October 9, 2014 (London, UK) The U15 Group of Canadian Research Universities and The Russell Group concluded their first association-to-association meeting today, having engaged in a productive and fruitful discussion about the particular needs of research-intensive universities and their essential role as critical assets in our knowledge-based economies. Members of the two associations have agreed to work together to increase research partnerships and other opportunities for collaboration among our member institutions, including fellowships, visiting professorships and student exchanges.
“As associations that represent research-intensive universities, it was very constructive for us to have an opportunity to meet and discuss important issues like the need to demonstrate the value of differentiation with the PSE sector, encouraging innovation, and supporting student mobility,” said Waterloo University President Feridun Hamdullahpur, chair of The U15. “We also reaffirmed our collective interest in supporting global partnerships for research excellence.”
The U15 recently engaged in a series of consultations with the Canadian government and private sector representatives about how best to support innovation and research collaborations between the private and public sector, an issue which the executive heads of The Russell Group and The U15 also discussed during their meeting.
Eleven (11) members of The U15 and 22 members of The Russell Group participated in this initial meeting, which helped to forge a closer connection. Both organizations look forward to future opportunities to work together on issues of global importance to research-intensive universities.