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Future of Global Higher Education

The Future of Global Higher Education symposium will be a high-level one day forum that brings together eminent university and major thought leaders from the UK, European Union, Asia and the USA to share their experience and expertise in addressing the major global higher education issues of our times.

Hosted by the University of New South Wales, Sydney and the UCL-based ESRC/HEFCE Centre for Global Higher Education, the symposium will explore the strategic global and national challenges for universities and university leaders in a contested higher education landscape in the post Trump/Brexit world.

Facing future challenges

Given the current political, demographic and economic challenges facing global higher education, sessions will consider the important key themes of: strategic challenges for university leaders; mobility of ideas, academics and students; UK Brexit; future of European cooperation in higher education; One Belt One Road and what it means for higher education.

The Future of Global Higher Education symposium will be broadcast globally from 10.00-4.00pm (London), 7 September 2017

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Conference Schedule

10am – 4.00pm, 7 September 2017
Mary Ward House, 7 Tavistock Place, Bloomsbury, London, UK

Day One

09:30am

Registration

10.00am

Welcome

Laurie Pearcey, Pro Vice-Chancellor International, UNSW Sydney
Professor Simon Marginson, Director, ESRC/HEFCE Centre for Global Higher Education, University College London

10:15 – 10:45am

Leaders’ Panel

Strategic Challenges for University Leaders in a More Contested Global and National Space

(3 x 10min speeches)

This session will introduce the strategic environment in which global research universities find themselves, as it appears from the perspective of a university leader with responsibility for strategic leadership. This strategic environment includes the continuing benefits of research and institutional collaboration; international comparisons and rankings; the rise and rise of MOOCS and other online forms; more cross-border initiatives; the challenge of the for-profit mode; renewed efforts in development education; debates about migration, protectionism and Brexit; strengthened focuses in national systems on social inequality, local connectedness and region building; etc.

Professor Ian Jacobs, President and Vice-Chancellor, UNSW Sydney
Dame Nicola Brewer, Vice-Provost International, University College London
Professor Sir David Greenaway, Vice-Chancellor, University of Nottingham

10.45 -12.45pm

Panel Session

Mapping the Global Higher Education Landscape

(6 x 12min presentations + 8min Q&A and discussion)

This session will survey the higher education landscape by moving from region to region. Each speaker will discuss the most important developments and issues at a regional level, which collectively will assemble an overview of the global higher education landscape that has been formed from a deeper understanding of the different regional areas.

UK and the Commonwealth: Brexit and Beyond
Professor Simon Marginson, Director, ESRC/HEFCE Centre for Global Higher Education, University College London

Europe: Bologna and Beyond
Professor Pedro Teixeira, Vice-Rector, University of Porto, Portugal

China and East Asia
Laurie Pearcey, Pro Vice-Chancellor, UNSW Sydney, Australia

North America and Latin America
Professor Philip Altbach, Research Professor, Boston College, USA

South Asia
Professor Raj Kumar, Vice-Chancellor, OP Jindal Global University, India

Africa
Professor Funmi Olonisakin, Interim Vice President/Vice-Principal (International), King’s College London

12:45 – 1:45pm

Lunch

1.45 – 2:30pm

Keynote: Harnessing Opportunities: The Commonwealth and Higher Education

(30min keynote + 15min Q&A and discussion)

Dr Joanna Newman, Chief Executive and Secretary General, Association of Commonwealth Universities

2:30 – 4:00pm

Panel Session

Eurasia, the Pacific and Wrap-up

(6 x 10min presentations + 30min Q&A and discussion)

This session will look across the issues before the Eurasian supercontinent – from the dislocations, uncertainties, losses and opportunities associated with Brexit; the consolidation and future of the EU in higher education and research; and the tensions associated with mobility and migration in many countries; to the One Belt One Road strategy and the rising global role of China and East Asia.

Themes
Brexit
Future of European Cooperation in Higher Education
One Belt One Road and What It Means for Higher Education

Panellists
Professor Edward Byrne, President and Principal, King’s College London
Professor Alastair Buchan, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Head of Brexit Strategy), University of Oxford
Dr Vivienne Stern, Director, UK Universities International
Professor Marijk van der Wende, Dean of Graduate Studies, Utrecht University, Netherlands
Laurie Pearcey, Pro Vice-Chancellor, UNSW Sydney, Australia
Professor Simon Marginson, Director, ESRC/HEFCE Centre for Global Higher Education, University College London