U21 annual meeting in Lund 7–11 May

07 May 2012

U21’s annual meeting will be held at Lund University on 7–11 May. Representatives of the 23 member universities in Universitas 21 can expect a packed programme when they arrive in Lund at the start of next week.

The U21 symposium on 10 May will discuss issues concerning corporate social responsibility and how we can meet the major challenges facing society with the help of research, dialogue and social engagement. The aim is to discuss how we can best do good in interaction with the world around us.

It is hoped that the outcomes of the week’s meetings will be converted into valuable knowledge that will form a springboard for something new that in the long term will strengthen the U21 network and our respective universities’ research and education platforms in the years to come.

Important events during the week

• Research Leaders’ Meeting
The meeting will be chaired by Assistant Vice-Chancellor Sven Strömqvist on the theme of Impact.

• International Directors’ Meeting
Focus will be on international strategies and shared global issues.

• Debate between Research Leaders and International Directors
Gunilla Carlecrantz (External Relations) will chair the debate, which will focus on how the universities can work together to transform potential threats into opportunities in order to attract students and staff.

• Presidential Symposium
The Role of Universities in Today’s Learning Society: the Knowledge Triangle and Beyond
Speakers and delegates will discuss the social and global role and responsibilities of the university in relation to the major challenges facing society. The day’s discussions will result in a position paper and a report.

• Awards Ceremony

The Gilbert Medal will be awarded to Dr Allan Goodman, President of the Institute of International Education (IIE). The medal has been designed by two Lund University students.

U21 Awards – recipients will include the late Professor Göte Hansson.
About Universitas 21

Universitas 21 is an international network of 23 leading research-intensive and comprehensive universities in 15 countries. Membership of U21 is one example of how Lund University works with internationalisation to create long-term collaborations on the global arena. It is also part of our strategic plan.

The network's purpose is to encourage and facilitate mobility between the member universities and to create opportunities for collaborations and development projects in education, research and administration.

The overall strategy of U21 is to strengthen and encourage joint research collaborations on global sustainable development in order to find solutions to global social problems.

Link to the Gilbert Medal
Link to the Medal Design
Link to U21 Awards