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University leaders from around the world will gather in Tokyo next month to rekindle the spirit of more than 70 years ago that inspired the creation of the International Association of Universities (IAU) and draw on it to confront rising trends in universities. We’re going to talk about values. Skepticism fueled by populist movements that threatens to undermine the legitimacy and relevance of higher education.
The university’s president and president, along with other experts, policy makers and student representatives, will gather for the IAU’s 2024 International Conference, hosted by Sophia University in Tokyo, from November 22 to 24, 2024.
This year’s theme is “University Values in a Changing World,” and IAU Director-General Hillije van’t Land told University World News that conference organizers will “break down barriers and foster growth.” I would like to reaffirm the IAU’s commitment to global cooperation.” “Peace” is in line with UNESCO’s motto: “Building peace in the hearts of men and women.”
The IAU was established under the auspices of UNESCO in 1950, at the beginning of the Cold War, when Europe was divided in two by the Iron Curtain and the world was divided into East and West.
At the time, walls were being built all over the world, but university leaders were determined to build bridges between countries, no matter their political or economic systems. I did.
Cooperation remains an important goal
Today, with local and regional wars being waged on many fronts and growing suspicions about the motives of world leaders, cooperation in higher education and research, and cooperation where possible, remains critical. This is an important goal of the IAU.
The IAU, which has 600 members from 130 countries, still believes in the power of keeping channels of communication and dialogue open, but van’t Rand said that geopolitical tensions and cooperation are Regarding the alleged motive behind the request, he said, “I don’t mean to be naive.” Share knowledge and research.
“Doubt in general never leads to innovation or constructive action, but that doesn’t mean we don’t know what’s going on,” she said, adding, “Doubt never leads to innovation or constructive action, but that doesn’t mean we don’t know what’s going on.” If we don’t continue to network with other experts, we will run straight into a wall.”
Therefore, rather than following the tried-and-true formula of many recent international conferences and focusing on the digital transformation of higher education, particularly through the use of generative artificial intelligence and the importance of employability, the IAU conference organizers decided to , went back to basics. This year’s conference program will highlight key university values and highlight what universities are really about.
For Van’t Land, that means ensuring the legitimacy of higher education institutions as trusted, autonomous places of knowledge, research, teaching, and service to society.
As populist, authoritarian and nationalist policies rise around the world, politicians question the value of attending university and suggest that public funds might be better spent on vocational training. The problem is becoming increasingly difficult, compounded by growing skepticism. Instead of developing a critical mind.
Van’t Rand is horrified by stories like this, but the anti-higher education rhetoric that has spread around the world in recent years is trying to convince the public and policymakers that higher education is an investment that benefits society. I accept that means university leaders need to do more to persuade. This applies not only to individuals who are lucky enough to attend university, but also to the general public.
What the university symbolizes
That is why, in discussing the integrity and trustworthiness of universities and the need to uphold their values, the IAU Conference must not only focus on the academic values of academic freedom and institutional autonomy, but also on the moral needs of the struggle. It also emphasizes ethical and ethical values. Political attacks as universities grapple with complex issues related to identity, civic responsibility, democratic responsibility, human dignity, and peace.
“Nowadays, in order to provide high-quality higher education to many people around the world, we need to understand what universities should be about, what they should provide, what their foundation should be, and what values they should have.” This is an ideal time to reconsider and discuss whether the land.
He acknowledged that universities still have “quite a lot of work to do in terms of championing the sector, as we don’t seem to be able to overcome the thick wall of distrust in higher education” and that university leaders need answers. He added that it was necessary. Against the outdated charge that higher education only serves a privileged few, not the many.
“To address the many challenges we face, we provide a high-quality education that develops critical thinking, broadens worldviews, and equips students with the ability to connect with diverse bodies of knowledge around the world. We need to explain to society why this is so important and identify potential solutions.”
“And how if young people go to university, rather than just training for jobs that will soon disappear, they have a better chance of becoming citizens who will actually find jobs in a rapidly changing future landscape.” You have to explain what you’re getting,” Van’t Land said.
She particularly points out that many of the populist leaders at the forefront of anti-university sentiment, who themselves have benefited from high-quality higher education, are seeking higher education so that others can benefit as well. He is particularly saddened that instead of supporting education, he is “stabbing the system in the back.”
She argued that such politicians constantly point out the costs of higher education and research, rather than seeing them as investments in the future.
IAU Deputy Director-General Andreas Corcoran told University World News that international conferences in Japan should focus on more than just academic values, to include political and social issues that universities increasingly have to address. He said the focus will be on the university’s values.
“University leaders grapple with far more political, social, and cultural issues on campuses around the world. Values are a valuable resource that guides university leaders. A resource without which university leaders would not have the opportunity to meet the challenges they face.”
Rankings will be severely reviewed
Corcoran said the IAU does not necessarily have to be globalist and is also preparing to clarify its worldview on the importance of having a global dialogue.
He told University World News: “For the past 30 or 40 years, historians have written about the state of higher education as if the higher education sector were increasingly united, increasingly similar, as if it were an isomorphic and converging model. If you continue with that idea, it is a globalist system.
“League tables encourage a model where everyone strives to be the same and all compete. They leave room for comparisons between universities as if they all belong to each other. We are in the process of preparing a statement explaining why we believe the IAU needs to critically reassess its rankings.”
Van’t Land said the conference organizers wanted to give many voices not necessarily heard at such international conferences a platform to present alongside the headline speakers who are well-known at such global gatherings. He said he has worked hard to ensure that.
She pointed to a number of speakers from the Global South, including Professor Nana Abba Appiah Amfo, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, to promote connectivity between Africa’s various regions and benefit Africa. He said he plans to speak about developing quality higher education. To support the development of the continent, we will support the ‘circular repatriation’ of people who go to other parts of the world for higher education.
Ahmed Bawa, a professor at Johannesburg Business School and former CEO of the University of South Africa, said that in the context of decolonization, there is a need to “reimagine education in South Africa to benefit everyone in the southern region.” I will be giving a talk on “How to Rebuild a System.” Including neighboring countries such as Zimbabwe.
Hisham El Habti, Rector of Morocco’s Mohammed VI University of Technology (UM6P), will speak from his experience driving institutional change by building impactful cooperation and coalitions at national and international levels.
student’s voice
IAU has always been committed to giving students a voice, and this year, Aisha Furram, the first female Afghan Youth Representative to the United Nations and a passionate advocate for youth and women’s rights, will be in Tokyo. I’m planning to speak at a conference.
Due to the collapse of the Afghan government in August 2021, she had to leave Afghanistan, interrupting her studies at the Faculty of Law and Political Science at Kabul University, but is currently studying at the Harty School of Governance in Berlin. She is pursuing a master’s degree in public policy.
Since leaving Afghanistan, Aisha has focused on defending Afghan girls’ right to education, working with a network of former United Nations youth representatives to create an e-learning platform for Afghan girls with support from UNESCO. was established.
Sonya Perez, senior project manager leading the Student Organizations for Sustainability (SOS-UK) program, a global version developed in partnership with IAU, integrates sustainability and climate justice into teaching and learning. Let’s talk about it.
She is involved with the University Union (UCU) and is supporting the campaign for a Green New Deal in higher education.
Mr. Jie Chen, International Secretary General of Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), will provide his perspective from China based on his experience in examining and evaluating academic affairs and investigating academic misconduct.
That’s just a small sampling of the speakers at the conference, Van’t Land said, telling University World News that more university presidents are registering to attend the conference this year than ever before. spoke.
He further added that a number of presidents will write opinion articles in the next issue of IAU’s magazine, IAU Horizons, to complement presentations at the IAU2024 International Conference to be held at Sophia University in Tokyo from November 22-24. He said he had submitted.
The conference program and registration details can be found here.
