info@arqus-alliance.eu

2026 Arqus Annual Conference

From 8 to 10 July2026

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Type: Engaged Citizens, Networking

Format: Conference

Voices of impact: Weaving stories across Europe

The Arqus Alliance will hold its 6th Annual Conference in Maynooth from 8 to 10 July 2026, bringing together the Arqus community for three days of dialogue, reflection and connection.

As the Alliance’s annual gathering, the conference will welcome university leaders, students and staff from partner institutions, alongside members of the Arqus International Advisory Board and invited external experts.

Around 300 participants are expected to take part.

About this year’s theme

This year’s conference is designed as a vibrant, story-driven forum where voices from across Arqus and beyond will share examples of the European Universities Initiative in action.

Under the theme “Voices of Impact: Weaving Stories Across Europe,” the programme places lived experience at its centre.

We believe that real stories are powerful catalysts for:

  • deepening understanding
  • strengthening collaboration
  • and inspiring meaningful change across European higher education

Through a dynamic mix of plenaries, panels and community moments, the conference will highlight how the Arqus Alliance continues to create impact across institutions, communities and borders.

If you are interested in participating, please contact your Institutional Coordinator.

How the plenaries are organised:

The plenary sessions are structured to move beyond traditional academic presentations. Each speaker is invited to deliver a 10–15 minute story-driven talk, focusing on personal experiences and tangible impact at individual, institutional, policy, or societal levels. We are strongly encouraging the use of imagery and interactive visual aids in place of text-heavy slides. The emphasis is on authenticity, connection, and engagement: real stories, real voices, and real change.

Audience input will be collected electronically and integrated into the sessions for open debate and reflection.

Full programme

6 July: Student Council arrival day

Student Council arrival
Communications Team arrival day

7 July: Retreats and Delegation Arrival Day

Student Council Retreat
Delegations arrival
Working Group meetings – optional
Dinner Executive Council and International Advisory Board

8 July: Conference Day 1

08:00 | Registration and Networking Breakfast

09:30 | Opening Ceremony

10:15 | Plenary Session 1: Personal Impact; Journeys of Change: Personal Stories from the Heart of Europe

The opening plenary sets the stage by exploring the individual journeys and personal transformations through European collaboration. Speakers will share narratives of how their involvement in Arqus and other initiatives has shaped their professional and personal paths, highlighting the human element at the core of collective impact.

Speakers:

  • Dr Erivelton Nepomuceno, Associate Professor of Electronic Engineering & International Coordinator, Maynooth University.
  • Sharon Ferguson, Mental Health & Wellbeing Project Officer, Atlantic Technological University.
  • Elena Diana Radoi, Blue Book Trainee, European Commission / Arqus Ambassador / Student of the Arqus Joint Master’s Programme in European Studies.

11:30 | Coffee Break

11:45 | Plenary Session 2: Institutional impact; Redefining the University: Institutional Transformation Through European Alliances

This session delves into how European university alliances are fundamentally reshaping higher education institutions. Speakers will share insights into strategic shifts, innovative practices, and the challenges and successes encountered in transforming university structures to meet the demands of a globalised and interconnected world.

Speakers:

  • Martha Brandes, Head of Access Operations, Maynooth University.
  • Fernando Galán, EU-CONEXUS Executive Director.
  • Adriana Miele, Professor of Biophysics, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Arqus.

13:00 | Lunch with Campus or Cultural Tours

14:30 | Plenary Session 3: Systemic Impact; Universities as Policy Shapers: Driving Change Through European Alliances

This plenary examines the strategic role of European universities in shaping policy, research priorities, and higher education frameworks across Europe. Speakers will discuss how alliances translate academic expertise into actionable initiatives, engage with governmental and EU institutions, and influence systemic change to tackle societal challenges. The session highlights perspectives from policymakers, university leaders, and student representatives on building inclusive, innovative, and future-ready higher education systems.

Speakers:

  • Euo, Head of Unit, Higher Education, DG EAC, European Commission.
  • Josep Maria Garrell, European University Association (EUA) President.
  • David Itier, Head of EU Strategy, Research & Higher Education Unit, Ministere de l’Enseignement Supérieur
  • Lana Par, European Students’ Union President 2025/26

15:45 | Coffee Break

16:10 | Internal Meetings, Executive Council Meeting

19:00 | Vivaldi – Gloria

Conductor: Dr. Michael T. Dawson
Performed by the Joint Choirs of five Arqus Alliance universities with the Maynooth University Orchestra

19:30 | Gala Dinner in Pugin Hall

9 July: Conference Day 2

08:00 | Networking Breakfast

09:00 | Opening and Recap

09:15 | Plenary Session 4: External Stakeholder Impact; Beyond Borders: European Universities and Their Societal Footprint

The concluding plenary examines the broader societal impact of European universities, extending beyond academic and institutional boundaries. Speakers will explore how alliances contribute to addressing global challenges, fostering civic engagement, and shaping a more inclusive and sustainable future for communities across Europe and the world.

Speakers:

  • Piotr Kepski, Director of Institutional Programmes, NAWA
  • Speaker TBC
  • Office of Municipality of Guimarães

10:30 | Arqus Awards 

11:15 | Group Photo

11:30 | Coffee Break

11:30 | Rectors’ Retreat

11:45 | Cultural Activities

  • Irish Sport Demonstration
  • Irish Céilí Dancing Demonstration

13:00 | Lunch

13:45 | Growing Together: Arqus Alliance Tree Planting

14:30 | Internal Meetings, Rectors’ Council Meeting

15:45 | Campus or Cultural Tours

10 July: Departure Day

Accommodation

We warmly encourage all participants to stay on campus at Maynooth University. This puts you close to the conference venues, in a friendly community of fellow delegates, with comfortable en-suite rooms and excellent value for your stay.

Your Institutional Coordinators have received dedicated booking forms to reserve your delegation in our on-campus accommodation.

Should this not be suitable for you, alternative options are available nearby, please see details below

Glenroyal Hotel

The Glenroyal Hotel is a 4-star hotel with leisure facilities. It is located within Maynooth town, a short five-minute walk to the university.  Link

Springfield Hotel (Leixlip)

The Springfield Hotel is a 4-star hotel located in Leixlip. It is accessible via a 20-minute taxi or serviced by a number of public buses to the university. Link

Clayton Hotel (Liffey Valley)

The Clayton Hotel is a 4-star hotel located in Liffey Valley. It is accessible via a 25-minute taxi or serviced by a number of public buses to the university.  Link

Court Yard Hotel (Leixlip)

The Court Yard Hotel is a 4-star hotel located in Leixlip. It is accessible via a 20-minute taxi or a public bus, C3 Dublin Bus, to the university. Link

Dunboyne Castle Hotel & Spa (Dunboyne)

The Dunboyne Castle Hotel & Spa is a 4-star estate hotel with leisure facilities. It is located a 20-minute taxi from the university in Dunboyne but does not have public transport options.  Link

How to get to Maynooth

Aircoach

  • Route: Aircoach 700/700X from Dublin Airport (Terminal 1 Zone 2 / Terminal 2 Zone 20) to Drumcondra Train Station.
  • Frequency: Every 20 minutes throughout the day.
  • Transfer: From Drumcondra, take a frequent Maynooth-bound train; it’s a 10–15 minute walk from Maynooth Station to campus.
  • Fare Tip: Booking online in advance is usually cheaper (around €6–€8 one way).

This option is slightly more comfortable and direct, with more space for luggage, but typically costs more than standard public buses.

 

Dublin Bus

  • Routes: Dublin Bus 16 or 41 from Zone 15 (outside Terminals 1 & 2) to Drumcondra Train Station.
  • Frequency: every 15–20 minutes during the day.
  • Transfer: From Drumcondra, take a frequent Maynooth-bound train; 10–15 minute walk from Maynooth Station to campus.
  • Fare Tip: Standard Dublin Bus fares are lower (around €2–€3 exact fare in coinage required, paper currency not applicable).

This option is cheaper, though buses make more stops and have limited luggage space.

 

Expressway (Direct Bus Option)

  • Route: Expressway Route 22 from Dublin Airport to Ballina.
  • Terminal: Stop 9, Zone 13, a short walk from Terminals 1 and 2.
  • Frequency: Buses depart 4 times per day.
  • Tickets: Available at the stop or pre-book online.
  • Fare Tip: Pre-booking is recommended due to limited departures.

This option is direct but much less frequent than Aircoach or Dublin Bus.

 

Taxi

A taxi from Dublin Airport to Maynooth typically costs €50–70 and takes around 40 minutes, depending on traffic.

When you arrive, follow the “Taxis / Ground Transport” signage in the terminal to reach the official taxi ranks. Taxi ranks are located directly outside the arrivals area of both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 and are clearly signposted throughout the airport buildings.

You can also pre‑order a taxi using apps such as Free Now, Lynx, Uber, Bolt or Taxy, and many of these services will direct you to a designated pickup point if it differs from the official rank location.

Local taxi companies you can contact:

  • Express Cabs / Maynooth Cabs: (01) 628 9866
  • Manor Cabs: (01) 629 3596
  • Transfer Crew (airport-specific): 083 119 6574
  • Major Minor Cabs & Taxis: (01) 601 6160
  • Flood Aidan Taxi: 087 259 1600
  • Maynooth Cabs Ltd: (01) 628 9999

These are local services based in Maynooth that can be useful for getting around during the conference, and many also provide airport transfers.

Arqus Conference Arrival Guide

Open PDF

Download the Arqus Conference booklet

Meet the speakers:

Erivelton Nepomuceno (Arqus Alliance)

Erivelton Nepomuceno is an Associate Professor in the Department of Electronic Engineering, the Hamilton Institute, and the Centre for Ocean Energy Research at Maynooth University. He has held visiting positions at ITA (Brazil), Imperial College London, Saint Petersburg Electrotechnical University, and City, University of London. A Senior Member of IEEE, he serves as Associate Editor-in-Chief of IEEE JETCAS and Chair of the IEEE Nonlinear Circuits and Systems Technical Committee (2025–2027). He also coordinates the Arqus Community of Practice Green Computing Group. His research interests include computer arithmetic, chaotic cryptography, green computing, ocean energy, and system identification. He has published over 300 scientific papers.

Sharon Ferguson (Atlantic Technological University)

Sharon Ferguson is Mental Health & Wellbeing Project Officer at Atlantic Technological University, Donegal, Ireland. Sharon has a Bachelor of Science in Business Management & Community Development, a Postgraduate Certificate in Health Promotion & is currently completing her Master’s in Health Promotion Practice. Sharon is a registered member of the Association for Health Promotion Ireland. Sharon began her therapeutic career as a psychological support worker & education officer with Donegal Sexual Abuse & Rape Crisis Centre. After completing her studies in counselling, she has worked in the fields of elder abuse, addiction and mental health. She is the author and founder of the Wellness Café model with Wellness Cafes across Donegal & Co.Clare and in several campuses across ATU.

Elena Diana Radoi (Arqus Alliance)

Elena Diana Radoi is a Blue Book Trainee at the European Commission, working in the Secretariat-General, Relations with the European Parliament and National Parliaments. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in European Studies from Otto von Guericke University and is currently completing the Joint Master’s Programme in European Studies within the Arqus European University Alliance, with the University of Granada as her home institution. Her academic and professional trajectory focuses on EU governance, interinstitutional relations, and European cooperation. Diana has previously gained experience at the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Romanian Embassy in Berlin and is actively involved as an Arqus Ambassador.

Martha Brandes (Arqus Alliance)

Martha Brandes is the Head of Access Operations at the Maynooth University Access Programme and has 18 years of experience in widening participation and inclusive higher education. She leads the operations and contributes to the strategic direction of MAP, the university’s widening participation programme, which supports more than 3,000 students each year. Martha works across schools, communities, and university partners to broaden participation and strengthen outcomes for students from backgrounds underrepresented in higher education. Her practice centres student voices and draws on design-led approaches to understand barriers and support the university to become more inclusive across all aspects of the student experience. She represents Maynooth University in ARQUS Working Group 10 Inclusion and Diversity Hub, contributing to the Alliance’s collective work on equity and inclusion.

Fernando Galán (EU-CONEXUS)

Fernando Galán is the Executive Director of the EU-CONEXUS European University Alliance, based in Brussels. He has over a decade of experience in European higher education policy, quality assurance and university alliances. Before joining EU-CONEXUS in 2025, he served as Secretary General of the Arqus European University Alliance, Head of International Engagement at the Spanish Rectors’ Conference (CRUE), and Policy and Project Officer at EURASHE. A former President of the European Students’ Union, he has been part of the Bologna Process’ BFUG board and of different expert groups of the European Union, the Council of Europe, UNESCO and the OECD, as well as of quality assurance agencies and universities, among others. He holds a degree in Law and a Master’s in Quality Assessment and Management in Higher Education.

Adriana Miele (Arqus Alliance)

Prof Adriana Erica Miele, PhD, is a full professor of Biophysics and Biochemistry at Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 (FR), Institute of Analytical Sciences (UMR 5280 ISA CNRS UCBL). Adriana obtained her PhD in Biochemistry at Sapienza University of Rome (IT) in March 2000; after a postDoc at the MRC-Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge (UK), she was hired as researcher in 2003 and then promoted as associate professor in 2007 at the Faculty of Pharmacy and Medicine of Sapienza University of Rome; since 2016 she was appointed full professor at UCBL. Since 2023, she has been coordinating an international doctoral programme, built within the Arqus Alliance and funded by the HE-MSCA-COFUND action. Her expertise in structural and molecular biophysics is driving her research, aimed at understanding the structure-function relationships in host-parasite interactions.

Susanne Conze (European Commission)

Susanne Conze is Head of Unit for Higher education in the Directorate General for Education, Culture, Youth and Sport of the European Commission. The unit is the lead service for the development of the European Education Area’s higher education dimension as well as devising and managing the higher education strand of the flagship Erasmus+ Programme via the National Agencies and the Executive Agency EACEA. During her career, both in the Commission and before, Susanne worked in different areas of education and social inclusion policies as well as in the management of European education programmes. She studied history, sociology and political science and holds a PhD in history.

Josep Maria Garrell (European University Association)

Prof. Josep M. Garrell is President of the European University Association (EUA). He is a former Rector of Ramon Llull University (Universitat Ramon Llull), Spain. He was elected EUA President in 2023, having served on the Association’s Board since 2019. Before his terms as rector, he held several leadership positions at Ramon Llull University, such as Secretary of the Research Commission (1998-2002), Delegate of the Rector for ICT (2000-2002), Vice-Rector for Research and Innovation (2002-2010), Secretary General (2006-2010) and Vice-Rector for University Policy (2010-2012). Professor Garrell holds a Doctorate in Electronic Engineering from Ramon Llull University. As a faculty member and researcher at Ramon Llull University (URL), he specialised in artificial intelligence and machine learning. He co-founded the Intelligent Systems Investigation Group at the university’s La Salle campus and conducted research at Carnegie Mellon University’s Pittsburgh Supercomputing Centre. Professor Garrell was formerly President of the Strategic Alliance of Catholic Universities (SACRU). From 2014 to 2018, he was a member of the Catalan Parliament’s Advisory Council on Science and Technology (CAPCIT), as the representative of Catalan private non-profit universities.

David Itier (French Ministry)

David Itier is a French civil servant and European policy specialist whose career centres on research, innovation, and higher education policy at both French and EU levels, currently serving as Head of Unit for EU Strategy at the Ministry of Research, Higher Education and Space. He has held senior advisory, coordination, and liaison roles focused on European framework programmes such as Horizon 2020, international scientific cooperation, innovation policy, and public–private research initiatives. Based largely in Brussels-facing positions, he has represented French research organisations to EU institutions, developed advocacy and lobbying strategies, and supported scientific communities in accessing European funding. Trained in European studies, international affairs, and contemporary history in France and Germany, his expertise spans European research and innovation policy, funding programmes, and the strategic positioning and governance of research and higher education systems within the EU.

Lana Par (European Students’ Union)

Lana Par is the President of the European Students’ Union (ESU) for the 2025/26 mandate. She has been actively involved in the student movement for over five years, beginning as president of the student council at the University of Rijeka. As a member of the Croatian Students’ Council, she engaged in national and European-level advocacy on a wide range of student issues. Before becoming president, Lana served as Vice-President of ESU during the 2024/25 term and was a member of its Executive Committee since October 2023. In these roles, she worked extensively on topics related to enhancing the Quality of Education and the development of the European Education Area. As president, Lana focuses on advancing the European Education Area and strengthening the Organisational Development and Capacity Building. She is committed to fostering a more inclusive, innovative, and student-driven higher education landscape across Europe.

Piotr Kępski (Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA))

Dr Piotr Kępski is Director of the Department of Institutional Programmes at Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA). Piotr graduated from the University of Warsaw and obtained a PhD in Sociology. He is a fellow of the Robert Bosch Foundation. He is a project manager with much experience in the public sector. From 2004 to 2018, he worked for the Ministry of Science and Higher Education (PL), where he was a delegate to the programme committee for Future Technologies (FET) Horizon 2020. Since 2018, Piotr has been working for NAWA. He coordinated several programmes, including Welcome to Poland. Since 2024, he has been in charge of institutional programmes supporting international collaboration.

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