The Arqus Living Labs work as generators of innovative responses to three major and interconnected thematic priorities for the XXIst century: Climate Change & Sustainable Development, Artificial Intelligence & Digital Transformation, European Identity & Heritage.
These labs are an innovative umbrella concept promoting the setting up and development of communities and spaces for the generation of interdisciplinary, challenge-based approaches to major societal challenges, in particular but not exclusively the three priorities established by the Alliance (Climate Change & Sustainable Development, Digital Transformation & Artificial Intelligence, and promoting European Identity & Heritage for the future of Europe as a key global actor) and their interconnections.
In line with the objectives and recommendations of the recent EU policy document on Education for Environmental Sustainability and the Digital Education Action Plan, Arqus aims to stimulate bottom-up responses to the need for strong education initiatives at all levels for the twin green and digital transition, for sound research and innovation proposals and, especially, to ensure that the synergies between education, research, innovation and dissemination are exploited to the full, by having them generated in a single open space.
The Living Labs will thus constitute an open space for the promotion of multiple bottom-up groupings of students, academics, professionals, external stakeholders such as companies, non-governmental organizations, local and regional authorities, schools, museums and so on, working together towards the common goal of contributing to solving Europe’s long-term challenges through education, research and innovation in a science-based and democratic way. In this way, it builds on ideas generated and links already established in various actions under Arqus I through Children’s Universities, Seniors’ Universities, with local NGOs and companies.
The Labs provide a laboratory for the partner universities to connect activities with the long-term vision of initiatives of the Alliance, and are conceived as a dynamic community generator of bottom-up initiatives of all kinds leading to actual implementation in joint flexible academic offer of all kinds, including full joint degree programmes at EQF6, 7 and 8, teaching innovation, seed funding applications for innovative learning activities, links with and between our local ecosystems, doctoral activities, or research and innovation initiatives.
Last but not least, the Living Labs aim also to generate Arqus policies and practices relating to the twin green and digital transitions and to the defence of European values, promoting our role as a model for sustainable progress and democratic culture.
The Arqus Interdisciplinary Virtual Lab Initiative is designed to advance collaborative teaching, research, and innovation across partner universities. By addressing key challenges, this initiative aims to create a dynamic virtual environment that supports interdisciplinary activities and fosters international cooperation.
Our Recommendations for the Interdisciplinary Arqus Virtual Lab Initiative (Download PDF) provide actionable insights and strategies to overcome existing barriers and ensure the successful implementation of virtual labs. Grounded in survey results from the Arqus Living Lab working group and informed by leading examples from partner institutions, these recommendations outline clear steps for enhancing communication, inclusivity, and accessibility in virtual spaces.
