International Network Addresses Main Challenges of Leadership in Higher Education

On Wednesday, July 17, UC Chile hosted the annual meeting of the “International Association of University Presidents” (IAUP), a summit that brought together leaders of higher education institutions from around the world to address the main challenges of leadership and the role of universities in an increasingly globalized world.  

Founded in 1965, IAUP aims to promote peace and international understanding through education by providing a well-informed forum for university leaders from around the world. Led by Fernando León-García,  President of CETYS University and President of the Mexican Association of Private Universities (AMUP), IAUP operates as an NGO with consultative status at the United Nations and UNESCO, aiming to promote sustainable development and innovation.  

The meeting was attended by Fernando León-García, president of the association, and the Presidents Ignacio Sánchez (UC Chile); Fernando Galván of the University of Alcalá de Henares, Spain; Kakha Shengelia of Caucasus University, Georgia; Gerald Reisinger of the University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria; Ichiro Tanioka of Osaka University of Commerce, Japan; and Letlhokwa Mpedi of the University of Johannesburg, South Africa. More than forty universities participated online, broadening the scope and diversity of the dialogue.  

“We had a highly productive meeting at our university with members of International Association of University Presidents (IAUP). We were joined by authorities and representatives of over 40 universities from around the world who attended virtually as well as the seven university presidents who attended in person,” said President Ignacio Sánchez.  

"IAUP is an organization dedicated to promoting international collaboration and understanding, building bridges for peace and dialogue, and empowering future generations to contribute to a better society. Universities play a crucial role in addressing the shared challenges facing humanity by fostering education and generating new knowledge. These challenges include current armed conflicts in various regions, global warming, inequality, poverty, and needs in areas such as health, human rights, early childhood policies, and migration, among others.” 

“Universities play a crucial role in addressing the shared challenges facing humanity by fostering education and generating new knowledge. These challenges include current armed conflicts in various regions, global warming, inequality, poverty, among others.” - President Ignacio Sánchez 

He highlighted the significant role that internationalization plays for the university. "At UC Chile, a key objective of our 2020-2025 development plan is to enhance internationalization. We aim to participate in and collaborate with global partners who share our common goals, promoting the dissemination of knowledge, the development of global competencies, and the pursuit of effective solutions to the challenges facing our planet."  

Last year, UC Chile created the UC Center for Dialogue and Peace, an interdisciplinary initiative aimed at fostering a culture of dialogue and peace in the country through academic contributions. “Through dialogue and the pursuit of conflict resolution, the university can serve as a valuable space and a key contributor to addressing society's challenges,” said President Sánchez.  

At the event, IAUP President Fernando León-García spoke about the value of this meeting and reviewed the milestones and key initiatives of the international network. Several panels were held to discuss the challenges of leadership in higher education and to share experiences. The meetings were attended in person by the university presidents.  

Throughout the day, both the Executive Committee and the Board of Directors met in a hybrid format, with members participating either online or in person. Additionally, the presidents and their delegations toured the iconic places of the UC Chile Casa Central Campus (Santiago, Chile).  

The final activity featured a discussion on successful strategies for global internationalization, led by the Vice Presidents of the institutions. This session provided a platform for them to share examples of success and ideas to enhance internationalization efforts at their universities. 

The Vice Presidents of International Affairs shared their experiences, emphasizing key advancements, and pinpointing areas for improvement. “We identified good common practices. However, we need to define criteria and standards to advance in planning. We know priorities and emphasis on internationalization vary according to geographic region,” said Lilian Ferrer, UC Chile Vice President of International Affairs. 

The session was very constructive, showcasing participants' contributions and the exchange of experiences. It emphasized proposals to enhance the role of women in universities. “The aim is to promote female leadership in higher education through proposals for mentoring and modeling for new generations of academics,” said Vice President Ferrer.  

“We identified good common practices. However, we need to define criteria and standards to advance in planning. We know priorities and emphasis on internationalization vary according to geographic region.” - Lilian Ferrer, UC Chile Vice President of International Affairs.

Signing of Agreements  

As part of the presidents' summit and motivated by a commitment to strengthen collaboration, UC Chile, represented by President Sánchez, signed two new agreements of understanding with the presidents of CETYS University and the University of Caucasus.  

This reaffirms the commitment of the members of the International Association of University Presidents to strengthen agreements and engage its members in decision-making and collaborative efforts to promote higher education and development on an international scale.  

In the future, these agreements aim to foster collaborative initiatives among the participating institutions to address the challenges of a globalized world. They promote the exchange of knowledge, global mobility, collaborative work agreements, research, and global liaison.  

The organization aims to continue strengthening relationships and plans to convene again at the 20th IAUP Triennial Conference, titled “AI and the Future of Higher Education,” scheduled for October 13-15, 2024, in Beijing, China.