Global University Leaders Council Hamburg

Competition and collaboration have always been part of academia. In recent years and decades, however, the way in which these principles shape the academic landscape has changed. Today, universities themselves have become competitors, where before the competitors have been individual researchers and countries. On the other hand, recent years have also witnessed the emergence of new forms of collaboration, such as strategic university alliances. What challenges arise from the complex interplay of competition and collaboration – and how should universities respond to them? The study “Navigating competition and collaboration – The way forward for universities”, conducted by Peter Maassen and his colleagues from the University of Oslo, tackles these questions from an empirical perspective. The study will serve as a starting point for the GUC 2023, which will be held from June 14 to 16 in Hamburg.

The theme of GUC 2021, which was held virtually, was the contribution of universities to tackling climate change and making society more sustainable. In the final declaration, the university leaders committed their institutions to taking a holistic approach to climate protection and sustainability. They stressed the importance of global solidarity and of strengthening opportunities for joint action by the institutions. Furthermore, all students should be educated about the challenges of climate change and sustainability issues in their studies. These goals were agreed upon by 45 university leaders from 27 countries.