Programme: Global University Leaders Council Hamburg
>> Public pre-event, Programme Tuesday, 1 June 2021
>> Programme Wednesday, 2 June 2021
>> Programme Thursday, 3 June 2021
>> Programme Friday, 4 June 2021
Tuesday, 1 June 2021
| Time (pm CEST) | Title |
|---|---|
| Chair: Barbara Hans, former editor in chief DER SPIEGEL / SPIEGEL ONLINE | |
| 4:30 |
Welcome by the organisersDieter Lenzen |
| 4:35 |
Keynote»Good economics for warmer times:
|
| 5:20 |
Dialogue sessionPeter-André Alt, President, German Rectors' Conference Esther Duflo, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA Pam Fredman, President, International Association of Universities Mamokgethi Phakeng, Vice-Chancellor, University of Cape Town, South Africa Detlef Stammer, Chair, World Climate Research Programme Joint Scientific Committee; Chair, Cluster of Excellence Climate, Climatic Change, and Society CLICCS, Universität Hamburg, Germany |
| 6:15 | End of public event |
Wednesday, 2 June 2021
| Time (pm CEST) | Title |
|---|---|
| 12:30 | Opening of virtual meeting room |
Opening of the 2021 Global University Leaders Council Hamburg»The Role of Universities and their Leaders facing the Grand Challenges of Climate Change and Sustainability« |
|
| 1:00 |
Welcome by the organisersTatjana König Peter-André Alt Dieter Lenzen |
Council Part I »National perspectives«Introduction by the chair of CouncilPetra Wend |
|
| 1:45 |
Plenary presentation and discussion, moderated by the chair of CouncilExplicitly for this year’s Council meeting a research study on how universities worldwide are dealing with the grand challenges of climate change and sustainability has been undertaken. This piece of work by a team of researchers of higher education will be discussed in the first plenary session of the day. Research study »Universities facing Climate Change and Sustainability«Tristan McCowan, University College London, UK 20 min presentation, followed by 40 min discussion |
| 2:45 | Break |
Council Part II »Institutional Culture and Practice« |
|
| 3:00 |
Plenary reflection and preparation of parallel working sessions, moderated by the chair of CouncilConsidering the outcomes of the research study, Council members will jointly prepare for the parallel work sessions. The discussions should be about analysis and future challenges rather than description of present and past performance. To facilitate this kind of approach a number of clusters of subthemes and relevant questions shall be formulated. They will serve as agenda and incentives to six work sessions. |
| 4:00 | End of Council day 1 |
Thursday, 3 June 2021
| Time (pm CEST) | Title |
|---|---|
| 12:30 | Opening of virtual meeting room |
Council Part II »Institutional Culture and Practice« |
|
| 1:00 |
Welcome by the chair of Council |
| 1:15 |
Parallel work sessionsCouncil members, as experienced academic leaders from a wide variety of backgrounds, will engage in in-depth discussions of various aspects of the overall theme. Sharing our insights and know-how and jointly analysing the main challenges at hand, Council will be able to make valuable recommendations, both for universities and other stakeholders. A rapporteur will summarise the discussion and findings at the end of each session. This has two purposes: to share key findings and insights among all participants, and to feed into the 2021 Hamburg Declaration. In each work session: two impulse statements à 5 min., followed by 45 min discussion, followed by 5 min. summary by the chair. |
Round 1a: Institutional mission and identitySustainability has become a guiding principle and an integral part of the fundamental positioning of many universities around the globe. These universities strive to develop an institutional culture of sustainability. At the same time, other universities have not yet embraced the topic in a comprehensive manner. This could be justified as competing goals and ambitions need to be prioritised, while at the same time universities need to remain true to their core missions. The session addresses the question in which ways sustainability should define universities’ missions and identities and how universities can lead in tackling climate change and sustainable development whilst being subject to competing priorities. We also want to debate how university leaders can trigger institutional change and engage disengaged members of their community. Round 1b: Education, teaching and learningUniversities educate the leaders, decision-makers, experts and educators of tomorrow. In addition to transmitting specialist academic knowledge and preparing for the labour market, universities stimulate personal development and encourage social engagement. In teaching and learning, as well as in continuing training and professional development, universities can enable their students to recognise and assess problems of sustainable development in interdisciplinary contexts. This can ensure that students can act responsibly in their respective disciplines and professional working contexts. The session focusses on the question how sustainability can be best integrated into the curriculum, both within all disciplines and across disciplines. Furthermore, we want to discuss in which ways universities can educate their students and staff to support tackling climate change and what the role of university leaders in this context is. Round 1c: Research and innovationUniversities occupy a key position in the area of research. Researchers seek answers to the question of how we can live and work in the future in a way that no longer exceeds the capacity of our environment and, at the same time, protects human livelihoods around the world. Basic research and applied research contribute equally to these goals. The session aims to discuss the questions of what can be learnt from universities’ research and practice in sustainable development and what is required to extend the impact of university research. We also want to discuss how university leaders can encourage the extension of research portfolios, including interdisciplinary research, in order to provide necessary evidence and inform society’s thinking and response to climate change. |
|
| 2:15 | Break |
| 2:30 |
Parallel work sessions – continued |
Round 2a: Institutional dimensionInstitutionally, universities need to evaluate their working practices and processes in all areas, bringing them in line with the guiding principles of sustainability. A critical (self-)reflection on the framework conditions for the sustainable operation of universities is necessary. The session is devoted to the question whether the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic has realigned thinking and everyday working practices in a way that could help sustainable development. We also want to discuss how university leaders can instigate practical steps for a sustainable campus and embed green initiatives into everyday culture and practice in the context of competing priorities and impeding governance systems. Round 2b: Political and financial frameworkUniversities, in their capacity as institutions of learning and centres of research, play a decisive role in the future development of societies. In this context, both members of universities and universities as institutions carry responsibility for realising sustainable development. They can act as societal role models. At the same time, the fruitful engagement of universities around the globe depends on their respective political and financial environments. The session addresses the question of how universities can foster sustainable development if most ranked performance indicators and financial incentives are based on different and often diametrically opposite metrics. We also want to debate how far universities’ leadership can or should challenge political or governance context to further sustainable development. Round 2c: Partnerships at local, national and international levelThe session aims to discuss the questions of what can be learnt from universities’ research and practice in sustainable development and what is required to extend the impact of university research. We also want to discuss how university leaders can encourage the extension of research portfolios, including interdisciplinary research, in order to provide necessary evidence and inform society’s thinking and response to climate change. The session aims to discuss whether universities need to engage more at the local, national or global level: Do we need to prioritise or can we do it all? We also want to debate how universities engage with their communities to improve sustainable development and how university leaders can manage competing external expectations in this context. |
|
| 3:30 |
Plenary reporting session moderated by the chair of CouncilIn this session the chairs of the six work sessions will report back to Council very briefly for the two purposes of sharing key findings among all participants, and of feeding into the 2021 Hamburg Declaration. |
| 4:00 | End of Council day 2 |
| 4:30 |
Optional peer exchange
|
| 5:30 | End of peer exchange |
Friday, 4 June 2021
| Time (pm CEST) | Title |
|---|---|
| 12:30 | Opening of virtual meeting room |
Council Part III » Working towards a sustainable future – next steps« |
|
| 1:00 |
Welcome by the chair of Council |
| 1:10 |
Discussion and endorsement of Hamburg Declaration |
| 2:15 | Break |
| 2:30 |
Plenary closing session |
» Burning Issues: The corona pandemic and its impact on the global higher education sector« |
|
| 3:45 |
Official closing and farewell by the chair of Council and the organisers |
| 4:00 | End of Council |