Arqus II

Arqus II is the continuation of the Arqus European University Alliance initiated in 2019. Arqus is composed of the universities of Granada, Graz, Leipzig, Lyon1, Maynooth, Minho, Padua, Vilnius and Wroclaw. Its vision for 2032 is that of a forward-looking, open, integrated, and research-driven European University, building transformative excellence with and for all. Arqus II will upscale and institutionalize the pilot actions implemented in Arqus I.

Arqus II will deepen its focus on communities, promoting student and staff engagement through three separate initiatives:

1. the Arqus Living Lab as a generator 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);
2. the Arqus Communities of Practice will address domain-based challenges for professional and academic staff; and
3. the Arqus Student Agora will constitute a dynamic framework for student-led co-creation initiatives.

Arqus II will advance in joint flexible learning pathways, in innovative teaching, in enhancing the experience of early-stage researchers, and in synergies with its local eco-systems. It will promote three cross-cutting enablers: traditional and innovative forms of mobility for all; inclusion and diversity; plurilingual and intercultural competence for democratic culture.

In order to fulfil these tasks, Arqus II will develop a common digital environment for its collaborative work, as a joint virtual learning and teaching platform, digital tools for federated digital identity and secure certification. It will set up a Talent & Innovation Fund to attract excellent postgraduate students, to offer seed-funding for small-scale bottom-up initiatives, and to test new forms of mobility. Finally, Arqus II will establish a development unit to facilitate data and evidence-based analysis for the strategic planning of the future of the Alliance.

Public deliverables