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Durham joins Arqus Alliance to help shape higher education across Europe
Durham University has joined the Arqus European University Alliance (Arqus) as an associate member.
What is Arqus?
In 2019, the European Commission launched the European University Alliance (EUA) initiative, to boost excellence and inclusion and establish a European Education Area.
Arqus was one of the first 17 alliances selected for funding and there are now 64 EUAs in total, involving more than 560 higher education institutions of all types, from across Europe.
Arqus is a multilateral alliance consisting of nine universities working together to substantially enhance the educational, research, transfer and outreach activity of its members through deep collaboration and partnership.
Caption: Map shows Arqus member universities.
The alliance brings together the universities of Granada, Graz, Leipzig, Lyon 1, Maynooth, Minho, Padua, Vilnius and Wrocław; all leading research-intensive, comprehensive European universities with a strong commitment to regional engagement.
The Arqus Alliance aspires to build on the member universities’ sound experience in collaboration to enhance the education of critically engaged European and global citizens, to increase and improve the joint research capacity of the partner universities, and better respond to the grand societal challenges of the 21st century in Europe and beyond.
Why Durham is joining Arqus
This new multilateral partnership opens up further opportunities for academic excellence and international collaboration, strengthening Durham's position at the forefront of European higher education.
Durham shares Arqus’ commitment to driving sustainable change and empowering its communities to contribute positively through its research, education and institutions.
The alliance has identified interdisciplinary challenges as priority areas for joint actions in the future and Durham has committed to joining Arqus in focusing on two of these priority areas in year one of our association. This includes their Living Labs for Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability, and European Identity and Heritage.
Additionally, we look forward to engaging with several Arqus work packages focussed on teaching innovation, PhD mentoring, student mobility and research support.
Joining the alliance
Durham’s admission to Arqus was celebrated on Monday 4 November, when five Arqus representatives travelled to Durham for a signing ceremony.
"Durham is a world-leading and globally-focused university with a strong commitment to supporting local growth and development. Our fellow Arqus members share that vision, and so the Arqus alliance is a very suitable partnership for us. We look forward to working with partners on further collaboration across research, education and student mobility.”
“Joining the Arqus alliance is a proud moment for Durham, and reflects the ongoing importance of our European relationships and friendships. It was a pleasure to welcome Arqus representatives to Durham, and we look forward to the benefits this partnership will bring, for our staff, students and wider communities.”
“This adhesion reinforces the Arqus strategy of bringing about inclusive systemic impact, building on the added value brought by a new associate partner of a similar profile. I am sure Durham will bring interesting and highly valuable contributions to the alliance. We are looking forward to learning from each other and collaborating in the different key areas of Arqus.”
Find out more:
• Learn more about Arqus
Top header image: (left) Professor Rui Vieira de Castro, Rector of the University of Minho, and (right) Professor Karen O’Brien, Vice-Chancellor and Warden at Durham University
Map: Map shows Arqus member universities. Courtesy of University of Granada.
Bottom image: (front row) Professor Rui Vieira de Castro, Rector of the University of Minho, and (right) Professor Karen O’Brien, Vice-Chancellor and Warden at Durham University. (Back row), Jemima Lloyd (Head of International Partnerships & Relations (International Office), Emma Moore (International Office), Professor Artūras Vasiliauskas (Vice-Rector (Partnerships) of Vilnius University), Professor Dorothy Kelly (Arqus Co-ordinator, University of Granada), Professor Mireille Van Poppel (Vice-Rector of the University of Graz and Chair of Arqus Executive Council), Fernando Galán (Secretary General of the Arqus Alliance), and Professor Claire O’Malley, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Global)