University news

Senior university leaders, policymakers and sector experts from around the world will gather in Glasgow for the inaugural U21 Leadership Summit and Annual Network Meeting, hosted by the University of Glasgow as part of its 575th anniversary celebrations.

Running from 20–23 April 2026, the events bring together leadership from Universitas 21 (U21) – a global network of research-intensive universities – for four days of discussion, collaboration and strategic exchange on the future of higher education.

A distinguished line-up of global speakers from higher education, public policy, science and sport will be in attendance. Highlights include Nobel Prize-winning chemist, Professor Sir David MacMillan; Professor Robbert Dijkgraaf, theoretical physicist and former Minister of Education, Culture and Science in the Netherlands; and Dame Katherine Grainger, Chancellor of the University of Glasgow, one of Britain’s most successful Olympians and Chair of UK Sport.

The programme also features senior university leaders alongside global policymakers, business leaders and presidents from U21 member institutions, offering a broad international perspective.

Professor Andy Schofield, University of Glasgow Principal & Vice Chancellor, said: “This gathering comes at an important moment for universities across the world. We are all navigating rapid technological change, shifting geopolitical pressures and profound environmental challenges - forces that are reshaping not only higher education, but the societies we serve.

“The U21 Annual Network Meeting and Leadership Summit provide an opportunity to reflect together on how universities must evolve. It’s creating space for us to think clearly about how we strengthen global partnership, how we reshape our institutions and ensure the work we do remains meaningful and sustainable for the future.

“We are especially pleased to host the event during the University of Glasgow’s 575th anniversary year. It is a moment that invites us to celebrate our remarkable history, while looking confidently to the future and to the role that globally connected universities can and must play within it.”

Professor Jenny Dixon, Provost of Universitas 21, added: “No single institution can solve the complex challenges facing higher education today. What networks like Universitas 21 provide is the ability for leading universities across the world to come together, share knowledge and shape solutions collectively.

“The Annual Network Meeting remains a vital space for building the trusted relationships that underpin global collaboration, and the new Leadership Summit allows us to bring even more voices into the conversation about the future of higher education.”

The Leadership Summit is designed to encourage candid dialogue and practical insight on issues such as global engagement, innovation ecosystems and universities’ societal responsibilities.

First published: 16 April 2026