From May 25 to 29, 2026, students from across the U7+ Alliance of World Universities assembled at Ashesi University in Ghana to take part in the U7+ Student Challenge 2026. Held under the theme “Global Anchor Institutions: Harnessing University Networks for Local Resilience,” the four-day conference brought students together to develop and pitch proposals to U7+ leaders addressing global challenges and the social role of universities.
Two students from Keio University participated in this year’s event, joining peers from seventeen member universities representing eleven countries. Working in diverse teams that spanned national and disciplinary borders, participants developed projects tackling a range of sub-challenges. Discussions began online before students traveled to Ghana for in-person exchange at Ashesi University. For their final presentations, participants were asked to create practical proposals reflecting the local context of Berekuso, where Ashesi University’s main campus is located.
As part of the U7+ Alliance's ongoing efforts to more faithfully reflect student voices in its operations, it screened a video presenting recommendations from this year’s students at the April 2026 U7+ Presidential Summit. President Kohei Itoh, who serves as Chair of the U7+ Alliance, opened the Student Challenge with a video address to the students.
Over the course of the program, students drew on their diverse backgrounds and strengths to collaborate toward shared outcomes. The program also included opportunities to experience Ghanaian culture and history, providing a meaningful platform to deepen international exchange and mutual understanding.
The U7+ Alliance is an international coalition of universities that currently counts 48 institutions from 19 countries among its membership.