Ohio State leaders to represent the university at 5th Global University Summit

Two Ohio State University leaders will represent the university at the 5th Global University Summit in Chicago from April 29 to May 1, 2012.

Joseph A. Alutto, executive vice president and provost, and William Brustein vice provost for global strategies and international affairs will attend the summit. During the event, Alutto will sign the Global University Summit Declaration, a set of principles and initiatives which acknowledge the importance of universities and asks G8 leaders to take actions as part of a sustainable response to global, social, economic and environmental challenges.

Held just prior to the G8 Summit, the Global University Summit brings together leadership of major international research universities and global industries to deliberate on critical issues facing higher education globally in the 21st century. Presidents and senior officials representing more than 80 leading research universities from the U.S. and around the world will be attending. The theme for 2012 is "Developing Talent to Drive Innovation in a Global Society."

In today’s global knowledge society, truth, discovery and understanding do not stop at the boundaries of an institution or a country. The summit will explore the role of higher education in addressing complex societal issues, in enabling regions and nations to enhance their competitiveness through innovation and discovery, and in the development of people and societies for a thriving world. The role of collaboration between and among universities and the private sector and how they address these themes will also be explored.

Expected summit outcomes include:

*Identify issues and recommendations to advance to the larger G8 Summit
*Cultivate strategic partnerships among higher education institutions around the world. Such partnerships can enhance international understanding, accelerate research and discovery, eliminate barriers that impede collaboration, and improve access to educational opportunity.
*Connect with industry leaders to discuss the relationship between research, discovery and practical application
*Break down barriers that impede access to world-class higher educations to citizens across the globe.

The 5th Global University Summit is sponsored by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and the Committee on Institutional Cooperation. The first summit was held in 2008 in Sapporo. Since then, Italy, Canada and France have hosted the event in advance of the G8.

More information is available at the Global University Summit web page:www.engagement.Illinois.edu/globalsummit2012/index.html