Conferences

On 22 and 23 November, the University of Göttingen hosted the 11th annual U4 Rectors’ Conference. The recent meeting did not only form a platform for the yearly evaluation and strategic planning, but also marked the 10-year anniversary (see brochure) of our successful and fruitful collaboration and partnership.

For the first time ever the University of Tartu took part in the meeting as they are joining the U4 network in the application process for the European University project to strengthen joint activities in education, research and innovation.

In 2018, the annual U4 Social Sciences, Economics and Law (SSEL) Conference took place in the congress center Pauliner Church in Göttingen from 21 to 23 November.

The focus was on the topic of ‘Current Challenges for a Sustainable Future’. Over 100 researchers and PhD candidates from across the academic spectrum took part in the conference. They came from all U4 partner universities as well as many other institutions of higher education across Europe.

The U4 Student Conference took place in Göttingen from 19 to 21 November 2018. It is organised by the U4 Student Network and brings together student representatives from all U4 partner institutions. This year students from the University of Tartu were included for the first time.

During the conference, the student representatives discussed various topics including student participation, integration and inclusion of international students. Furthermore, the students discussed how the relation between the U4 partner institutions can be further developed and intensified as well as how the student engagement within the network can be expanded.

The concept of sustainable development is now widely recognised in politics, society and science. The declared aim is that people living today can satisfy their needs without risking that future generations will no longer be able to do so. It is all about ecological sustainability, social justice, economic sustainability and citizens' participation in shaping social and political processes. 'Bildung' plays a key role in this. For this reason, the foundation stone of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) was laid at the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in the Agenda 21. This was followed by international initiatives such as the UN Decade for ESD (2005-2014) and the World ESD Action Programme.

The conference deals with the concept of sustainability, prepares objectives and approaches of ESD and provides a forum for exchanging views on the opportunities and challenges of ESD.

The IPT&L cycle changes format and will continue as a conference in 2019: 'From Theory to Practice. From Discussion to Cooperation. Conference on International Perspectives on Teaching and Learning' (Uppsala, 16-17 May 2019).

Over the last six years, the U4 project International Perspectives on Teaching and Learning (IPT&L) accumulated a pool of alumni with more than 120 academics.