Building Trust with US Universities and Across the Globe
Universities are grappling with political pressures and geopolitical polarization. Open exchange among universities from around the world is essential to navigate this landscape collaboratively. University networks such as Universitas 21 (U21) are important to provide a platform for exchange and to continue to build trust.
At the Universities 21 Annual Network Meeting and Presidential Symposium 2025 (AGM), held at the University of California, Davis (UC Davis), university leaders were able to do just that: sharing openly, exploring solutions to the current challenges and committing to continued global collaboration and partnership. U21 member universities recognize that events in one part of the world profoundly impact others. Now more than ever, a shared commitment to collaboration, innovation, and progress is essential to addressing the world’s most pressing challenges and serving our communities.
Michael Schaepman, President: "Participating in Universitas 21 meetings with other university leaders from across the globel provides us with actionable insights for our own international strategy and shapes the U21 strategy for the future."
Katja Durkin, Head Global Affairs, highlighted the necessity of personal exchanges: “In the current geopolitical situation, personal exchange with universities around the world, including the four universities based in the US, is necessary to maintain the high level of trust that we have been able to build with the U21 universities over the last decade. The AGM has once again demonstrated how committed our partner universities from around the globe are to weather out the current challenges together and collaboratively.”
The meeting resulted in concrete initiatives and proposals to increase collaboration at a practical level between partner universities. These initiatives aim to facilitate further opportunities for students to engage in global learning with their peers at other universities. By continuing to engage globally through student mobility, staff mobility, and research collaborations, universities can foster a truly global mindset in young talents.
Leslie Reinhard, Partnership Manager at Global Affairs, observed that “it’s remarkable that by highlighting the significance of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion throughout the meeting, a US university demonstrated that it's possible to foster an environment where polarized topics can be freely discussed.”
The exchange with other U21 member universities at UC Davis underscores the role of universities as catalysts for equity and inclusion, enhancing academic freedom and excellence.
