Université Paris-Saclay takes its first steps onto the global stage of Universitas 21
As the newest member of Universitas 21, a global network bringing together 31 research-intensive universities committed to international collaboration in research and education, Université Paris-Saclay took part for the first time in its General Assembly and in the inaugural edition of the Leadership Summit, held in Glasgow from 20 to 24 April 2026.
The inaugural edition of the Universitas 21 (U21) Leadership Summit was held at the University of Glasgow, which was celebrating its 575th anniversary. For Université Paris-Saclay, the first French university to join this network, this participation marked a foundational step in its international engagement.
During the opening session of the summit, Camille Galap, president of Université Paris-Saclay, spoke alongside Letlhokwa Mpedi, president of the University of Johannesburg, Adam Tickell, president of the University of Birmingham, and Xiang Zhang, president of the University of Hong Kong, under the moderation of David Garza-Salazar, president of Tecnológico de Monterrey and of the U21 network. He thus conveyed the voice of French higher education, research and innovation on this leading international मंच.
Over the two days of the summit, discussions focused on key issues shaping the future of universities: knowledge diplomacy, the societal impact of institutions, and their responsibility in the face of geopolitical, technological, demographic and financial challenges that are profoundly reshaping their operational and strategic models.
Universities facing new models
Policymakers, institutional leaders and stakeholders from across the sector discussed the future of higher education and research in an increasingly complex global context.
Ahead of the summit, the Universitas 21 General Assembly provided an opportunity to review the network’s activities and strengthen future partnerships. Delphine Placidi-Frot, vice-president for International and European Affairs at Université Paris-Saclay, Guillaume Garreta, director of The International and European Affairs Office, and Céline Verhaeghe, head of excellence scholarship programmes and U21 coordinator, took an active part in discussions within their respective groups on global engagement and universities' soft power.
In preparation for the event, and as part of Université Paris-Saclay’s integration into the network, Jenny Dixon, Provost, and Jade Bressington, chief operating officer of U21, visited the Université Paris-Saclay campus on 9 and 10 April to meet with university teams and jointly define the roadmap for future collaborations.
Integration in support of a strengthened international strategy
This first major participation illustrates the role that Université Paris-Saclay intends to play in global higher education debates. Strengthened by its membership of the Universitas 21 network, it now benefits from a new framework to further develop international collaborations aligned with its scientific and educational ambitions, and to contribute, alongside its partners across six continents, to building a more inclusive, more innovative and more engaged university in addressing the challenges of tomorrow.
