About the U7+ Alliance of World Universities

2022 cote d'azur u7 summit

Copyright: Université Côte d’Azur

The U7+ Alliance is an international alliance of university presidents who engage in both discussion and concrete action by making commitments that universities may take to address the most pressing global challenges in a multilateral context. It is the very first alliance of university presidents aimed at structuring and advancing their role as global actors across the multilateral agenda.

In the context of this alliance, university presidents will take stock of their unique civic and social responsibility as global actors and pledge to take concrete action within their institutions for a local, regional and global impact. The founding members of the U7+ Alliance have agreed to meet yearly for an annual summit to discuss a common agenda and establish a space for universities’ action in today’s global landscape.

For more information about current U7+ activities, visit the U7+ Secretariat site, hosted by Northwestern University.

U7+ Alliance Leadership

The U7+ is led by two governing bodies: The Presidential Steering Committee and the Bureau.  

Presidential Steering Committee: 

  • Professor Meric Gertler, President, University of Toronto (Chair)  
  • Professor Kayode Oyebode Adebowale, Vice-Chancellor, University of Ibadan 
  • President Francesco Billari, Rector, Bocconi University  
  • Professor John DeGioia, President, Georgetown University 
  • Professor Kohei Itoh, President, Keio University  
  • Professor Daniel Jutras, Rector, Université de Montréal  
  • Professor Thomas Puhl, Rector, University of Mannheim 
  • Mr. Mathias Vicherat, Director, Sciences Po

Bureau:

  • Valérie Amiraux, Vice-Rector for Community and International Partnerships, Université de Montréal
  • Marie Azuelos, Acting Vice President for International Affairs, Sciences Po
  • Oluyemisi Adefunke Bamgbose, Deputy Vice Rector for Research Innovation and Strategic Partnerships, University of Ibadan 
  • Tom Banchoff, Vice President for Global Engagement, Georgetown University  
  • Gwen Burrows, Assistant Vice-President, International Engagement and Impact, University of Toronto (Chair) 
  • Catherine de Vries, Dean of International Affairs, Bocconi University 
  • Thomas Fetzer, Vice President for Strategic Planning, Internationalization, and Equal Opportunity, University of Mannheim 
  • Michael Gebhard, Head of Research Affairs and Quality Management, University of Mannheim 
  • Gaëlle Le Goff, Director for International Relations, École Polytechnique (Student Initiatives Chair) 
  • Meghan Ozaroski, Director of Global Collaboration, Roberta Buffett Institute for Global Affairs (Representing the Secretariat on behalf of Northwestern University)
  • Motohiro Tsuchiya, Vice-President for International Collaboration, Keio University
  • Gisèle Yasmeen, Associate Vice President – International, Université d’Ottawa 

U7+ Alliance Statements