U21 Presidents sign Joint PhD Memorandum of Understanding

At the annual network meeting in May 2009, U21 Presidents signed a Memorandum of Understanding to launch a unique development in the opportunities available to PhD students around the network. 

The agreement, signed by Vice-Chancellors and Presidents from fourteen member universities establishes a joint PhD programme which enables doctoral students to embark on joint degrees which will considerably enhance their research and employment opportunities on an international scale.  Unlike a number of other joint programmes, this MoU gives an over-arching framework for universities to create tailor-made programmes of study for each student, taking individual research needs into account and enabling collaboration with another of the network’s universities. 

The institutions involved in this ground-breaking programme are the universities of Auckland, Birmingham, British Columbia, Delhi, Dublin (University College), Edinburgh, Glasgow, Hong Kong, Korea, McGill, Melbourne, Nottingham, Queensland and Virginia, thus presenting a truly global choice of research partners for students embarking on a PhD.

Speaking on the launch of the programme, Professor John Casteen, President of the University of Virginia and Chair of the Universitas 21 network, said “The signing of this MoU today marks a key development in the way in which U21 universities are approaching study and research.  Not only does this distinguish us from the other programmes already in existence, by being focused clearly on the needs of the individual students, but it sets a new benchmark for international collaboration at PhD level and a trend which I believe is one which should be followed by other major networks and consortia.”

The programme grew out of discussions among Deans and Directors of Graduate Studies within the Universitas 21 network, and was led by Professor Mary Bownes at the University of Edinburgh.

May 2009

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