Collaborative Open Room: Turning the Arqus EDI Action Plan into Action

At the start of the 2025 Arqus Annual Conference, members of the Alliance came together for a Collaborative Open Room dedicated to advancing Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) within and across the Arqus Alliance. It was organised by the Arqus Inclusion and Diversity Hub and held on the afternoon of 1 April at Leipzig University.

The event welcomed over thirty participants, including students, academic and non-academic staff, and leadership representatives from various Arqus institutions, Working Groups, Boards, and the Student Council. This collaborative workshop was open to all Arqus members attending the Arqus Annual Conference in person.

More participants than previously expected attended the session – a sign of the growing interest and commitment to EDI across the Alliance. Notably, over a third of the participants were students, bringing fresh perspectives, lived experiences, and strong energy to the conversations.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion is at the heart of Arqus’ mission – but living these values takes more than policy. It requires collaboration, shared responsibility, and courageous conversations. The Open Room provided space for exactly that: a hands-on, interactive session focused on translating the Arqus EDI Action Plan into meaningful, practical strategies. 

Participants worked in diverse groups that included international students, professional and academic staff to reflect on key questions: “What do I need?” and “How can I contribute?”. The discussions highlighted the importance of empathy, curiosity, and co-creating safe spaces where all voices are heard.

EDI should not be seen as a challenge, but as a comfort zone – something to lean into, not shy away from.

By linking the Arqus EDI Action Plan to ongoing activities across Working Groups and institutional strategies, the session helped uncover areas for alignment and future collaboration. As one participant put it, “This is just the beginning – we need more spaces like this to keep the momentum going”.

The strong engagement during the session demonstrated the value of these collaborative spaces and the need to make them a recurring part of dialogues across Arqus.

Learn more about the Arqus Inclusion and Diversity Hub here and read the Arqus EDI Action Plan:

Download Arqus EDI Action Plan