Global Meeting of Associations


Doha, Qatar

 

About the GMA:

Global Meetings of Associations (GMA) are held every two years. They are organized exclusively for leaders of national, regional and international associations/organizations of higher education institutions. They offer a unique opportunity for these leaders to meet as a relatively small group of peers to exchange ideas, practices and to network.

Host & Partner:

The GMA 2023 is hosted by and organised in partnership with Qatar University.

Audience:

The GMA is exclusively open to senior representatives from national, regional and international IAU Member associations, organisations and networks. IAU Affiliate Members are also welcome at the GMA.

Format:

The GMA will start with a panel composed of representatives from regional and national associations from different regions of the world to frame the theme of intercultural learning and how this is implemented in associations’ work. The participants will then have the opportunity to debate and exchange views. At the end of the day the key outcomes of the discussions will be presented in plenary in order to conclude the meeting and outlines the way forward until the next GMA in 2025.

 

IAU GMA 2019

GMA Programme (25 November 2023): 

The GMA will take place from 9:00 AM to 17:00 PM. 

Panels: 

9:30 AM – 11:00 AM

  • The role of languages in intercultural learning and dialogue

Language is probably one of the defining features of a culture. Although the relationship between language and culture is not biunivocal (different cultures can speak the same language and people of the culture can speak different languages), it is undeniable that language can act both as a cohesive factor and as a barrier to mutual understanding between cultures. The panel will explore the role of languages in intercultural learning and dialogue with examples from three different associations from three different regions of the world: India, Latin America and the Caribbean, the Euro-Mediterranean. 

Speakers

  1. Pankaj Mittal, Secretary General, Association of Indian Universities
  2. Roberto Escalante Semerena, Secretary-General, Association of Universities of Latin America and the Caribbean (UDUAL) 
  3. Anne-Laurence Pastorini, Programme Officer, UNIMED - Mediterranean Universities Union

 

11:30 PM – 13:00 PM

  • Interaction of diverse cultural groups at local institutional level 

In the contemporary world it is often not necessary to travel far to encounter different cultures, many countries in the world are multicultural. The same is true for higher education institutions (HEIs). Many HEIs are intercultural realities, which is only reinforced by internationalization and international mobility. The panal will discuss how university association work with Mmembers to foster integration and dialogue among diverse cultural groups within the institution but also in realtion to society. They will also discuss how connecting culturally diverse knowledge systems can improve the quality of T&L and Research. They will present perspectives from different regions of the world: The Americas, Japan, and The Arctic. 

Speakers

  1. David Julien, Executive Director, Inter-american Organization for Higher Education (OUI-IOHE) 

  2. Kyosuke Nagata, President, The Japan Association of National Universities (JANU)

  3. Liisa Holmberg, Vice-Chair of the Assembly and Chair of the Nominations Committee, University of the Arctic (UArctic)

 

15:00 PM - 16:30 PM

  • The effect of the digital transformation on intercultural learning and dialogue

The digital transformation has the potential of complete transforming the way in which people are interacting and communicating, opening up the access to information and communication beyond borders. At the same, these developments may also pose a threat to cultural diversity as all cultures are not necessarily well represented, which often means that human biases are amplified in the digital space. There is a dual risk of cultural homogenization or; on the contrary, to cultural segregation. The panel will discuss the positive and negative consequences of the digital transformation on intercultural learning and dialogue with contributions from the European region and the Arabic world. 

Speakers

  1. Michael Gaebel, Director, Higher Education Policy, European University Association (EUA)

  2. Cristina Sarmento, Secretary General and João Calvão da Silva, President, Associação das Universidades da Língua Portuguesa (AULP) 

  3. Amr Salama, Secretary General, Association of Arab Universities (AARU)

 

MEET THE SPEAKERS

 

 

PAST GMAS

 
 
 
IAU provides a special forum for its organizational Members: the Global Meeting of Associations (GMA). It is a meeting exclusively for leaders of national, regional and international higher education associations and organizations. The GMA offers a unique opportunity to meet and network, as well as  exchange ideas and best practices among peers for mutual learning. These in-depth interactions boost international cooperation and help develop important joint initiativesfor the higher education sector and society at large.
 
The GMA is an in-person event and convenes  every two years in conjunction with the IAU International Conferences, rotating from one region of the world to the next  In addition, the GMA convenes online on a regular basis throughout the year.

 

2006

 

The Role of associations in enhancing quality of higher education at home and abroad
 
 

PARIS, FRANCE

2009

 
Associations, Networks, Alliances etc.: Making Sense of the Emerging Global Higher Education Landscape
 
 

GUADALAJARA, MEXICO

2011

 
Internationalization of Higher Education: New Players, New Approaches
 

NEW DELHI, INDIA

 

2013

 

Institutional Diversity in Higher Education: Advantage or Threat for Associations?

SALFORD, UNITED KINGDOM

2015

 

Social innovation: challenges and prospects for higher education

 


MONTREAL, CANADA

2017

 

Leadership for a changing public-private higher education funding landscape
 
 
 

ACCRA, GHANA

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