Times Higher Education’s World Academic Summit 2017 will be held in partnership with King’s College London next September.
The event, which brings together senior university, government and industry leaders in one of the most prestigious gatherings of its kind in the world, will be on the theme: “Collaborating for a better world: new models for research universities.” It will take place from 3 to 5 September 2017.
The summit will explore how universities can become beacons of internationalisation and establish partnerships that break boundaries; how cities and higher education institutions can work together to create a global impact; and how higher education can fuel the knowledge economy towards sustainable long-term growth.
Confirmed speakers include Sir Paul Nurse, director of the Francis Crick Institute, and Kurt Deketelaere, president of the League of European Research Universities and head of the Institute for Environmental and Energy Law at KU Leuven.
Joanna Newman, vice-principal (international) at King's College London, said: 'We're extremely excited to be hosting the THE World Academic Summit 2017 in London, possibly one of the most global cities in the world and a city going through major changes post-Brexit.'
She said the summit will build on the theme of the 2016 World Academic Summit on world-class universities and the public good to look at the role research universities have in solving global problems. She added that the sessions will involve high levels of participation from delegates.
'Universities cannot do this in isolation anymore. They have to work in collaboration,' she said.
'We're excited to be bringing world leaders to London to showcase how innovative partnerships can solve the world's problems and how we can develop new models for research universities.'
She said that these partnerships could include collaborations with businesses, the third sector and other universities.
It will mark the first time THE's flagship conference will be held in Europe, following events in Singapore, Australia and the US.