IARU Global Transformation Initiative
IARU is an alliance of global universities. In view of the increasing importance and dynamic shifts in weight between different world regions, IARU member universities formed an institutional initiative to share their experiences and strategic considerations on their interaction with collaborators in emerging and developing countries, at the institutional level as well as with respect to research alliances and capacity building.
The IARU Global Transformation (GT) is an initiative that connects academic institutions to actively reduce persistent asymmetries in political and economic power and access to knowledge, through the sharing of expertise and organising joint activities in research, education and other related areas.
Vision and Mission Statement Global Transformation Initiative
IARU institutions share a commitment to addressing prevailing global challenges. The IARU Global Transformation (GT) platform focuses on the rapidly changing nature of our globalized world, which can no longer be understood in terms of a simple North-South divide in either the problems it faces or the delivery of solutions. Committing to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, GT perceives transformation as a global challenge and an opportunity, affecting both rich and poor countries, although in different ways. The IARU GT recognizes and actively strives to reduce persistent asymmetries in power, resources, access to knowledge and opportunities in research, education and other related activities among IARU institutions and their partners. By leveraging our collective strengths, we can identify and capitalize on opportunities for shared innovative projects which, through cross institutional synergies, will lead to greater and more equitable outcomes than would flow from their individual efforts.
Activities
Summer school: Borderland - Critical Approaches to Field Research in the Global South
3 – 28 July 2023 in Chiang Mai, Thailand
The Summer School “Borderland” is centering around topics of migration, mobilities and immobilities that have emerged as among the most pressing 21st century challenges. It engages students from multiple disciplines in thinking critically about the research process during field work, epistemologies, and ethics in conducting research.
Students interact with international and local scholars in structured seminars, and with communities and organizations working to address pressing local, regional and global issues through their placement with local NGOs and research projects. The summer school is open for all advanced undergraduate and postgraduate students from all disciplines and is awarded with 7,5 ECTS.
This year’s summer school will take place from 3 – 28 July in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Guideline for research partnerships between Global North and Global South
The Global Transformation Initiative has elaborated “Principles for Integrity and Fairness in Research Partnerships”.
Annual Meetings of the Global Transformation Initiative
Annual Meeting 2023: ETH Zurich
Annual Meeting 2022: National University of Singapore
Annual Meeting 2021: Asia-Africa Conference at University of Copenhagen
Annual Meeting 2019: Chang Mai University, Thailand
Annual Meeting 2018: University of Cambridge
Annual Meeting 2017: Peking University
Annual Meeting 2016: University of Cape Town
Launch Meeting 2015: ETH Zurich
Delegates
ETH Zürich: Prof. Harald Fischer-Tiné
ETH Zürich: Senior Programme Manager Patricia Heuberger
National University of Singapore (NUS): Prof. Maitrii Victoriano Aung
National University of Singapore (NUS): Dr. Randall Ong Peh Liang
Pekin University (PKU): Prof. Tianyang Xi
University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley): Prof. Khatharya Um
University of Cape Town (UCT): Prof. Frank Matose
University of Copenhagen (UCPH): Dr. Andreas Egelund Christensen (secretary)
University of Copenhagen (UCPH): Prof. Karen Lauterbach
University of Oxford: Dr. Merolyn Whitaker
University of Oxford: Prof. Alexander Betts
Yale-NUS College, Zhana Sandeva
Yale University: Dr. Richard Sosa
Australian National University: Prof. Jochen Prantl
