The University of Padua launches the first Partner Days, strengthening Arqus and inter-alliance collaboration

The University of Padua organises its first-ever Partner Days initiative, welcoming professional staff from partner universities for a week-long training and exchange experience.

Held from 17 to 20 June, the event brings together 10 visiting colleagues from 4 partner institutions, including staff from the University of Lyon 1 and Vilnius University, to explore the universities’ structures, best practices and collaborative opportunities.

Designed in response to the growing number of requests for departmental visits and job shadowing, Partner Days consolidates these exchanges into a focused, annual event. This new format not only enables more meaningful engagement but also provides a platform for collective learning and broader networking across institutions.

Throughout the week, participants are engaging in shared activities, such as general presentations of the University of Padua, its International Relations Division and its participation in the Arqus Alliance, followed by guided tours and individual office visits aligned with their specific professional interests.

“The success of this new format shows how beneficial it is to bring professionals from different universities together in a single moment of exchange,” said the organising team at the University of Padua. “It allows for a deeper understanding of our institution, more effective sharing of good practices, and meaningful networking across institutions and roles.”

The initiative reflects Arqus mission to foster collaboration and mutual learning not only within the Alliance but also with other higher education institutions. By promoting peer-to-peer staff mobility, capacity building and inter-alliance cooperation, events like Partner Days demonstrate how strategic frameworks like Arqus can empower universities to work more effectively and innovatively together.

Building on the enthusiastic feedback from this inaugural edition, the University of Padua plans to establish Partner Days as a recurring annual event, further strengthening institutional ties and professional networks across Europe.