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U7 Alliance holds first international summit in Paris

Some 50 universities from 20 countries gathered in Paris in early July for the first international summit of the U7 Alliance. Participants adopted 6 major principles and 247 commitments to respond to the challenges of tomorrow.

The first global summit of the U7 Alliance, an international organization of of university presidents from the G7 countries and beyond, took place at Sciences Po in Paris on July 11–12. The goal of the inaugural meeting was to address major global challenges from the university perspective. The participating institutions agreed to join forces to identify concrete actions for the university community in preparation for the upcoming G7 summit in Biarritz on August 24–26.

Representing more than 2 million students around the world, the U7 summit brought some of France’s major universities and schools together with their opposite numbers in other countries, including the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, the United States, Canada, Argentina, Mexico, India, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Morocco, Senegal, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, and South Africa.

The alliance’s deliberations identified five major global challenges:

  • the role of postsecondary institutions in a globalized world;
  • climate and the energy transition;
  • inequality and the responsibility of higher education in the fight against the polarization of our societies;
  • the impact of technological innovation;
  • civic engagement.

In a closing statement signed by the participants, six broad principles organized into 247 specific commitments were adopted to respond to the five challenges. Each of the commitments is accompanied by concrete actions, many of which could bring local, regional, or global gains upon implementation by one or more member universities. All confirm the key role of higher education institutions as engaged global actors.

 

 

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Published on: 22/07/2019 à 11:27
Updated : 29/07/2019 à 11:41
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