There’s a new global alliance of 45 universities, the French-fostered U7, created to coincide with France’s 2019 presidency of the G7 – ANU represents Australia

The U7 is, “the very first alliance of university presidents aimed at structuring and advancing their role as global actors across the multilateral agenda.” It will focus on, universities’ roles in a global world, climate change and cleaner energy, inequality, technological transformations, and community engagement and impact, meeting annually from July.

U7 organisers say the meeting will not be “a scientific colloquium nor a place to advocate for more support for the academic sector,” which might be a struggle for some delegates.

Most university members are from G7 countries, with six African institutions also invited, plus one from Mexico and Singapore. ANU will represent Australia.

A learned reader hopes that the U7 did not send ANU its bank details – people are so unkind.