U21 Impact Review 2019 Positive 16 Change Inspirational for Society Projects Contents
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U21 Impact Review 2019 Positive 16 change inspirational for society projects Contents 02 From the Chair 03 Provost’s Update 04 U21’s Commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 05 U21 Staff Scholarship takes the Research Impact Agenda to a Global Level 06 The 2019 U21 AGM – University of Maryland Globalization, Isolationism and the Response in Higher Education 08 Educational Innovation Leaders gather at the University of Johannesburg to meet the challenges of the 4th Industrial Revolution 09 Senior Leaders meet at the University of Auckland 10 Students RISE to U21's newest challenge A Year in the U21 Health Sciences Group 12 The U21 workshop at the University of Glasgow 13 Developing Malaria Vaccine – an example of a 14 U21 Joint PhD RISE is U21’s showcase of student-led U21’s 3MT® showcases brilliant research from 15 around the world projects in the areas of sustainable development, social enterprise and U21 Graduate Collaborative Research Award 16 funding delivers publication success non-profit innovation. U21 Early Career Workshop looks at ‘Water and Find out how you can get involved on page 10 17 Society’ Innovation in Global Education takes centre stage 18 at UC Davis "Enough to cement What support anyone’s faith can you pledge? in the future universitas21.com/rise of humanity" From the Chair The theme of the 2019 U21 AGM and Presidential Meetings was European university allows us to further strengthen our Globalization, Isolationism, and the Response in Higher Education. bonds on this continent, particularly important at this The timely discussions that emerged at this event confirmed time of writing. We warmly welcome Rector Luc Sels that U21’s membership face many shared difficulties in a rapidly and our new colleagues from Leuven to U21 and look changing global landscape, including serious challenges to the forward to working with them on their ambitious integrity and quality of international higher education. It is one of internationalisation goals. the network’s greatest strengths that it allows university leaders from across the world to come together to explore how U21 can As always, my sincere thanks to the U21 Secretariat team who provide shared solutions to such common issues. work with skill and great professionalism to deliver an impressive range of opportunities to members. Trudie McGuinness joined U21’s capacity to deliver effective shared platforms for students, the Secretariat as Director of Strategy Planning and Operations, staff and institutional leaders allows members to find strength very ably replacing Jade Bressington during her time on maternity in collaboration and to foster global knowledge exchange and leave. I also thank Professor Bairbre Redmond who guides research collaboration across countries and continents. This report the academic direction of the network, for her leadership and provides many excellent examples of the global opportunities that continuing commitment to setting the highest standards in the U21 the network has supported over the past year. I thank my fellow network’s services to its members. Presidents for supporting their students and staff to become as engaged as possible in U21 events and initiatives. Professor Sir David Eastwood Vice-Chancellor and Principal, University of Birmingham For the first time in 2019, U21 expanded its Chair of Universitas 21 membership to 18 countries, welcoming KU Leuven, Belgium, to the network. The addition of another Provost’s Update U21 is committed to creating inspiring shared spaces where I also want to acknowledge the many individuals across the members can benefit from the collective experience and wisdom network who take on governance and leadership roles in U21 of colleagues from around the world. At all its events, U21 seeks to membership steering groups, those who advise on the planning harness the considerable collaborative strength of the network to of new projects and, particularly, those U21 Presidents who act tackle shared problems and find new solutions, achieving more in an advisory capacity to U21 on the Presidential Executive. The together than is possible alone. time that these individuals give generously to the network, on top of their already busy schedules, is invaluable in ensuring that U21 The past year has seen the delivery of an ever- continues to deliver relevant and valuable resources to members. increasing suite of U21 events, funding opportunities and student-focused initiatives for the network members. Finally, all U21 activities are made possible by the U21 The growing number of staff and students from across Secretariat. Their innovative and energetic approach to their the network membership who are becoming increasingly work is underpinned by a real appreciation of the individual involved in U21 activities is a testament to the success and and collective needs of the members, ensuring that all partner relevance of these projects. I am very aware of the debt universities can maximise the value of their membership. of gratitude that U21 owes to our member institutions Jade Bressington, Sally Cockcroft, Rachel Edwards, Caroline who act as hosts for U21 meetings and conferences. In Hetherington, Trudie McGuinness, Tarlok Singh and Connie Wan – 2019 ten U21 universities[1] held U21 events, allowing their it is a pleasure to work with you. colleagues from around the world to come together to share expertise, explore challenges and develop new Professor Bairbre Redmond common network resources. Each one of these events has Provost also given the attendees important new perspectives into Universitas 21 the host institution, city and country. 2 3 [1] Lund University, P. U. of Chile, U. College Dublin, U. of Auckland, U. of Birmingham, U. of Glasgow, U. of Johannesburg, U. of Maryland, U. of Nottingham, UC Davis U21’s Commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals U21 Staff Scholarship takes the Research As one of just over 5,000 NGOs with Economic & Social Affairs Development Goals. There were a number of ideas raised at Impact Agenda to a Global Level Council (ECOSOC) Consultative Status, U21 is in a position to offer the SLM in Auckland about the role that the network can play various benefits to our members including participation in a in relation to the SDGs. As a Secretariat, we are now exploring range of UN events and the opportunity to submit written how we can best realise some of those ideas, which includes statements to events. exploring the development of a U21 Community of Practice for Many universities in Australia have been considering how best to Joann commented on her experiences: SDGs and the possibility of a U21 carbon offset programme. respond to the research engagement and impact agenda and Our Consultative Status allows for seven annual UN Grounds are looking to the experiences of universities in other countries The way research is conducted is changing to embrace Passes, available at each site - New York, Geneva & Vienna and The U21 Secretariat has convened a Sustainability Statement to inform their work. In 2019 Joann Cattlin, from The University of wider collaboration and dissemination; researchers and nine temporary grounds passes which can be from one day up to Project Working Group to review and update the U21 Sustainability Melbourne Graduate School of Education, received a U21 professionals in research management roles need new skills and three months. There is also the capacity for the network to apply Statement ensuring that it is relevant and appropriate for University of Melbourne Professional Staff Scholarship to strategies to achieve this. It was clear that while engagement to organise events alongside a relevant UN event. members’ current needs. undertake related research in the area, which enabled her to was a fundamental part of many researchers’ methodology travel throughout Canada and the United States of America. and institutional missions, it required coordinated, targeted As part of our commitment the United Nations Sustainable Alongside this work, the U21 Secretariat will be gathering and timely support to not only be effective, but to build Development Goals (UNSDGs) Trudie McGuinness, Director of information from members on the key sustainability initiatives Undertaking a study tour of 8 universities (including U21 members, organisational capacity and reputation for generating research Strategy, Planning & Operations attended two days of Coalition that they have undertaken since the last U21 Sustainability the University of Maryland, the University of Connecticut and that makes a difference. Meetings formally representing U21 at the UN Climate Change Statement was signed in 2009. The Secretariat will use this to McMaster University), Joann was able to meet over 65 researchers Summit in September 2019. She attended the Youth Climate develop case studies for showcasing on the U21 website, where from a range of disciplines in her travels. This allowed her to Joann is now presenting her work a range of forums and at the Summit and a talk from Professor Jeffery Sachs. She said, they can be used to inspire and benefit both members and other explore how institutions support the impact of research and recent Australasian Research Management Society (ARMS) visitors to the site. how enhanced research engagement with collaborators and Conference. You can read her full report here. It is clear from members across the network that they are stakeholders can support funding applications, partnership fully committed to supporting the UN to achieve