The 2026 Arqus Annual Conference brings the Alliance communities together for a week of ideas, achievements and new milestones

The 2026 Arqus Annual Conference, hosted by Maynooth University from 7 to 9 July, brought together students, academics, professional staff and stakeholders for the Arqus most important annual gathering.

Beyond offering a space to reflect on the impact of Arqus and of the European Universities Initiative as a whole, this year’s conference was marked by a series of major milestones for the Alliance, including the approval of the Arqus Bridge Funding, the ratification of the decision to establish the Arqus Legal Entity, the selection of the EAS-EL project for funding, the election of a new Arqus Student Council President, the Arqus Awards Ceremony, and an unforgettable performance by the Arqus Joint Choir.

Throughout the two-day programme, speakers from across the European higher education landscape explored how university alliances are creating impact at every level: transforming individual lives, reshaping institutions, contributing to European policymaking and strengthening universities’ role in society. Personal testimonies from students, academics and professional staff highlighted how international cooperation opens new opportunities, builds lasting connections and broadens perspectives, while discussions repeatedly returned to the importance of trust, collaboration and protecting the bridges that European alliances have built over recent years.

The conference also examined the profound institutional transformation taking place across European universities. Speakers reflected on how alliances are moving beyond individual projects to become long-term strategic partnerships, enabling universities to develop joint programmes, strengthen student support services, share expertise and rethink governance models. Suzanne Conze, Head of Unit for Higher Education at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, described the European Universities Initiative as one of the most successful higher education initiatives of recent decades, highlighting the alliances’ role in experimenting with new models of cooperation and helping shape the future of European higher education.

The final plenaries broadened the conversation even further, examining how university alliances are contributing to scientific diplomacy, regional development and international cooperation. Representatives from the European Commission, the European University Association, other Alliances such as EU-Green and EU-CONEXUS, national authorities and regional stakeholders underlined the growing strategic importance of alliances in building a more connected, resilient and globally competitive European Higher Education Area.

The conference was also accompanied by several important announcements that reinforced the Alliance’s impulse. Among the most celebrated was the approval of Arqus Bridge Funding by the European Commission, providing continuity for the Alliance’s activities and supporting its long-term transformation. Participants also welcomed the ratification by the Rectors’ Council of the decision to establish an Arqus Legal Entity, with further details to be announced in the coming weeks.

Another positive milestone was the announcement of the selection for funding of the EAS-EL (European AI Sandbox for Entrepreneurial Learning) project, under the call of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) Higher Education Initiative. This project, led by the University of Graz, has been awarded up to €1,998,995 for a 24-month implementation period beginning in September 2026, and it will help strengthen innovation and entrepreneurship across the Alliance. By creating a shared ecosystem, the Arqus community will be able to develop, test and transform artificial intelligence-based ideas into innovative solutions and entrepreneurial ventures.

Alongside strategic discussions and institutional developments, the conference also celebrated the people who make the Alliance possible. During the Arqus Awards Ceremony, members of the Arqus community were recognised for their outstanding contributions, highlighting the commitment, innovation and collaboration that continue to drive Arqus forward.

Students also played a central role throughout the conference, contributing to several communication actions and participating in the workshop How Do We Make Arqus More Inclusive?, where Arqus Student Ambassadors worked together on real-life scenarios reflecting the diverse challenges students may face when participating in international mobility. Participants explored cases involving, for example, students with caring responsibilities, wheelchair users undertaking mobility across several universities, and other learners facing barriers to participation. Their proposals and recommendations will feed directly into the work of the Alliance’s EDI team, supporting the development of future action plans to make mobility and student services more inclusive and responsive to the needs of the entire Arqus community.

One of the week’s most memorable moments came at St Patrick’s College Chapel, where the Arqus Joint Choir, accompanied by the Maynooth University Orchestra under the direction of Dr Michael T. Dawson, performed Antonio Vivaldi’s Gloria. Bringing together singers from the Universities of Granada, Lyon, Padua, Vilnius, Kyiv and Maynooth, the concert beautifully captured the values of friendship, collaboration and intercultural exchange that define Arqus. The standing ovation from the audience reflected not only the exceptional musical performance but also its symbolic significance as an expression of European cooperation. The following morning, Maynooth University President Eeva Leinonen echoed this sentiment, describing the choir as perhaps the best metaphor for Arqus itself: “Arqus is not a single project, but a collection of everything we do together.”

Student representation was further strengthened during the conference with the election of Povilas Virbasius (Vilnius University) as the new President of the Arqus Student Council. During the closing session, the outgoing President Lucas de Uña reflected on the remarkable growth of the Student Council over the past three years, underlining the increasingly important role students play in shaping the future of the Alliance.

The closing session also marked an emotional moment as colleagues from across the Alliance thanked Dorothy Kelly during her final Arqus Annual Conference as the Arqus Coordinator.  “Arqus has been a truly and uniquely rewarding part of my professional and academic life for which I cannot be more grateful. I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the entire Arqus community, not only for your achievements, but also for creating what is a cohesive, warm, friendly and mutually supportive Arqus family”, she said. While stepping down from the coordination role, Dorothy will continue working alongside the Alliance in the months ahead, contributing to the final report and supporting Arqus as it enters its next phase. Participants also welcomed Guadalupe Soriano as incoming Arqus Coordinator before looking ahead to the 2027 Arqus Annual Conference, which will be hosted by Claude Bernard University of Lyon 1.

As participants departed Maynooth, the message was clear: the 2026 Arqus Annual Conference was much more than the Alliance’s annual meeting. It was a celebration of how far Arqus has come and a demonstration of the momentum it continues to build. With renewed European support, strengthened governance, new student leadership and an ever-deepening culture of collaboration, the Alliance is well positioned to continue shaping the future of European higher education together.