TThehe NNewsletterewsletter Issue 15, June 2009 www.universitas21.com In This Issue U21 Joint PhDs Launched Sustainability 2 t the annual network research needs into account Speaking on the launch of Declaration Ameeting in May, and enabling collaboration the programme, Professor U21 Presidents signed a with another of the network’s John Casteen, President of the Annual Memorandum of Understanding universities. University of Virginia and Chair Network 3 to launch a unique development of the Universitas 21 network, Meeting report in the opportunities available The institutions involved in this said: “The signing of this MoU to PhD students around the ground-breaking programme today marks a key development U21 Teaching network. in the way in which & Learning 4 U21 universities are Conference The agreement, approaching study and signed by Vice- research. Not only does Graduate Chancellors this distinguish us from Research 5 and Presidents the other programmes Conference from fourteen already in existence, by 2009 member being focused clearly universities, on the needs of the Collaborative 6-8 established individual students, but Group reports a joint PhD it sets a new benchmark programme for international which enables collaboration at PhD On the Move: doctoral level and is a trend Rachel Walls 9 students to which I believe is visits UBC Professor Mary Bownes with President Lee of Korea University and some of the other embark on Joint PhD signatories one which should be joint degrees, followed by other major l considerably enhancing their are the universities of Auckland, networks and consortia.” Movers & 10 research and employment Birmingham, British Columbia, Shakers opportunities on an international Delhi, Dublin (University College), The programme grew out of scale. Unlike a number of other Edinburgh, Glasgow, Hong discussions among the Deans Eff ective joint programmes, this MoU Kong, Korea, McGill, Melbourne, and Directors of Graduate Studies Partnersips 13 gives an over-arching framework Nottingham, Queensland and group within the Universitas for Economic for universities to create tailor- Virginia, thus presenting a truly 21 network, and was led by Growth made programmes of study for global choice of research partners Professor Mary Bownes at the The Back Page each student, taking individual for students embarking on a PhD. University of Edinburgh. Interview with 15 Heungsuk challenges. All of this activity Choi of Korea From the Secretariat... was capably supported by Korea Over the space of three days, University staff who were able t this time of year, it is usual we managed to cram in seven to deal with every detail and last meetings; one press conference; Universitas 21 Afor us to refl ect on our recent minute change I could think up annual network meeting where networking opportunities; a day- while demonstrating why Korea is c/o Strathcona 109 long academic symposium; and University of Birmingham representatives of member rightly known as the Land of the Edgbaston universities gather together to more photographs than I would Morning Calm. Birmingham look back on the past and plan have thought humanly possible. B15 2TT for the future. The 2009 meeting All of this is reported in this Colleagues who know me well UK was hosted by Korea University, edition of The Newsletter. Most will hope this is a lesson I shall who joined the network in 2005, important of all was the chance take with me to future meetings! T: +44 121 415 8870 to establish and build on links F: +44 121 415 8873 – the same time that I took up the role of Secretary General. with sister organisations around Jane Usherwood [email protected] the globe and share thoughts and www.universitas21.com You could say that KU and I are Secretary General contemporaries in U21 land. ideas on tackling our common Universitas 21 Page 1 Network News Network News Network News Declaring Influencing Public Policy Sustainability uilding on the previous three U21 Division of International Studies, focused ith 2008/09 designated U21’s Year BSymposia, the 2009 Symposium at on the university’s infl uence in developing Wof Sustainability, we were delighted Korea University, which took place on governmental national and trans-national that Vice-Chancellors and Presidents from 21 May as part of the annual meeting of organisational economic policies. across the network signed a Statement U21 Presidents, explored the mechanisms Professor Dongwha Kum of the Korea on Sustainability at the annual network which operate between the university Institute of Sciences & Technology gave an meeting at Korea University, emphasising and the formation of governmental public interesting presentations on the progress the important role that universities can and do play in addressing energy; food and policy. Three key areas were identifi ed in of science and technology and the role of water security; climate change; economic which universities often provide expertise academia in Korea, while Professor John sustainability; human health; and the decline President Lee of Korea University addressing the U21 Sympoisum of biodiversity. Through the statement, which was co- ordinated by colleagues at the University of British Columbia, the Universitas 21 member universities commit themselves to ensuring a sustainable future: through research, teaching, community partnerships and demonstrable actions, to advance timely solutions to ecological, societal and economic problems, through engagement with civil society, industry and government, to accelerate these solutions beyond the campus, and by working together collaboratively and co-operatively, to achieve more than is possible by working alone. Each university Dr Craig Klafter signing the to governments as they develop and Casteen gave fuel to the discussion with will: Sustainability Declaration on behalf implement public policy decisions – his speech entitled Policy and Reciprocity: of UBC education, economic development and eff ective partnerships for economic growth. develop, ‘controversial’ social issues – and were A shortened version of this can be read on publish and discussed in three sessions over the course page 13. monitor of the day. targets; The fi nal session of the day, investigating share the After the opening speeches by Professor the university’s role in establishing ‘facts’ results with Ki-Su Lee, President of Korea University in areas of controversial public policy each other; and Professor John Casteen, President of was moderated by Professor Glyn Davis, engage in the University of Virginia and Chair of the Vice-Chancellor of the University of research U21 network, the morning session focused Melbourne. It was opened by a guest towards a on the relationship between the university to the network, Professor John Haldane sustainable and government in global human resource of St Andrew’s University, Scotland, future; development. Professor David Eastwood, followed by Professor Dong-Young Kim establish the newly-appointed Vice-Chancellor of the of the Korea Development Institute. university campus as a living laboratory University of Birmingham and Professor This led on to some very lively debate, for a sustainable future; Kazuo Kuroda of the Graduate School of particularly between Professor Haldane emphasise citizenship & engagement Asia-Pacifi c Studies at Waseda University and Professor Sir Timothy O’Shea of to promote faculty, staff and student volunteerism; and gave two diff erent perspectives on this Edinburgh and brought an interesting issue, from UK and Asian standpoints, and day of presentations and discussion to build capacity through cross-network generated some interesting discussion a close, having given all delegates some collaboration and work. about the ways in which higher education stimulating points for consideration and The network as a whole recognises the has both shaped and responded to the thought. importance of this commitment and sees demands of government and employers. it as a necessary step in addressing the Clare Noakes increasingly relevant issue of sustainability The second session, moderated by Universitas 21 and ways in which universities can address it Professor Innwon Park of Korea University’s both internally and externally. Page 2 Network News Network News Network News of the formal meetings. The arrangements by Korea University were exemplary and nothing seemed to be too much trouble for Firming Up Friendships the team of people from the International or three days in May, members of members committing to off er bespoke joint Relations Offi ce who worked with us, from Fthe network gathered on the Korea PhD arrangements with other member dealing with special dietary requirements University campus in Seoul to refl ect on the universities, tailored to suit the needs of to the changing of the venue for formal past year’s activity and plan for the coming individual students within a widely-agreed photographs when the heavens decided year. During our time in Korea, two major framework. to open after many days of glorious agreements were sunshine. Those participating in signed signalling the meetings themselves were areas of great blissfully unaware of the eff orts importance for our being put in behind the scenes by members and for many cheerful, willing people from higher education. what seemed like dawn to dusk. Our Year of Sustainability The highlight of the formal part of was crowned by the series of meetings was the gala the signing of a dinner, graciously hosted by the declaration