The Arqus Team at Maynooth University receives Leadership Award

Maynooth University (MU) has granted its Service Excellence and Innovation Awards 2025, recognising and celebrating exceptional staff. This year, the Arqus MU team has been awarded in the Leadership in supporting the University’s Strategic Plan category.

Maynooth University joined the Arqus Alliance at the beginning of 2023 and since then has consolidated its participation, commitment and collaboration opportunities. Led by Ben Finegan since January 2024, the Arqus team at Maynooth University has worked to make sure MU not only benefits from its membership in the Alliance, but also that internationalisation is accessible to everyone across the University.  

The Arqus local team, composed of Ben Finegan alongside Philippa Harper and Desiree Efemuai, has become an integral part of MU’s international strategy. Being a member of Arqus has provided MU faculty, staff and students with numerous opportunities to collaborate with academic peers, engage in global research projects, and explore international mobility. For Ben and the team, it’s about making sure these opportunities reach everyone at Maynooth University, regardless of their role or background.  

In just over a year, the team has made significant strides, raising Maynooth University’s profile within Arqus and securing exciting opportunities for the University. A milestone was the Co-Leads meeting in November 2024, which brought Arqus leadership to MU for the first time and engaged over 100 staff in a networking event. In addition, the next Arqus Annual Conference will take place at Maynooth University in July 2026.   

But for the Arqus MU team, the real success is in the everyday work of making internationalisation feel accessible for everyone at their University. Whether it’s supporting staff mobility, encouraging student involvement, or connecting MU departments with Arqus partners, the team works hard to make sure there’s something for everyone to engage with.   

The team is also committed to reflecting Maynooth University’s culture in their efforts. A collaboration with the Oifigeach na Gaeilge and Irish Language Coordinator Aisling Ní Bheacháin led to the creation of an A1 Irish language course and Arqus Virtual Language Café, a space where MU staff and students can engage informally and learn languages with peers from other Arqus universities.   

The Arqus MU Team has shown that with hard work, adaptability, and a shared sense of purpose, a small team can have a big impact.

Congratulations to the team on receiving the 2025 Leadership in Supporting the University’s Strategic Plan Award for Service Excellence and Innovation!