Tentative Agenda

10:00-11:30am

Presidential Steering Committee (in-person, Presidential Steering Committee Members and their Presidential Delegates only)

12:00-12:30pm

Registration

12:30-2:00pm

Opening Lunch & Keynote Speech (in-person only)

Welcome: Meric Gertler, President, University of Toronto, and Chair U7+ Presidential Steering Committee & Francesco Billari, Rector, Bocconi University, 2024 Summit Host

Keynote Speaker: Anna Maria Bernini, Minister of University and Research, Italian Republic

Official Presentation of U7+ Statement to Minister Bernini.

U7+ Alliance Summary of Activity: Meric Gertler, President, University of Toronto

Tour de Table

2:00-3:30pm

Session 1 – Global Access to Higher Education

The U7+ will be releasing a statement on Access to Education to the Italian government in advance of our Summit. This session builds on that statement and brings together U7+ Alliance presidents to discuss global issues in access to higher education. Access encompasses the full cycle of the student journey from admissions to graduation and through the academic pipeline into all stages of academic research.

Challenges regarding access to education are region dependent but increasingly have a global dimension. In a rapidly changing and increasingly unstable geopolitical context, relations amongst universities, and between universities and other sector actors, are also essential to support access to education.

The U7+, as a global alliance, can facilitate access to education across institutions by supporting students from local and global communities, refugee students, scholars at risk, and capacity building initiatives such as the Africa Charter on Transformative Research Collaborations.

The final consensus statement, developed by a Working Group led by Bocconi and University of Cape Town, will frame the session, with five university presidents setting the stage for the broader discussion.

Chair: Francesco Billari, Rector, Bocconi University

Introduction of Student Video

Speakers:

• Batmanathan Dayanand Reddy, Interim Vice Chancellor, University of Cape Town 
• John DeGioia, President, Georgetown University 
• Raquel Bernal, Universidad de los Andes 
• Kayode Oyebode Adebowale, Vice-Chancellor, University of Ibadan 
• Kohei Itoh, President, Keio University

3:30-4:00pm

Break

4:00-5:30pm

Session 2 – Climate Change and Sustainability

Since its inception, the U7+ Alliance has had a robust working group on Climate Change and Sustainability.

Its work has consistently informed presidential summit programs, provided pathways to decarbonization, promoted engagement initiatives such as U7+ participation at the UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP) over the past several years, and provided a thematic focus for student challenges. At our 2021 Summit, the U7+ Alliance released a statement committing members to ensuring students have access to sustainability courses, as well as committing to ambitious climate change action plans and targets to reduce and offset GHG emissions associated with university operations.

This session highlights three sustainability initiatives led by U7+ presidents. After a panel with three case studies, and the presentation of a draft plan for key areas of collective focus for 2024-25, all presidents’ input will be invited.

Chair: Thomas Puhl, President, University of Mannheim 

Introduction of Student Video

Speakers: 

• Jeanick Brisswalter, President, Université Côte d'Azur 
• Hicham El Habti, President, Université Mohammed VI Polytechnique 
• Meric Gertler, President, University of Toronto

5:30-6:00pm

Day 1 Closing Remarks

• Meric Gertler, President, University of Toronto
• Francesco Billari, Rector, Bocconi University, 2024 Summit Host

7:30pm

Gala Dinner in Sala degli Affreschi at Società Umanitaria (in-person only)

Chair: Meric Gertler, President, University of Toronto

Keynote Speaker: Mario Monti, President of Istituto Javotte Bocconi and Former Italian Prime Minister

Session 3 – Human-Centered AI

Building on the work done by U7+ members, including a just-published book entitled Human-Centered AI: A Multidisciplinary Perspective for Policy Makers, Auditors, and Users, this session will feature a discussion amongst university leaders and experts on the leading role that universities play in preparing the next generation of leaders on the opportunities and challenges of AI.

Discussion will focus on opportunities to engage governments, industry and civil society to develop new AI innovations while also ensuring that the appropriate training, policy frameworks and partnerships are in place to mitigate potential harm.

The discussion will begin with a video from one of the pioneers of AI, Professor Yoshua Bengio from the Université de Montréal. This will be followed by remarks from four presidents and a discussion among all presidents.

Chair: Donatella Sciuto, Rector, Politecnico di Milano 

Introduction of Video from Yoshua Bengio, Professor, Université de Montréal

Speakers: 

• Shojiro Nishio, President, Osaka University
• Patrick Awuah, President, Ashesi University
• Subhasis Chaudhuri, Director, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
• Daniel Jutras, Rector, Université de Montréal

Session 4: 2025 Summit

In 2025, the G7 Presidency will turn to Canada. The hosts of next year’s U7+ Summit will be announced and a discussion will focus on strategic priorities for the next 12 months as well as how to best continue to engage with the G7. 

Chair:

• Francesco Billari, Rector, Bocconi University, 2024 Summit Host
• Jacques Fremont, President, University of Ottawa, 2025 Summit Host (online)

11:30am-12:00pm

Closing Remarks

The final session will include an overview of next steps in the Alliance’s continued successful development.

Closing remarks will summarize key takeaways.

• Meric Gertler, President, University of Toronto
• Francesco Billari, Rector, Bocconi University, 2024 Summit Host

Optional U7+ Ad Hoc Working Group Meetings (in-person only)

• Climate Change and Sustainability
• Global Access to Higher Education
• Human-Centered AI