On January 30-31, 2025, Université Côte d’Azur’s Initiative of Excellence hosted the 2nd edition of the U7+ Alliance Presidential Delegates Meeting in Nice, France.
The U7+ Alliance is an international network of university presidents committed to addressing global challenges in coordination with G7 government leaders. With over 50 member universities from G7 and non-G7 countries across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, the alliance is the first of its kind to formalize and promote the role of universities in multilateral dialogue on global issues.
Since June 2024, Université Côte d’Azur has been home to the U7+ Alliance General Secretariat, reinforcing its role as a key facilitator of the network’s activities. In this capacity, it hosted the second meeting of Presidential Delegates, bringing together 36 representatives from 23 member universities. Over two days, discussions focused on :
Strategic developments within the Alliance in response to a shifting geopolitical landscape.
Preparations for the upcoming U7+ Presidential Summit in Ottawa (April 2025), ahead of the G7 Summit in June 2025 in Kananaskis, Canada.
Strengthening cooperation and engagement among U7+ member universities.
In addition to its ongoing focus on climate action and sustainable development, the U7+ Alliance is placing particular emphasis on Artificial Intelligence (AI) in 2025. Discussions will center on the role of universities in shaping responses to the rapid transformations brought by AI, ensuring higher education institutions play a proactive role in addressing both its opportunities and challenges.