“Navigating global responsibilities: How research-intensive universities strengthen societies” was the topic of the recent bi-national conference of Germany and Canada’s U15. A conference report by Enrico Schleiff, Katharina Meyer and Johannes Müller
“We live in crazy times!” – these are the words with which moderator Katie Gallus opened the joint conference of and for representatives of leading German and Canadian universities, united in the U15 Canada and the German U15, which took place in Hanover, Germany, just two days after the inauguration of the 47th President of the U.S.A. These days, these words can be used to describe the actions of Donald Trump just as much as many other global challenges that overshadow not only world politics, but increasingly also the international cooperation among researchers and research institutions. There is no doubt that the new U.S. administration constitutes part of these global challenges and will also create new ones, which will join not only the existing conflict hotspots in Ukraine, the Middle East and on the African continent, but also China’s geostrategic posturing, the worldwide rise of populist and authoritarian movements and governments, the global climate, energy and food crises, as well as the decline in support for democratic principles and the increase in distrust of participatory, inclusive and socially just forms of organization.
How are leading research universities addressing these challenges? How do they strengthen the societies in which and for which they work? How do they maintain their independence and academic freedom in the face of growing pressure from individual groups, political movements or even powerful governments? How can they actively do so together, as two large international organizations, instead of acting reactively? These were the questions addressed at Hanover’s Herrenhausen Palace, where the latest meeting of the two national associations representing the 15 leading research universities in Canada and Germany (known in both countries by the acronym U15) took place.
The conference built on the networking efforts of the U15 and indeed other university alliances from around the world, who together signed the “Berlin Statement” in July 2024, underscoring the social responsibility of universities and jointly advocating the principles of an open society, academic freedom, as well as dialog and exchange in the sciences and humanities. Peter Stoicheff, President of the University of Saskatchewan and incumbent chair of the Canadian U15, pointed this out in his opening speech, emphasizing that “these are challenging times, more than ever.” It falls on the major universities to resist the corrosive effects of the multiple different crises that seem to threaten social coexistence everywhere – including the trend towards “hypocritization”, i.e. the cynical handling and distortion of facts, which threatens the sciences and the significance of research itself. Stoicheff emphasized that for a long time, the term “geopolitics” had played no role in debates on higher education and education policy, adding that it is a sign of the times that universities the world over are coming together to discuss their global responsibility and geopolitical strategies. Many universities today feel caught “in the eye of the storm”, having dedicated themselves to finding solutions to global problems, and at the same time also actively having to defend the prerequisites for this – i.e. freedom of research and academia, free speech and democratic principles. All the while, universities must continue to present themselves as places of depolarization and dialogue.
What exactly is excellent research?
How universities can fulfill this epic mission was the subject of five dedicated thematic discussions – each consisting of a keynote speech and an expert panel. The first topic focused on the terms “excellence in research, innovation, and global mobility of skilled workers”, which were discussed by Prof. Uwe Cantner (University of Jena), Chairman of the Federal Government’s Commission of Experts for Research and Innovation, Prof. Wolfgang Wick (University of Heidelberg), Chairman of the German Science and Humanities Council, Prof. Sophie D’Armour, Rector of Université Laval, and Prof. Ed McCauley, President of the University of Calgary. Defining excellent research proved to be more difficult than expected. While “rigor, originality, impact” were quickly identified as criteria for good research, given that science is both open and dynamic, it became clear scientific excellence must be a dynamic, complex and open concept, too. With regard to innovation and transfer – terms that are sometimes understood to mean the same – the discussion became more political, not least since it takes suitable political framework conditions to quickly bring research results to market. The discussions made it clear that this is a field in which Germany lags behind Canada. The debate also touched on social transfer, i.e. the influence of humanities and social sciences research on social processes – an area that requires different strategies and translational instruments, which in turn are dependent on free media access and an open culture of debate.
“Equality, diversity and inclusion”, the call for a “just university” and its role in society was the second topic of discussion. A brilliant presentation by Prof. Malinda Smith, VP Research at the University of Calgary, set the tone for the ensuing debate. She presented a nuanced concept of the interplay between equality, diversity and inclusion, and warned of a rise in “renaming” tendencies among academia as well as anti-diversity trends in society. Smith pleaded for universities to be seen as role models and laboratories of a just society, which, in addition to overserving the principles of “EDI” (= Equity, Diversity, Inclusion), also set an example for the benefit of overall society, including on academic virtues such as a fact-based discussion culture, pluralism and the merit principle. “Universities have to walk the talk” – that was the essence of Malinda Smith’s call.
Are universities already more inclusive than other institutions?
This passionate lecture sparked off the ensuing panel discussion. Gülay Çaglar (Freie Universität Berlin) emphasized that universities may be one place with a democratic role model function, but that they are not democratic places per se. To illustrate her point, she referred to the women’s movement’s long struggle for access to academic education. Instead, she said, the equal opportunity and inclusive character of universities must be grappled with time and again. Ingrid Piller (University of Hamburg) picked up on this with examples from the everyday university life of students with a migratory background, who in no way perceive universities as more inclusive than other institutions. Enrico Schleiff, who represented Goethe University Frankfurt on the panel, also emphasized that EDI principles are still far from being adequately implemented at German universities. He called for an honest self-reflection, including the need to acknowledge shortcomings in EDI-related matters, and advocated for continuous work on improving the status quo, including an evaluation of the existing efforts’ successes, both for the universities themselves as well as for society as a whole. This, Schleiff said, is the only way to anchor developments in society and achieve future progress.
The third panel dealt with the “future of international academic cooperation amid new geopolitical challenges”, which, like the previous panel, was based on the results of a bi-national working group that had weighed the new risks for research cooperation resulting from the crisis-ridden global political situation against the advantages and necessities of open scientific exchange and academic dialog. Based on the findings, Jeannick Brisswalter (Université Côte d’Azur), Robert Mason (University of Birmingham) and Günter Ziegler (Freie Universität Berlin) all spoke out in favor of the important function of “science diplomacy”, while also promoting the great value of physical exchange and calling for a responsible approach to the risks that exist for research and researchers in international scientific cooperation. Mona Khoury (Hebrew University of Jerusalem) changed the perspective and provided an impressively clear insight into the precarious internal situation of her university’s academic community as a result of the Gaza war. In this context, upholding civil principles, preserving pluralistic forms of discussion, and respecting diversity become a form of rebellion against civil war and radicalization in a university shaped by Israeli Jews and Arabs alike.
Worldwide restrictions on academic freedom
A rousing keynote by Shalini Randeria (Central European University) kicked off the session on academic freedom and the question “How can universities be preserved as spaces of open discourse?” Randeria’s talk drew on her dramatic experiences as president of the Central European University, which was forced out of the country by Viktor Orban’s government and had to move from its original location in Budapest to Vienna. The university is characterized by a multinational and transcultural academic community, whose members, depending on their country of origin, have very different experiences of restricted or suppressed academic freedom. Katrin Kinzelmann (University of Erlangen-Nuremberg), an expert in the international comparison of academic freedom, confirmed Randeria’s observations: Despite international agreements on the legal safeguarding of freedom of expression and academic freedom, the latter is increasingly facing restrictions worldwide: Governments are exerting pressure on academics, while researchers and teachers in a growing number of countries are forced into self-censorship, with many avoiding critical research topics or withholding uncomfortable research results. Kai Sicks, Secretary General of the DAAD – German Academic Exchange Service, confirmed the findings both from his own experience and based on reports from the DAAD network.
The contributions to a further panel, focused on “pathways to sustainable food systems”, made it drastically clear just how fundamental research and science are for humanity’s survival. In his presentation, Matin Qaim (University of Bonn) emphasized the existential importance of sustainable food production, especially given that a continuation of current production and nutrition methods only leaves humanity with the choice of either starving to death or suffocating from greenhouse gases. He presented alternative concepts and developments (including unfamiliar nutritional alternatives), which were introduced in more detail in the subsequent panel discussion. Angela Bedard-Haughn (University of Saskatchewan), Peter Dannenberg (University of Cologne) and Thomas Heckelei (University of Bonn) agreed with Qaim that the answers can only lie in interdisciplinary efforts.
Given the nature of the topics, one might be inclined to reach the conclusion that the conference had a somewhat pessimistic note. That was not the case, however. Instead, what remains even after a few days have passed, is a vivid recollection of the energetic commitment to universities’ social responsibility. The fact that this commitment was forged in a transatlantic framework was one of the event’s two great successes. In addition, the discussions between the U15 university leaders also yielded new goals and agreements on further cooperation within the existing fields of action. The other success lay in the many personal encounters and discussions, resulting in a diverse network of German-Canadian contacts. One thing is for sure: The meeting at Herrenhausen Palace has consolidated the close cooperation between the German and Canadian U15 for years to come.
Prof. Enrico Schleiff is President of Goethe University Frankfurt; Dr. Katharina Meyer is Deputy Head of the Office for Equal Opportunities; Dr. Johannes Müller is Head of the Global Office.
