The Arqus Rectors’ Council meets in Guimarães for its 12th meeting, one day ahead of the official start of the 2024 Arqus Annual Conference

Continuing the tradition of strategic discussions initiated when the Arqus Alliance’s inception in 2019, Arqus Rectors and/or their representatives have convened on 30 June and 1 of July to deliberate on key issues concerning the Alliance’s strategic direction, addressing the significant challenges facing European University Alliances and higher education at large. Their retreat and Council meeting precede the official start of the 2024 Arqus Annual Conference taking place on 2 July.

In order to facilitate discussions, the Rectors’ event has been organised in several working sessions, accompanied by social and cultural activities. Among the key topics that the Arqus Rectors are discussing during their Retreat and Council Meeting are the implementation of the European Commission’s Higher Education Package, the consolidation of a research dimension for the Alliance, the different options to establish a legal entity, the different options to establish a legal entity for the Alliance, sustainable funding strategies, the expansion of the global dimension and regional engagement and leadership development strategies. These debates are crucial for ensuring full institutional commitment to Alliance policies and activities. The outcomes are expected to impact the strategic direction and long-term continuity of the Arqus vision, mission and work plans.

The Conference is officially kicking off tomorrow, 2 July, with the Opening Session “Connecting universities, addressing challenges” at 09:00 GMT+1 in the auditorium A1 of the Gualtar campus. The ceremony will feature Fernando Alexandre, Portuguese Minister of Education, Science and Innovation, Dorothy Kelly, Arqus Coordinator, and Rui Vieira de Castro, Rector of the University of Minho.

The 2024 Arqus Annual Conference will also include a mix of open plenary sessions, parallel meetings and networking opportunities, fostering meaningful discussions and collaborations among participants, including university leadership, students and staff from all partner universities, as well as the Arqus International Advisory Board (IAB) members, colleagues from CIVIS, ECIU, YUFE and UNITE! Alliances and experts in different fields.

Find out more about the 2024 Arqus Annual Conference. The detailed programme of the plenary sessions is available here. Please register here if you would like to attend any of these sessions.