The CIVICA Global Forum took place on 6th -7th May on IE University's campus in Madrid. This flagship event brought together university leaders, scholars, students and policymakers to reflect on the role of the social sciences and higher education in tackling global challenges, and to imagine what comes next.
The Global Forum kicked off with a striking call to action from Enrico Letta, former Prime Minister of Italy and Dean of the IE School of Politics, Economics and Global Affairs. In a powerful address, he urged Europe to embrace a ‘fifth freedom’: the free movement of research, innovation, knowledge and education. Letta made a clear case for universities to be more than academic institutions. In his view, they are strategic actors in shaping a stronger, more united Europe.
From left to right: LSE attendees Yaprak Gürsoy, Claire Gordon, Mark Hoffman and Rebecca Sealy.
LSE's delegation attended different sessions and contributed to various panels over the two-day event. In the panel entitled 'The Political Economy of Higher Education: Inclusiveness, Societal Advancement and Shifting Demographics', speakers from diverse countries - including Ukraine, Hungary and Colombia - shared their experiences within their respective universities and countries.
Prof. Yaprak Gürsoy's presentation in this panel offered an overview of recent developments in the Turkish higher education sector, focusing on the challenges posed by rapid expansion and internationalisation in terms of inclusiveness and social mobility, while her co-panelists explored how demographic shifts and inclusivity efforts influence the accessibility and evolution of higher education in their respective institutions.
Dr Claire Gordon, who leads a team of education experts at the Eden Centre, shared LSE's expertise and current projects around the use of AI. 'It was great to be part of a cross-disciplinary, cross-sector panel exploring the opportunities and challenges of harnessing AI for educational transformation. The discussion highlighted the importance of collaboration between educators, data scientists and tech firms to ensure that universities are responding both effectively and ethically to the rapid developments in this area.'
Other panel sessions at the event focused on subjects such as the future of university alliances, transformative education, the pivotal role of partnerships and student engagement, providing attendees with lots of opportunities to share ideas and learn how to better shape tomorrow's universities.
To learn more about CIVICA opportunities, check our dedicated pages regularly, or contact civica@lse.ac.uk.
Photos ©IEUniversity and ©LSE