Second Africa–Europe Clusters of Research Excellence Conference

In 2026 the University of Glasgow celebrates our 575th anniversary during which we plan to showcase our inventions, interventions and innovations that continue to shape the social, cultural and economic prosperity of our city, our country and civilisation itself. The U21Leadership summit will be one of the flagship events during this celebration. 

The University of Glasgow has been changing the world since 1451. We are a world top 100 university and a member of the prestigious Russell Group of leading UK research universities. 

Our people have always been at the forefront of innovation, including eight Nobel Laureates, two UK Prime Ministers, three First Ministers of Scotland, 10 Fellows of the Royal Society and 11 Fellows of the British Academy. Our past achievements inspire our current world changers. 

We believe that everyone should have fair access to education. We are proud of our long tradition of helping talented people to fulfil their ambitions, regardless of their background or circumstances. Our University of Sanctuary status recognises the safe and welcoming environment we provide for refugees and asylum seekers. 

We are home to The Hunterian, our museum and art gallery, one of the leading university museums in the world. We have the world’s largest permanent display of the work of James McNeill Whistler and the largest single holding of the work of Charles Rennie Mackintosh. 

The African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) is a network of leading universities from different African countries with different historical backgrounds, but with a common vision. This vision is to make African researchers and institutions globally competitive while contributing significantly to the generation of knowledge for the socio-economic transformation of the continent. The network, right from inception, was intended to be different from any other regional university network in Africa. The difference was to come largely from the approach to be employed, namely bringing together a number of peer African institutions that were willing to work together by pooling their limited resources to generate a critical mass that could more effectively support their limited but growing numbers of researchers. Underlying the approach was the conviction that they could leverage their resources effectively for additional resources from outside. 

Founded in 2016, The Guild comprises twenty-three of Europe’s most distinguished research-intensive universities in seventeen countries, and is dedicated to enhancing the voice of academic institutions, their researchers and their students. The Guild is committed to the pursuit of excellence, the importance of truth-seeking and trust-building as the foundation of public life, and the creation of new knowledge for the benefit of society, culture, and economic growth.

Our scientific and societal challenges require a concerted and ambitious response from Europe's leading research institutions to develop and showcase real and sustained solutions of global significance, in conjunction with not-for-profit organizations, industry and business. We will establish The Guild as a distinct voice, focusing activity on core areas of engagement with clearly defined outcomes and instruments of measurement. The Guild will be an effective voice to further research, create innovation for public benefit, and enrich public debate at European and national levels.

The Guild is a transformative network of European research-led universities that is committed to optimising the opportunities afforded by its members' world- leading research. Through the knowledge they produce, The Guild will engage with policy- makers, enhance public debate, promote excellence in higher education, and collaborate with private and public institutions to solve global problems. Through the commitment of its members for collaborative exchange in research, innovation and public engagement, The Guild will set new standards for the effectiveness of a university network externally, and for each member's access to policy and research funding opportunities.