The Arqus Rectors’ Council met in San Servolo

The University of Padua hosted the 17th meeting of the Arqus Rectors’ Council at the campus of Venice International University on San Servolo Island, marking the beginning of a week of significant events. The Rectors of the Arqus universities convened for two days, during which they held a retreat and a formal Rectors’ Council meeting to discuss and shape the mid- to long-term direction of the Alliance.

Among the principal items on the agenda, the rectors examined the strategic and financial framework for the Alliance’s next phase. They also considered the possibility of establishing a legal entity for Arqus, a step that would have strengthened its institutional identity and supported long-term sustainability. The meeting also provided an occasion to introduce Paloma Fernández Torres, who assumed her position as the new Arqus Secretary General on 1 October.

In addition, preparations for the 2026 Arqus Annual Conference at Maynooth University were reviewed, with discussions highlighting its connection to the forthcoming Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union. A dedicated session also explored the role of the Alliance’s associate partners – Durham University and the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy.

These key meetings of the Rectors were followed by a meeting of the Task Force established to prepare the next Erasmus+ funding application, as well as meetings of the co-leads of the various working groups to plan the remaining months leading up to the completion of their objectives.

Venice International University is a unique consortium of 23 universities and research institutions from around the world – including the University of Padua – with an autonomous campus located on San Servolo Island, in the heart of the Venetian Lagoon.