Global network of research universities in the works

Four of the world’s major research university groups have been discussing creating a parallel organization to the Global Research Council, a virtual network launched in Virginia last year comprised of the heads of some 50 science and engineering funding agencies from around the world. In the latest move towards such a council, the 4 groups released a joint statement outlining the characteristics of contemporary research universities that would belong to the organization. “[The statement] outlines the shared values that underpin effective cross-national institutional collaboration,” says Hunter Rawlings, President of the Association of American Universities (AAU), one of the research university groups involved in the talks. The other 3 groups included are the League of European Research Universities, the China 9 grouping of leading Chinese universities, and the Australian Group of Eight research intensive universities. University World News