McMaster’s U21 Engagement: Highlights for the first half of 2025

Recently published U21 Mid-Year Impact Report 2025 highlights partnership and international collaboration that have supported positive impact, including McMaster University and its participation in leadership role memberships, engagement in various events, global research & education as well as program engagements and awards. 

As a member institution, during the first half of 2025, McMaster’s students, faculty and staff participated in a range of programs, detailed below: 

• U21 Annual Network Meeting and Presidential Symposium- U21 Annual Network Meeting and Presidential Symposium held this year at the University of California, Davis, convened leaders from the network world-class research-intensive universities across six continents for robust discussions about the evolving role of higher education. Under the theme “Imagining the Future of Higher Education,” the event provided a platform for knowledge exchange and strategic collaboration, focused on how universities can collectively respond to global challenges through research, education, and public engagement. As a long-standing member of the U21 network, McMaster University joined peers from across the globe in contributing to these vital conversations. Representing McMaster were Dr. Bonny Ibhawoh, Vice-Provost (International) and Deputy Chair of the U21 Senior Leaders’ Group, and Dr. Amira El Masri, Director of the Office of International Affairs and McMaster’s U21 Officer. Their participation underscored McMaster’s commitment to strengthening international partnerships and advancing shared goals across the U21 community. 

• Four McMaster Faculty Members Earn Micro-Credential Through the U21 Global Leadership Programme- Four McMaster Faculty members completed the U21 Global Leadership Programme and earned Micro-Credential.  The U21 Global Leadership programme reflects real dynamic challenges faced by U21 universities and explores the leadership required to meet those challenges – as individuals, as institutions and as a sector.  During the 4-week online programme, McMaster leaders connected with their peers around the world to share challenges and discuss diverse approaches in international education. 

• McMaster University’s 2025/2026 ambassadors for the U21 International Student Reference Group- Anekah Sujanani, Ogo Ikenga (MD, MIAD) and Zite Ajua, McMaster University‘s 2025/2026 ambassadors for the Universitas 21 (U21) International Student Reference Group secured their individual nominations following a competitive process facilitated by the Student Success Centre. The opportunity is for the students to network, collaborate and work in partnership with fellow student ambassadors from 30 U21 member institutions across the globe.

• Five McMaster faculty members complete U21 Mid-Career Researcher Programme U21 Mid-Career Researcher Programme: Reset, Re-imagine, Reframe engaged participants across the U21’s global membership to share knowledge, perspectives and ideas as an opportunity to refocus and reset; to adopt the right mindset and identify the skills and attributes required to adapt and thrive within a creative and collaborative research culture.  Among the participants 5 McMaster faculty members completed the program and 2 of them earned a Micro-Credential. 

• Supporting Sustainable Entrepreneurship across Africa- University of Addis Ababa (ARUA) and the University of Cape Town (ARUA) and McMaster University collaborated on a project that explored how African entrepreneurs and academics can work together to drive climate-friendly and sustainable business growth. The main goal was to create an online platform that connects African innovators with mentors, researchers, and funders from across the continent and beyond.  

• U21 School for Sustainable Policy Leadership- This June marked the successful launch of the first U21 School for Sustainable Policy Leadership, hosted by Lund University in Sweden, a global leader in sustainability in higher education. Designed for postgraduate students from across the network, including McMaster university, the week-long programme brought together a diverse group of future changemakers to explore sustainability, leadership, and global collaboration in action. 

 Upcoming events: 

McMaster’s Faculty of Health Sciences will be hosting the U21 Health Sciences Group 2025 Annual Meeting from 25 August to 28 August.  Population aging is one of the most significant global challenges of the 21st century. This meeting will focus on Aging Across the Lifespan. Read more at https://u21health.org/mcmaster2025