NUS HOSTS 1ST GLOBAL ROUNDTABLE FOR TOP UNIVERSITY PRESIDENTS
APRU World Institute Proposed
July 2, 2005 - A historic meeting of two prestigious university consortia, the Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU) and the Association of American Universities (AAU), took place in Singapore from 30 June to 1 July 2005. Hosted by National University of Singapore, the AAU-APRU Presidents Roundtable gathered university presidents of top-tier universities from the Americas and Asia Pacific in a trans-regional roundtable setting for the first time in Asia.
The APRU 9th Annual Presidents Meeting on 2 July 2005 was also held in NUS following the Roundtable meeting. APRU presidents and their delegates gathered to address possible future projects of strategic importance to the Asia Pacific.
AU-APRU Presidents Roundtable
The AAU-APRU Presidents Roundtable brought together members of APRU, a consortium of 36 leading universities from 16 economies in the Pacific Rim, and AAU, a consortium of research universities in North America. University presidents and delegates of both consortia convened for a two-day dialogue at National University of Singapore.
Presidents of AAU, APRU and AIU universities at University Hall,
National University of Singapore
This milestone meeting turned out a total of 53 university presidents from America, Asia and Australasia, including presidents of top Indian universities from the Association of Indian Universities (AIU).
Ranging from strategic issues to trends and developments in higher education and globalization, the Roundtable provided a rare opportunity for university presidents from the three continents to engage one another in debate and discussion over how universities can better engage one another and forge multilateral collaboration.
The Roundtable sessions commenced with a thought-provoking topic on the international role of universities in a changing global environment. Higher education issues discussed at the Roundtable included internationalization efforts, research capacity and resource building.
Highlights of the Roundtable included a dialogue session between the presidents and Singapore Minister Mentor Mr Lee Kuan Yew, who gave his views on the role of universities in a globalizing world and related geo-strategic and socio-economic issues.
The university presidents also attended a welcome dinner at the Istana with Singapore's President S R Nathan and Deputy Prime Minister Dr Tony Tan. The closing dinner for the Roundtable was hosted by the Chairman of the National University of Singapore Council, Mr Wong Ngit Liong. Prime Minister Mr Lee Hsien Loong gave a keynote address as Guest-of-Honor at the dinner.
Leading research universities from key regions and economies such as the U.S., China, India, Japan, Australia and Southeast Asia took part in the Roundtable.
APRU 9th Annual Presidents Meeting and APRU World Institute
At the APRU 9th Annual Presidents Meeting held back-to-back with the AAU-APRU Presidents Roundtable in NUS, an APRU World Institute (AWI), under the auspices of APRU, was proposed. The institute will be the first to be formed in the Pacific Rim region by a consortium of leading research universities in the Americas, Asia and Australasia.
The AWI represents a talent and resource base across a variety of knowledge branches from the Asia-Pacific region and beyond. It aims to provide opportunities for research and scholarly collaboration by individual institutions and scholars from APRU or other universities. Apolitical in nature and housing diverse knowledge bases, the institute will seek to address global issues, trans-geographical and inter-cultural concerns.
A Pro-Tem Governing Board will be set up to oversee the institute's strategic set-up. NUS President and APRU Chair Professor Shih Choon Fong will chair the Pro-Tem Governing Board to look into the initiative.
For more information on APRU's activities, visit www.apru.org.
Media contact:
Ms Jacquelline Heng
Projects Manager
APRU Secretariat
Tel: (65) 6516 8883
Email: jacquelline.heng@apru.org
