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Critical raw materials (MPCs) are today a strategic pillar for global industrial and technological development. From the energy transition to economic competitiveness, their availability shapes our tomorrow.
The Critical Raw Materials Days are a joint initiative of the universities of the Arqus Alliance (Padova, Granada, Minho, Vilnius and Wroclaw) to explore the importance of these resources, address sustainability challenges and promote responsible management.
The initiative includes online seminars in English and a special in-person event in Padova. All activities are informative and are aimed at a non-specialized audience.
Online Sessions
Title: Critical Raw Materials: The invisible resources shaping our future
Rapporteur: Concepción Fernández-Leyva (Policy Officer at the CSIC office in Brussels).
Content: An analysis of the importance of MPCs for the green and digital transition in Europe and the main policy and sustainability challenges.
Title: Conversations on Critical Raw Materials: The hidden resources behind modern life
Moderator: Teresa Maria Fernandes Valente (Portugal), expert in environmental impact mining.
Speakers: An international panel of experts from Poland, Spain, Portugal, Italy (Paolo Nimis) and Lithuania will discuss secondary source recovery, sustainable mining strategies and European mining potential.
Face-to-face event in Padova (in Italian)
Title: "Critical raw materials, rare earths, strategic minerals... Let's make it clear."
Speakers: Paolo Nimis and Gabriella Salviulo.
What will we do: A meeting to clarify key concepts and opportunities related to the MPCs, without forgetting the human rights issues related to mining. At the end, it will be possible to observe and handle different mineral samples together with the teachers.
Participation is free, but enrolment is required to receive links to online sessions or to reserve a place in Padova.
For more details and to consult the full profiles of the speakers, visit the official Arqus website.
Critical raw materials (MPCs) are today a strategic pillar for global industrial and technological development. From the energy transition to economic competitiveness, their availability shapes our tomorrow.
The Critical Raw Materials Days are a joint initiative of the universities of the Arqus Alliance (Padova, Granada, Minho, Vilnius and Wroclaw) to explore the importance of these resources, address sustainability challenges and promote responsible management.
The initiative includes online seminars in English and a special in-person event in Padova. All activities are informative and are aimed at a non-specialized audience.
Online Sessions
Title: Critical Raw Materials: The invisible resources shaping our future
Rapporteur: Concepción Fernández-Leyva (Policy Officer at the CSIC office in Brussels).
Content: An analysis of the importance of MPCs for the green and digital transition in Europe and the main policy and sustainability challenges.
Title: Conversations on Critical Raw Materials: The hidden resources behind modern life
Moderator: Teresa Maria Fernandes Valente (Portugal), expert in environmental impact mining.
Speakers: An international panel of experts from Poland, Spain, Portugal, Italy (Paolo Nimis) and Lithuania will discuss secondary source recovery, sustainable mining strategies and European mining potential.
Face-to-face event in Padova (in Italian)
Title: "Critical raw materials, rare earths, strategic minerals... Let's make it clear."
Speakers: Paolo Nimis and Gabriella Salviulo.
What will we do: A meeting to clarify key concepts and opportunities related to the MPCs, without forgetting the human rights issues related to mining. At the end, it will be possible to observe and handle different mineral samples together with the teachers.
Participation is free, but enrolment is required to receive links to online sessions or to reserve a place in Padova.
For more details and to consult the full profiles of the speakers, visit the official Arqus website.
The call for tutors of the 12th edition of Arqus Cafés, on syllabus from 16 March to 29 May 2026, is open.
Would you like to join the Arqus Café family as a tutor?
All Arqus languages will be offered and new languages are always welcome!
Tutors support and guide the conversation in their native language or first language, encouraging participants on their learning journey. The tutors of the Arqus Café receive training, guidelines, themes and strategies for conducting the meetings and, in many cases, work in pairs for the same language.
The cafés take place once a week for one hour and the selected tutors will be able to propose their own café at a time compatible with their availability.
The Arqus Cafés are informal gatherings where students and staff can get together to practise their languages, guided by tutors who are native speakers of their respective languages. With online and face-to-face formats, cafés offer participants a relaxed environment to develop language skills and broaden cultural understanding, without the pressures of traditional lecturer-led classes.
Born in the spring of 2020 as a digital initiative, the Arqus Cafés quickly became a great success among the member universities of the Alliance. Today, they remain one of Arqus' most popular activities, offering cultural exchange and the opportunity to make personal connections.
The 12th edition of the Arqus Café will start on March 16, 2026.
Click here to find out more about Arqus Café or contact us at arqus_cafe@arqus-alliance.eu for any further information.
The University of Padova participates in the "9 Months, 9 Universities" webinar series of the Arqus Alliance with a new appointment dedicated to one of the most relevant topics for the academic world: the role of universities in the era of generative artificial intelligence.
The webinar "Generative AI and the role of Universities: from LLM to multi-model architectures" will take place on Tuesday 16 December 2025 at 11:00 CET live on YouTube.
Generative artificial intelligence represents an epochal transformation for the university system, comparable to the invention of printing or the digital revolution. Universities today have the responsibility to lead this change, forming citizens who are aware and capable of understanding its potential, limits and ethical implications.
The webinar will analyze the strategic role of academic institutions in this transition, starting from the awareness that the transformation of knowledge and learning is a historical constant.
The presentation will be held by Dario Da Re, Director of the Digital Learning and Multimedia Office of the University of Padova. With a PhD in Social Research Methodology, Da Re coordinates innovative generative AI projects for education, including the Lucrez-IA platform and its integrations into software and applications.
Unipd's participation in the Arqus series enhances the University's expertise at the European level, offering an international space for discussion on the future of teaching and innovation.
At the heart of the talk will focus on the five pillars of multi-model architectures — scalability, accessibility, security, privacy, and replicability — as a sustainable approach to single business models. These are not only technical principles, but also ethical ones, which are fundamental to adopting AI while respecting university values.
Three key areas of impact will also be explored:
The presentation will conclude with practical examples of implementation of multi-model architectures.
The webinar is open to the academic community and will be broadcast live on the Arqus Alliance's YouTube channel.
The syllabus, led by the Arqus Student Agora, aims to create a network of student ambassadors who promote the values and initiatives of the Alliance, interacting with the student community, staff and local communities.
The ambassadors will be the point of contact for students interested in learning more about the Alliance and its programmes. They will disseminate information about events and activities, involve colleagues and staff members, and contribute to the Alliance's awareness-raising and participation initiatives.
To ensure the success of the syllabus, Arqus will provide ambassadors with comprehensive training and ongoing support. They will have access to resources, including open-source materials, training sessions on effective communication and leadership, and best practice guidelines. Ambassadors will also benefit from networking opportunities, gaining visibility and recognition through the Alliance's communication channels, as well as exclusive access to dedicated events and resources.
The Arqus Ambassadors Program is open to all students enrolled in one of the Arqus universities. Successful candidates must demonstrate a strong interest in international collaboration and cultural exchange, possess good communication skills, and show initiative and creativity. Previous international experience, such as participation in study abroad programs or language exchanges, is particularly valued.
Students interested in becoming Ambassadors of the Arqus Alliance must fill out the application form by 15 November, including their CV and a motivational letter, highlighting their institutional commitment, experience working with international students and their dedication to promoting international cooperation.
For more information about the Arqus Alliance Ambassadors Program, timeline and application process, visit the Arqus Ambassadors Program page or contact the Arqus Student Agora at student-agora@arqus-alliance.eu.
Do you know how to say hello in Welsh? Or how do you ask "how are you?" in Lithuanian?
On 26 September, on the occasion of the European Day of Languages, the Arqus Plurilingual Hub offers students and staff of Arqus universities a unique opportunity: to discover 19 different languages in a simple, fun and engaging way!
This special edition of the Arqus Cafés offers short 45-minute online sessions, designed for complete beginners. You don't need any previous knowledge: in a short time you will learn how to greet, introduce yourself and exchange the first sentences in the chosen language.
You can choose between:
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A special occasion for:
Don't miss this opportunity and dive into languages!
Fill out the form to register and you will receive the Zoom link to participate.
To find out more, see the page on Arqus Cafés.
The call for tutors of the 11th edition of Arqus Cafés, on syllabus from 6 October to 12 December 2025, is open.
The Arqus Cafés are informal gatherings where students and staff of the Alliance's universities can practise a foreign language under the guidance of native or equivalent tutors. Born in the spring of 2020 as a digital initiative, the Cafés have been a great success and today represent one of the most popular events of Arqus, offering a unique opportunity for cultural exchange and linguistic growth in a relaxed environment free of the typical pressures of face-to-face lessons.
As a tutor, you will be tasked with facilitating conversation in your native or main language, encouraging participants to get involved. You will receive dedicated training, guidelines, topic suggestions, and strategies to best conduct the sessions. In many cases you will work in pairs with another tutor of the same language. Each Café lasts one hour per week and can be scheduled according to your availability.
All Arqus languages will be proposed, but there is also room for new languages: your expertise can become a bridge to other cultures!
For more information, visit the page dedicated to Arqus Café or write to: arqus_cafe@arqus-alliance.eu.
Do you want to learn a new language and continue to improve your English at the same time? Starting from September 2025, the entire Unipd community has the opportunity to participate in the Arqus Plurilingualism Module, an innovative and flexible online course, designed for the entire community of Arqus partner universities.
After the success of the pilot phase, in the A.Y. 2025/2026 the module is extended to a wider audience (in addition to students, teachers, researchers and administrative staff are invited to participate) and is presented as a unique experience for those who want to expand their language skills, in line with the European Union's goal of learning at least two foreign languages.
Subscribers will be able to:
The module, completely online and at a flexible pace, includes:
Practical information
To register, fill out the form by September 15, 2025
In the A.Y. 2024/2025 the module was tested with a focus on Lithuanian language and culture. The experience was greatly appreciated by the participants:
"The module gave me valuable insights into language learning, cultural adaptation and literary representation. I reflected on my learning style and deepened my knowledge of the Lithuanian sociolinguistic reality, enriching both my academic background and my personal perspective."
