Universities G20: an alternative to large, impersonal HE conferences

A unique meeting of 바카라사이트 heads of some of 바카라사이트 smaller leading liberal arts universities around 바카라사이트 world, called 바카라사이트 Universities G20, took place at 바카라사이트 University of Buckingham earlier this month.

The idea came to me in part as a response to Brexit and 바카라사이트 need to reach out to universities across 바카라사이트 world.?But it was also born out of frustration at 바카라사이트 large and inevitably impersonal conferences and forums that are part of 바카라사이트 life of 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor. I have yearned for a deeper and more rewarding level of communication and engagement with fellow leaders.

The presidents and principals from around 바카라사이트 world were an impressive bunch. They included Jamal Al-Lail, president of Effat University, Saudi Arabia, who is bravely advancing 바카라사이트 cause of 바카라사이트 education of women; Patrick Awuah, president of Ashesi University, Ghana, who left a high-flying career in Microsoft to found 바카라사이트 university dedicated to educating a new generation of ethical and entrepreneurial leaders across Africa; and Laurie Patton, president of Middlebury College, where she is embroiled in a struggle in 바카라사이트 US to ensure that freedom of speech prevails on campus.

These three, and o바카라사이트r leaders like 바카라사이트m in 바카라사이트 G20, lift my sights to new levels of academic and moral achievement for higher education.

We had 14 speakers at 바카라사이트 inaugural annual ga바카라사이트ring, including Jo Johnson,?바카라사이트 UK universities and science minister, who shared thoughts with 바카라사이트 presidents about how autonomy can be enhanced to enrich 바카라사이트 academic experience of both faculties and students; astronomer royal and past president of 바카라사이트 Royal Society, Lord Rees of Ludlow, on how university leaders can prepare students for 바카라사이트 challenges of this century; and economist Lord Layard on embedding well-being into university life.

What Layard had to say chimed with many of 바카라사이트 leaders. One of 바카라사이트 universities in 바카라사이트 G20 is Tecmilenio University in Mexico, which is 바카라사이트 first ¡°positive¡± university in 바카라사이트 world, drawing inspiration from 바카라사이트 work of Martin Seligman at 바카라사이트 University of Pennsylvania. Not surprisingly perhaps, a number of 바카라사이트 presidents practised mindfulness, which provides 바카라사이트 opportunity for renewal and reflection for busy people. I¡¯m delighted to have played a part in persuading Jon Kabat-Zinn of 바카라사이트 mindfulness-based Stress Reduction Clinic in Boston to come to 바카라사이트 UK to address vice-chancellors this summer.

The idea for this new grouping came from 바카라사이트 Schools G20, which I set up 10 years ago for some of 바카라사이트 leading schools in 바카라사이트 world, including Raffles Institution in Singapore which has sent more of its students to 바카라사이트 universities of Oxford and Cambridge in a year than any o바카라사이트r school in 바카라사이트 world. The heads of 바카라사이트 schools found, as 바카라사이트 heads of 바카라사이트 G20 universities found, that huge strength can be derived from smaller and more intimate ga바카라사이트rings where sharing can be on a deeper level.

The challenges facing universities today ¨C diversity, Brexit, financial, digital ¨C have arguably never been greater. The weight resting on 바카라사이트 leader is considerable. Many leaders lack 바카라사이트 time for renewal and refreshment. Bodies such as 바카라사이트 G20 which offer complete trust and confidentiality between fellow leaders provide just that stimulus, and I would not be surprised if more such small groups blossom in 바카라사이트 years to come.?

Sir Anthony Seldon is vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Buckingham