The fourth annual Arqus Conference took place at the University of Minho in Braga, Portugal, under the theme "Connecting Universities, Addressing Challenges". This three-day major Arqus event brought together around 250 participants from different universities.
The conference was attended by university management, staff from partner universities, members of the Arqus International Board of Experts, colleagues from other alliances, experts and students. On the first day, the conference started with an official opening ceremony attended by the Portuguese Minister of Education, Science and Innovation, Fernando Alexandre, the Arqus Coordinator, Dorothy Kelly, and the Rector of the University of Minho, Rui Vieira de Castro.
The plenary sessions covered a wide range of topics of importance to universities: the potential for reform of research assessment, the role of universities in difficult/crisis periods and the potential for strengthening internationalisation strategies. Particular attention was paid to the importance of interdisciplinarity and collaboration. Collaboration between the university and other academic communities allows to push the boundaries of research, foster innovation and develop sustainable solutions.
An important highlight of the conference was the participation of Uršulė Barkauskaitė, a student from the Life Sciences Center. As a member of the Arqus Student Council, she took part in the internationalisation panel session and was subsequently elected Vice President of the Arqus Student Council. Uršulė Barkauskaitė stressed the importance of the Arqus Alliance in expanding opportunities for student mobility and the quality of education and in shaping the identity of the European Higher Education Area. "The Arqus Student Council hopes that every student who will have the opportunity to participate in such a study programme will gain a unique interdisciplinary experience that will not only enrich his/her perception of today's higher education but will also become an additional step in shaping each university's European identity," the Council's position paper states.
Additionally, Uršulė expressed the hope that the actions of the Arqus Alliance will contribute to the development of a unified approach to internships, not only allowing students to gain an international education through mobility opportunities, but also highlighting the open space for potential and existing researchers to collaborate. "This will help to expand the boundaries of our network of scientific communities and foster even closer collaboration between different disciplines and institutions," - said the student.
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The Arqus Annual Conference is not only a platform for discussion and collaboration, but also a great opportunity for everyone involved to meet in person, socialise and enjoy a strengthened alliance. It is like an end-of-academic-year celebration, bringing together representatives of universities at all levels, from rectors to leaders of thematic working groups, as well as students. Events like this show how important it is for students to get involved in this type of activity and to make their views on issues of concern clearly heard.
The meeting of rectors and their representatives discussed the key issues of the Alliance's strategic direction and the significant challenges facing European university alliances and higher education. These discussions were crucial to ensure full institutional commitment to the Alliance's policies and activities, and will influence the long-term continuity of Arqus' vision, mission and work plan.
The experience and wisdom gained from the conference will be crucial to strengthening the Alliance's objectives in the areas of education, research, innovation and public engagement. The Arqus Annual Conference demonstrated the importance of strengthening interdisciplinary cooperation and student engagement to build an innovative and integrated European Higher Education Area.
More about Arqus Alliance:
https://arqus-alliance.eu/
https://www.vu.lt/en/international-cooperation/arqus-european-university-alliance