Jane Usherwood, U21 Secretary General, gave a brief history of Universitas 21, describing the strategic objectives of the network and presented a thorough overview of the full range of Universitas 21 initiatives which are available to staff and students in member institutions. Professor Christine Ennew from the University of Nottingham gave an overview of the internationalisation strategy and how Universitas 21 membership contributes to the achievement of the university’s goals. She also described how Nottingham’s staff and students are engaging with U21 projects and activities. The future potential of interaction with Nottingham’s overseas campuses attracted particular interest.

Dr Erik Lithander from University College Dublin offered insights into the principal challenges and opportunities facing the international higher education sector over the next 30 years, highlighting in particular demographic shifts, changing socio-economic patterns affecting demand for higher education and the appearance of dynamic and well-funded universities in jurisdictions which are not currently major players on the international education scene. The purpose of the presentation was to emphasise that the U21 network provides member institutions with unique shared capabilities to respond to the sorts of major long-term challenges with which any single institutions will find it difficult to cope. Dr Paul van Gardingen of the University of Edinburgh prompted participants to consider the world’s great development challenges and reflect on how Universitas 21 membership might allow their own institutions to become involved in development initiatives which transcend individual national development strategies. This theme will be considered in greater details at the 2008 U21 Symposium on Strategic Partnerships with the Developing World: A new direction for Universitas 21 in research and development which will be held in Dublin on 8 May.

There were also presentations from colleagues at Lund regarding their involvement in U21 activities. Anna Gilsen explained about the innovative Solander programme between Lund and Australian U21 members which was growing in size and strengthening international research links for early career academics. Jan Olof Nilsson and Kjell Nilsson gave a thought-provoking presentation regarding Lund’s possible participation in the U21 Global Issues Programme, grounded in a reflection on what ‘internationalisation’ might mean – or not – for a university like Lund.

The whole event provided a stimulating and informative conclusion to another busy week at the university – to keep a lecture theatre packed on a Friday afternoon with much discussion among participants is an indication of the interest at Lund in the network and its members. It has already been suggested that other U21 member universities might adapt the Lund seminar template and host similar events in their own institutions in order to spread awareness of the network among their staff and student communities

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