Plymouth University co-hosts global summit

Plymouth University is to partner with the UK’s foremost Higher Education publication in hosting the first-ever global summit of the world’s leading modern universities.

The Times Higher Education Young Universities Summit with Plymouth University, takes place in Miami on 28 April 2014 ahead of the publication of the 2014 THE 100 Under 50 rankings which Plymouth University will also take centre-stage in launching.

The THE Young Universities Summit with Plymouth University will bring together the leaders of higher education institutions across the globe who are under 50 years old.

The inaugural event will address a number of key issues around the challenges and opportunities associated with how younger universities are increasingly competing on the world stage - with Plymouth University Vice-Chancellor Professor Wendy Purcell co-chairing the prestigious event and delivering a keynote on the role of distinctiveness and brand in a competitive global market.

The event will also provide an exclusive preview of the Times Higher Education 100 Under 50 2014 rankings, ahead of the live launch at the British Council’s Going Global event in Miami on 30 April, where Professor Purcell has been invited to share the stage with THE Editor-at-Large, Phil Baty.

Phil Baty said: “The vast majority of the world's top universities share a core element in common: they are old. Often enjoying many centuries of tradition, the likes of the University of Oxford (which can trace its origins to 1096) and Harvard University (1636) can draw on rich cultures of scholarship, many years’ worth of wealth accumulation, and enduring networks of alumni ambassadors to become bastions of world-class education and research.

“But the world is changing. A new breed of universities is challenging the established order. With the right support, strategy and leadership, some institutions have managed to join the world's top table in just decades, not centuries. Others are showing great promise, and many more have clear missions to join the global elite – often backed by governments or private funders committed to driving the knowledge economy.

“We are delighted to have developed an exciting new event for these exciting, dynamic institutions.”

Professor Wendy Purcell commented; “While the reinforced walls of the traditional elite help them to weather the tides of change, there’s a new wave of universities whose focus on innovation and agility is seeing them emerge strongly against the disruptive forces being experienced in the Higher Education sector.

"As a proud member of this cohort, we believe distinctiveness is the key, in terms of the real world student experience alongside world class research seeking solutions to the grand challenges of our day and into the future.

"As such Plymouth University is delighted to play a key role in partnering with the Times Higher Education to host the inaugural Young Universities Summit and share best practice from across the globe to further the phenomenon of the new ‘modern global elite’.”