World Leaders in Higher Education, Government, and Industry Converge at the 5th Global University Summit

World Leaders in Higher Education, Government, and Industry Converge at the 5th Global University Summit

World Leaders in Higher Education, Government, and Industry Converge at the 5th Global University Summit

May 1, 2012, 15:55 PM

Over 230 attendees, including Presidents, Rectors, Chancellors, Vice-Chancellors, and representatives of 85 leading educational and research institutions from 35 countries, as well as government and private sector leaders from all over the world participated in the 5th Global University Summit...



Over 230 attendees, including Presidents, Rectors, Chancellors, Vice-Chancellors, and representatives of 85 leading educational and research institutions from 35 countries, as well as government and private sector leaders from all over the world participated in the 5th Global University Summit from April 29 to May 1, 2012 in Chicago, IL.  Held in conjunction with the G8 Summit and co-hosted by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and the Committee on Institutional Cooperation, the theme for the 2012 Global University Summit was Developing Talent to Drive Innovation in a Global Society.


Summit delegates explored the role of higher education in

  • addressing complex societal issues,
  • enabling regions and nations to enhance their competitiveness through innovation and discovery,
  • developing of people and societies for a thriving world.


    • Higher education leaders from across the world also connected with industry executives to discuss the relationship between research, discovery, and practical application and collaborated on how to break down barriers that impede access to world-class higher education for citizens across the globe.


    At each Global University Summit, delegates identify issues and recommendations to advance to the larger G8 Summit in an official declaration. The 2012 declaration that is being forwarded to the G8 is a joint affirmation of innovation and international collaboration between institutions of higher learning with a focus on themes of leadership in innovation, ethics, social and economic development, and global institutional collaboration and network development.


    Highlights of the Declaration of
 The Fifth Global University Summit

    • A global perspective is essential to successfully developing a multi-dimensional and cross-disciplinary approach that will bridge cultures, languages, institutions, and communities. We must cultivate partnerships between universities, non-profit organizations, the private sector, and government agencies to facilitate knowledge transfer and commercialization of new technologies.
    • Dialogue among experts in diverse fields including the social and applied sciences, humanities, and fine arts; as well as citizens; and policy makers is central to transformative innovations and effective policy-making.

    Please visit the CIC's Summit web page for more information. 



    Co-Hosts

  • The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
  • The Committee on Institutional Cooperation (CIC) – the academic consortium of 13 research universities located in the US Midwest. Since 1958, these world-class research universities have worked together for the common good.

    • About the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

    The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is dedicated to building upon its tradition of excellence in education, research, public engagement and economic development. More than 3,000 faculty members discover and create new knowledge. Their work is an economic engine for the state and is recognized with many of the world’s top academic and creative awards. The campus’ outstanding academic programs, extraordinary resources and bountiful opportunities attract top-caliber students. They join research teams, spend semesters abroad, create art in old and new ways and lead and participate in hundreds of student organizations. With more than 425,000 alumni, Illinois provides global leaders across the spectrum of human endeavor.

    About the CIC

    Since 1958, the Big Ten Universities and the University of Chicago (a founding member of the Big Ten) have collaborated on academic and research initiatives. Together, these top-tier research universities save money through coordinated purchasing, amplify the impact of research by bringing together faculty from many campuses to solve problems, and extend access to opportunities for all students across the consortium by leveraging library resources and unique courses such as language and study abroad offerings. Learn more about the CIC at www.cic.net.

    The universities of the CIC are the University of Chicago, University of Illinois, Indiana University, University of Iowa, University of Michigan, Michigan State University, University of Minnesota, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Northwestern University, Ohio State University, Pennsylvania State University, Purdue University, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

    • At $8 billion, CIC universities conduct more funded research than the Ivy League schools’ $4.2 billion or the University of California 
system’s $5.2 billion. 
    • CIC universities are educating almost a half-million students, 
representing almost 15% of doctoral degrees, 20% of engineering Ph.D. degrees, and almost 25% of the agricultural Ph.D. degrees granted in the U.S. each year. 
    • Across the CIC you will find 106 Nobel Laureates, four 2011 MacArthur Genius grant winners, 665 patents issued in 2010, 75 start-ups created, and over $428.7 million in licensing income generated.