From April 11 to 12, more than 80 university leaders from 18 countries met at Bocconi University in Milan, Italy, for the U7+ Alliance Presidential Summit. In addition to Keio University, which hosted the summit last year, other Japanese member universities of the U7+ include the University of Tokyo, Osaka University, Hitotsubashi University — and the two latest additions this year — Tohoku University and Waseda University, making a total of six universities representing Japan.
The theme of this year's Presidential Summit was "Inclusive Education for Inclusive Societies". President Itoh delivered a speech in which he cited the fable, The Tortoise and the Hare, to illustrate the differences in cultural values between Japan and the United States at the session "Global Access to Higher Education" on April 11. He spoke about the importance of continuous learning through friendly rivalry with one's peers while being exposed to diverse values.
U7+ universities have compiled a joint statement to call on G7 leaders to work together to eliminate barriers and increase access to education globally. The statement was delivered to Anna Maria Bernini, Italian Minister of University and Research, a representative of the Italian government which is hosting the G7 summit this year.
Full text of the 2024 U7+ Statement on Global Access to Higher Education
■About the U7+ Alliance of World Universities (U7+)
The U7+ Alliance of World Universities was established in 2019 on the initiative of the Sciences Po in France. As of April 2024, it is comprised of 54 member universities from 19 countries. Besides universities from G7 nations, there are also member universities from South Korea, India, Australia, South Africa, Nigeria, and other countries. At the annual U7+ Alliance Presidential Summit, university leaders engage in direct discussions and make recommendations to governments in order to address common issues and challenges faced by countries around the world.