The event explored how higher education, industry and policymakers can work together to ensure that universities can act as drivers of positive change.
A core theme running across the conference was collaboration. The University's Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Evelyn Welch, joined peers from the University of Vienna, Eindhoven University of Technology and University College London to discuss the key dynamics influencing the landscape of partnerships in an evolving Europe.
Speaking about universities’ responsibility to understand the roots of and help resolve the anxiety that is fuelling a more inward facing mindset in many parts of Europe, the Prof Welch stressed that “European institutions can only achieve the big breakthroughs of which they are capable if they continue to work openly and collaboratively and speak out about open borders for good".
Addressing the perils of siloed working, the Vice-Chancellor stressed that “it is universities’ responsibility to continue to work openly and collaboratively in Europe and beyond, if we are to achieve the big breakthroughs of which we are, collectively, capable”.
Prof Welch also spoke about the need to be more thoughtful when it comes to collaborations beyond Europe, challenging that the idea that the ‘European way’ of organising a University is not the only approach, highlighting the need to “be open to the challenge of different ways of organising our thinking, of investing in collaborative research”.
In a panel session focused on equity and the digital divide, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Global Engagement) Professor Michele Acuto addressed the challenges: “We live in a context where there are multiple generations of technology all happening at the same time, if we don’t continue the frank conversations around the digital divide seen during the pandemic, and actively listening, we run the risk of going back to a mode of engaging with our students and communities which re-entrenches divisions.
"As well as the high profile, ‘top-down’ solutions, we must be receptive to their needs and open to community-driven innovations.”
The latest Times Higher Education World University Rankings were revealed at the Summit, with Bristol climbing 3 places to 78.
Experts from across the University will also be contributing to a number of sessions at the upcoming THE Campus Live event: 'Building resilience for a sustainable future'.