The Arqus Alliance, a consortium of European universities, approved two new joint study programmes on February 13, 2026, at a meeting of its Rectors’ Council held at the University of Granada. The programmes – a Bachelor’s in Physics for Technology and a Master’s in Translation, Technologies and Artificial Intelligence – represent a significant step in the Alliance’s efforts to foster international collaboration in higher education.
The three-year Bachelor’s programme in Physics for Technology will be jointly delivered by Vilnius University, the University of Granada, the University of Padua, and the University of Wrocław. Scheduled to welcome its first students in 2027, the curriculum will be taught in English and will integrate remote and hybrid learning formats alongside on-site seminars and laboratory sessions. According to Prof. Justinas Čeponkus, Vice-Dean for Studies at the Faculty of Physics at Vilnius University, the programme aims to provide a “competitive European physics education” and equip students with “international cooperation experience.”
Vilnius University’s contribution to the Bachelor’s programme will focus on elective courses and thesis supervision in laser physics and semiconductor physics. “Each university will showcase its strengths,” Prof. Čeponkus stated, adding that the initiative will “further strengthen internationalisation and attract students to pursue further studies and research at Vilnius University.”
The Joint Master’s Programme in Translation, Technologies and Artificial Intelligence will be offered by Vilnius University in partnership with the University of Granada, the University of Graz, and the University of Minho. The programme is designed to train specialists capable of navigating the evolving landscape of multilingual communication in the age of artificial intelligence. Students will engage with AI-based translation tools and explore the ethical and legal implications of the technology.
Prof. Mindaugas Kvietkauskas, Dean of the Faculty of Philology at Vilnius University, emphasized the programme’s significance for the institution. “The new Master’s programme… naturally strengthens the international dimension of our Master’s studies,” he said, noting that co-created modules and mobility opportunities will provide students with an “academic community in an international setting.” He also highlighted the programme’s potential to educate specialists equipped for the “global market of language services and technologies.”
The Arqus Rectors’ Council meeting, chaired by Rector Pedro Mercado of the University of Granada, also saw the approval of the Arqus Mission Statement and the Joint Long-term Strategy 2026–2035. These documents will guide the Alliance’s activities and inform its forthcoming application for Bridge Funding. The Council also ratified the appointment of Guadalupe Soriano Barabino, currently the Arqus Institutional Coordinator at the University of Granada, as the new Arqus Alliance Coordinator, effective October 1, 2026.
Through its participation in these new programmes, Vilnius University continues to expand its internationally integrated study offerings within the Arqus Alliance, reinforcing its commitment to internationally-oriented education.