T11:00:00+03:00

The University of Lyon 1 invites students to apply for the ArchiFun Doctoral Programme “Architecture, Function and Dynamics in Life Sciences”. The call for applications is open until 2 November.

ArchiFun is an international doctoral programme established within the Arqus Alliance and coordinated by the University of Lyon 1, focusing on the relationships between structure, function, and dynamics at all levels, from atoms to cells, organisms and ecosystems.

Applications for the third call are now open. A total of 3 doctoral candidates will be recruited to carry out their PhD at the University of Claude Bernard Lyon 1. You can find the list of proposed projects via the following link.

Key dates

Deadline for applications: 2 November 2025.
Evaluation process: November 2025.
Interview phase: November 2025.
Start of scholarships: 1 January 2026.

Further details about this programme and the open call are available here.

VU Master’s Students Attended Arqus European Studies Summer School

2025-09-24T10:51:26+03:00

�۶��Ƶ Master’s students took part in the Arqus European Studies Summer School 2025 from 3 to 7 July in Bad Hersfeld, Germany. The event, organised by Leipzig University, brought together 23 students from four Arqus partner universities – Granada, Graz, Leipzig and Vilnius – to deepen their knowledge of European Studies.

The summer school was open to students of the Joint Master’s Programme in European Studies as well as to Arqus students from other fields. Participants had the opportunity to strengthen their methodological and conceptual skills in European Studies, particularly with a view to applying them in future research projects and the preparation of their Master’s theses.

The five-day programme opened with a one-day excursion to the Point Alpha Memorial, a historic Cold War site where NATO and the Warsaw Pact confronted each other until 1990. In there, students received a guided tour of the memorial and its exhibitions, engaging in lively discussions on the parallels between that historical moment and present-day challenges.

During the visit, special attention was given to how borders and border practices are represented in the memorial’s historical narrative, and how the emphasis on specific perspectives can shape broader understandings of security and border control.

Following this insightful beginning, the programme continued with a methodological workshop to study the challenges of research design, international relations and European integration theories, as well as specific methods and approaches, to prepare them to accomplish the master’s thesis of the Arqus Master programme in European Studies successfully.

Beyond the academic programme, the summer school also provided networking opportunities where students met peers from across the Arqus Alliance and learned more about the universities where they will spend their upcoming mobility term. Lecturers from all partner universities also took part in the summer school to provide guidance and information.

Rethinking Education through Microcredentials: Italian and Polish Approaches

2025-09-22T11:32:18+03:00

The University of Wrocław invites the Arqus community to its new workshop, “Microcredentials as a New Form of Education – A Change or a Complement to Traditional Forms of Learning? The Perspective of Italian and Polish Universities”, in Wrocław from Wednesday, 22 October, to Friday, 24 October 2025.

In this workshop, participants can collaborate to explore and discuss the evolving landscape of microcredentials within higher education, with a particular perspective of Italian and Polish Universities. The programme will explore whether microcredentials serve as a transformative change or a valuable complement to established learning paradigms.

The comprehensive programme includes interactive workshops, welcome remarks and opportunities for networking and cultural engagement. For more information and registration, click here.

Register for the Arqus Language Dives and Learn a New Language

2025-09-19T13:29:25+03:00

To celebrate the European Day of Languages, the Arqus Plurilingual Hub is launching a special edition of the Arqus Café. On this occasion, the Arqus community is invited to explore new languages in a fun and engaging way. On 26 September, Arqus students and staff will have the chance to discover and explore 19 different languages. The event will feature 45-minute slots, each designed for complete beginners, so no previous knowledge is required. After just one short session, participants will be able to greet others, introduce themselves, and much more.

Join us and take your first steps into one (or several) of these 19 online Arqus Dives:

Vietnamese
Mandarin (Chinese)
Lithuanian
French
Italian
Bosnian
Polish
Russian
German
Flemish
Irish
Welsh
Ukrainian
Arabic
Spanish
Portuguese
Azerbaijani
Romanian
Galician

We invite all Arqus students and staff to join us for this Arqus Café special event on 26 September. Just click on the registration link, fill in the details, and you will get the link to Zoom where the event will take place.

Innovative Teaching in Practice: Arqus Online Workshops

2025-09-18T12:44:31+03:00

The Arqus Alliance invites educators to the two upcoming Arqus online workshops on Teaching Innovation. These workshops, led by experienced teachers, will focus on specific strategies, methodologies and technologies for active learning, as well as psychological approaches to improving motivation and engagement. They are intended to support Arqus teachers in promoting innovative teaching approaches to make learning more effective and engaging for students.

Collaborative Learning

25 September 2025, 14:00–16:00 CEST

Learning is a social process. Cooperation and collaboration in classes can boost student engagement and retention of input and are thus crucial in improving learning outcomes. This practical session will explain how and why, and at the same time give participants personal experience of a variety of activities that promote effective student-to-student collaboration. The activities can be used in classes of all disciplines and with groups of any size.

Trainer: Jon Wright

For more information and registration, click here.

Feedback is important, but feedforward is essential

20 November 2025, 14:00–16:00 (CET)

Most educators are in the habit of providing students with some kind of feedback on their work and contributions in class. However, there is a big difference between giving feedback on what has happened and making it valuable and relevant as a tool for improving students’ performance in future learning activities.

Feedforward adds key elements to traditional feedback, so it is future-oriented and an active component in improving students’ performance. This session will explain what feedforward is and underline why it is a vital companion to feedback. Participants will receive instructions on how to incorporate feedback when teaching in any subject.

Trainer: Jon Wright

For more information and registration, click here.

Arqus Joint Call for Blended Intensive Programmes

2025-09-15T11:32:07+03:00

Arqus launches its third joint call for Blended Intensive Programmes, designed and funded by the Erasmus+ programme. Blended Intensive Programmes (BIP) are intensive programmes that use innovative ways of learning and teaching, including the use of online cooperation. These programmes for students and staff must comprise a short-term physical mobility abroad combined with a compulsory virtual component, facilitating a collaborative online learning exchange and teamwork.

The programmes have to be developed and implemented by at least 3 partners from Erasmus+ programme countries, and in this case, at least 2 universities from the Arqus Alliance.

One of the partners will cover the role of coordinator. One of the partners, not necessarily the coordinator, will host the in-presence activities for 5 (min) to 30 (max) days and provide at least 3 ECTS. The home institution of each participant will be responsible for the recognition of the credits in their career, study programme.

The virtual component is compulsory, but there are no constraints on timing or length. The BIP should involve a minimum of mobile participants (10 to 20, depending on the hosting partners) from the universities in the programme country. Participants can be either students (all cycles) or staff.

Contents for both the physical and the virtual component should be co-designed by the partners and can be either interdisciplinary or very specific. Activities must be implemented during the period from January to 31 July 2026.

The call is open until 15 November 2025.

For more information, click here.

Enhance Your Language Skills with the Arqus Plurilingualism Module

2025-08-28T13:49:49+03:00

In the 2025–2026 academic year, �۶��Ƶ students are invited to take part in the Arqus Plurilingualism Module, which offers the opportunity to begin learning Lithuanian, Norwegian or French at A1 level. Alongside this, participants are encouraged to continue practising a foreign language they already know through informal activities such as the Arqus Café. The module brings together formal courses, informal learning opportunities and theoretical perspectives on language and culture, enabling students to reflect critically on their own learning strategies and cultural experiences.

The programme runs from September 2025 to January 2026 and is delivered online via Microsoft Teams and MOODLE. It comprises 150 academic hours (50 contact hours and 100 hours of independent work) and is free of charge. Students will receive 5 ECTS credits, participants from other Arqus universities will be awarded a certificate of participation. Registration is open from 1 to 16 September.

This year’s module builds on the pilot organised in 2024–2025, which focused on Lithuanian language and culture. Participants of the pilot combined A1 Lithuanian courses with lectures on Lithuania’s culture, language and politics. As one student reflected: “Overall, the multilingual module has provided me with valuable insights into language acquisition, cultural adaptation, and literary representation. Understanding different learning styles has allowed me to reflect on my own approach to language learning. Exploring Lithuania’s sociolinguistic landscape has deepened my awareness of historical influences on multilingualism. Finally, learning about women’s literature in Lithuania added to my cultural knowledge of the country I am now living in. This module has not only enhanced my academic knowledge but also enriched my personal perspective on language and communication in diverse contexts.”

By joining the 2025–2026 module, students will not only gain new language skills but also broaden their cultural horizons and take part in a wider European dialogue on multilingualism. For registration, click here.

Arqus Hosts a Screening of the “Refugee Girls” Documentary

2025-08-21T10:06:34+03:00

The universities of the Arqus Alliance, together with the “Scholars at Risk” network, invite you to the screening and discussion of the “Refugee Girls” documentary (2023), which will take place on 23 September at 16:30 at the Small Hall of the “Pasaka” Cinema Theatre (Šv. Ignoto g. 4/3).

The “Refugee Girls” documentary talks about the lives of young refugee girls in Europe. One story follows Afghan student Robina, who is studying at Rome’s La Sapienza University, where she and other refugees are trying to adapt to university life and the new reality of Italy. Another story tells of Sofiia and Bozhena, two Ukrainian girls who integrate at the University of Barcelona while continuing their distance studies in Ukraine. Despite the difficult challenges of forced migration, these young women look to the future with hope.

The film screening will be attended remotely by director Leonardo Cinieri Lombroso and human rights researcher Dr Elisa Gamba, who analyses the inclusion of refugees in university communities. After a brief introduction to the topic, a screening of the film will take place, followed by a discussion that will also present a range of initiatives to support refugee students.

This initiative is being implemented by the University of Padova together with Arqus partners – �۶��Ƶ, the University of Leipzig, the University of Graz, Maynooth University, the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, and members of the “Scholars at Risk” network.

Please register here.

The Results of the Arqus Twinning 2.0 Projects Have Been Published

2025-08-13T09:03:14+03:00

The Arqus Alliance is proud to share the results of its internal call for short-term mobility programmes designed to foster long-term and collaborative activities among its members. This second call marks the willingness of the academic staff to carry out joint learning and teaching activities and strengthen the subject-related collaboration.

This initiative is foreseen as a first step to develop further interactions between Arqus staff and students and to build a strong basis for developing future programmes, activities and mobilities. The selected projects will be carried out through the academic year 2025-2026, enabling about 60 students and 12 lecturers to benefit from the mobility programme.

The response to the call was positive, with 24 proposals submitted from across the Alliance. This enthusiastic participation highlights the strong interest in building cross-institutional collaborations. While many proposals demonstrated excellent quality and high potential, only a small number could be funded.

This is the list of the six projects selected for funding thanks to the Innovation Fund and partners’ resources:

“Sustainable leadership and innovation: empowering future changemakers”. �۶��Ƶ and the University of Minho.
“Urban green transition pathways”. �۶��Ƶ and the University of Granada.
“Smart Finance for a greener future: ESG investing and digital-era risk management”. �۶��Ƶ and Durham University.
“Greening transitions with AI: Climate, employment and sustainability in action”. The University of Minho and The University of Graz.
“Energy Network for Advanced Conversion Technologies (ENACT)”. The University of Wrocław and The University of Padua.
“The controversy over the orthodox concept of God in the late 18th century. Philosophical debates: investigations for a critical genealogy of contemporary secular and post-secular thought”. The University of Padua and Leipzig University.