LERU will cooperate with UN in education and research

LERU was very honoured to have the company of José Manuel Barroso, former president of the European Commission and visiting professor at the University of Geneva.
LERU was very honoured to have the company of José Manuel Barroso, former president of the European Commission and visiting professor at the University of Geneva.
Academic
(18/05/2015)

The League of European Research Universities (LERU), an association of twenty-one leading research-intensive universities that includes the University of Barcelona, has reinforced its international positioning by setting up a close cooperation with the United Nations. With this initiative, LERU stresses the global nature of research, innovation and education, and the importance to be at the forefront of these global developments.

LERU was very honoured to have the company of José Manuel Barroso, former president of the European Commission and visiting professor at the University of Geneva.
LERU was very honoured to have the company of José Manuel Barroso, former president of the European Commission and visiting professor at the University of Geneva.
Academic
18/05/2015

The League of European Research Universities (LERU), an association of twenty-one leading research-intensive universities that includes the University of Barcelona, has reinforced its international positioning by setting up a close cooperation with the United Nations. With this initiative, LERU stresses the global nature of research, innovation and education, and the importance to be at the forefront of these global developments.

The agreement was signed during the last LERU Rectorsʼ Assembly that took place on 15 and 16 May in Geneva, Switzerland. The meeting was attended by the rector of the UB, Dídac Ramírez. Over the past years, the University of Geneva has developed strong ties with the United Nations (UN), as their second-largest office is based in the city centre. Upon the invitation of the rector of the University of Geneva, Jean-Dominique Vassalli, the acting director-general of the United Nations Office in Geneva, Michael Moller, spoke to the rectors about the role of universities in global governance and the construction of peace.

Convinced of the important role universities can play globally, LERU has decided to link up with the UN activities in the field of research, innovation and education in two ways. Firstly, LERU and its members have signed up to the UN Academic Impact Principles (UNAI). UNAI is an initiative to align institutions of higher education, scholarship and research with the UN. It aims to generate a global movement of minds to promote a new culture of intellectual, social responsibility. It is driven by a commitment to such bedrock principles as freedom of inquiry, opinion and speech, educational opportunity for all, and global citizenship.

Secondly, LERU has applied for a special consultative status at the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). When granted, this status will allow LERU to express its views and influence the work of the UN Council. LERU will, for instance, be able to provide expert analysis, raise public awareness of relevant issues, and raise its voice about the importance of fundamental research worldwide.

Finally, LERU was very honoured to have the company of José Manuel Barroso, former president of the European Commission and visiting professor at the University of Geneva. In his speech, Barroso reflected on the opportunities and challenges for European research-intensive universities in the present research, education and innovation policies.

The rector of the University of Geneva, Jean-Dominique Vassalli, stated: “We are very happy we could facilitate the interaction between LERU and the United Nations here in Geneva. In the past two days we have had extremely interesting high-level discussions".

LERU secretary-general, Kurt Deketelaere, affirmed that linking up with the United Nations is an “important and logical next step” in LERU development and activities.