McMaster Contributions Spotlighted in U21 Global Impact Report

The new Universitas 21 (U21) Impact report covering July-December 2025, highlights major activities and collaborations across member institutions.  With its theme “Partnership for Impact,” the report emphasizes the role of institutional relationships in supporting an evolving higher education environment. 

Throughout the report, McMaster University is featured as an active partner, with several of its contributions highlighted below:  

• In late August 2025, McMaster University hosted the U21 Health Sciences Group Annual Meeting, which focused on the theme “Aging Across the Lifespan.” The event brought international leaders together to discuss collaboration in health education and research. As this meeting was held during McMaster’s Welcome Week, the visit also gave delegates a chance to experience the vibrant energy on campus, with strong student participation contributing to a lively atmosphere.   

Read more about the event  

• McMaster to host U21 Health Sciences Group 2025 annual meeting – McMaster News 

• McMaster welcomes U21 delegation for U21 Health Sciences Group 2025 Annual Meeting – McMaster Global 

• Two McMaster students, Anekah Sujanani and Zite Ajua, were spotlighted in the report for their leadership in the U21 Student Reference Group. Working with peers across 15 universities, they helped lead a collaborative story project capturing the global and personal impact of the U21 Global Citizens Programme. Through blogs, videos, and other storytelling initiatives, they gathered reflections from students worldwide, illustrating how international learning experiences influence academic perspectives, intercultural understanding, and a sense of global community. Their work helped bring student voices more visibly into U21 conversations, demonstrating how shared experiences across institutions can build connections and a sense of belonging within the global network. 

Reflecting on the experience, Zite Ajua describes the opportunity as meaningful, noting the ability to help “document and amplify student voices across the U21 network” while strengthening communication and cross-cultural collaborative skills. Anekah Sujanani similarly described participation in the initiative as “an incredibly rewarding experience,” emphasizing the importance of making U21 communications accessible to international audiences and connecting students to global opportunities.  

Read more about this: Congratulations to McMaster University’s 2025/2026 ambassadors for the U21 International Student Reference Group – McMaster Global 

• McMaster also contributed to the U21 Global Research and Senior Leaders’ Meeting held in Johannesburg, where universities across the network gathered to discuss trust, value, and equity in international research collaboration. Representing McMaster, Dr. Bonny Ibhawoh, Vice-Provost (International Affairs), moderated the meeting’s closing plenary session, which reflected on how research-intensive institutions can strengthen public trust, demonstrate societal value, and promote equity in global partnerships. This highlights McMaster’s continued engagement in shaping international higher education dialogue. 

McMaster University was inducted as a U21 member in 2018. Since then, McMaster has actively participated in U21-led events, including competitions, project and research collaboration, and knowledge-exchange. 

McMaster will be participating in the U21 Annual Network Meeting and Leadership Summit in April which will be hosted by the University of Glasgow as part of its 575th anniversary celebrations.  

Read more about U21 consortia here: Universitas 21 (U21) – McMaster Global