Arqus Student Council convenes in Padua

The Arqus Student Council gathered in Padua for a series of meetings and events, coinciding with the Rectors’ Council and Co-Leads Meeting taking place in Venice this week, which met to discuss the mid- to long-term direction of Arqus and analyse the strategic and financial frameworks for the next funding period. This strategic context provided a timely backdrop for the Student Council’s own work in Padua.

With representatives from each partner university participating under the guidance of Lucas De Uña, the Student Council President, the Arqus Student Council was welcomed in Padua, Italy, by Alessia Palma and Gabriele Innorta, the two representatives of the host instution, the University of Padua, with a rich programme preapred for their peers.

As part of the programme, the Padua representatives organised a networking meeting with other representatives from different University of Padua student bodies. This session offered an opportunity to exchange experiences and ideas about the role of Arqus within local institutions and its impact on student life. Participants discussed how the Alliance can strengthen collaboration, foster student engagement, and create meaningful opportunities for students at the partner universities.

The centerpiece of the Council’s visit was a meeting on the morning of 18 November, during which student representatives engaged in detailed discussions on several strategic topics. A major item on the agenda was the planning of ideas, activities, and projects for the coming year, including preliminary budgeting considerations.

During this meeting, the members of the student council explored initiatives aimed at strengthening student engagement and improving the visibility of the Council’s work within the wider Alliance, while also reflecting on the long-term role of the Student Council within Arqus.

The meeting was a complete sucess as the Student Council President said, “I found it particularly rewarding to meet with representatives from the University of Padua’s student body. We had the opportunity to share experiences and ideas, which made our meeting exceptionally productive. Furthermore, today’s session of the Student Council was a great success, as it allowed us to develop new ideas and proposals that will ultimately benefit all of our students.”

Following the meeting, Lucas De Uña will join the Task Force session in Venice, preparing the next Erasmus+ funding application, as well as participating in meetings of the Student Agora co-leads. This will allow him to bring back the discussions and proposals from the Student Council, ensuring that the students’ perspective contributes directly to the planning of Arqus’ next phase.