What is Universitas 21?
Universitas 21 is a leading global network of 30 research-intensive universities in 20 countries and 6 continents to collaborate on advancing higher education and international research. Together, they represent over 1 million students and 200,000 staff members. Between 2020 and 2025, the U21 network members collectively demonstrated a significant global research impact producing 1,294,704 publications indexed in Web of Science (WOS), representing 7.17% of total global publications.
Founded on the belief that global challenges require global solutions, the network fosters partnerships that transcend national and disciplinary boundaries. Through joint research initiatives, academic exchange, and innovative teaching practices, Universitas 21 creates opportunities for students, faculty, and institutions to share expertise and resources in ways that strengthen the international reach and impact of higher education.
U21 relevance to global higher education lies in its role as a platform for shaping the future of learning, research, and university engagement. By connecting universities with complementary strengths, Universitas 21 enables the exchange of ideas to develop global citizens and leaders of the future. To give an overview of U21, their programmatic networks offer a combination and online programs for students, faculty, and university staff. In doing so, it not only enriches the experiences of students and researchers but also helps universities play a more influential role in addressing the world’s social, economic, and environmental challenges.
McMaster joined the U21 network in May 2018 and is currently the only Canadian University in the network. As a U21 member, McMaster actively engages in initiatives that promote educational innovation, student experience, and international research collaboration. The collaboration also opens doors to new connections with partners in diverse regions, further advancing McMaster’s global strategy and strengthening our international portfolio. Within the Universitas 21 network, McMaster currently has 24 active bilateral agreements with 16 of the member universities.
Some of the U21 events McMaster has hosted or participated in:
McMaster to host U21 School for Sustainable Policy Leadership | July 13-17, 2026
McMaster welcomes U21 delegation for U21 Health Sciences Group 2025 Annual Meeting
U21 2024 Chief Operating Officer / Registrar Network Meeting
The U21 2023 Educational Innovation Symposium
McMaster’s U21 Engagement: Highlights for the first half of 2025
McMaster’s U21 Engagement in 2024 – McMaster Global
U21 Publishes Annual Impact Report: McMaster’s Involvement and U21 News – McMaster Global
U21 Members – Universitas 21
The U21 network provides a trusted environment for its members to come together and collaborate, learn, and network.
The Early Career Researcher workshop enhances international networking and encourages the development of interdisciplinary collaborative research on an aspect of a UN Sustainable Development Goal for those in the early stages of their career.
McMaster contact: Vice-President, Research
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During this 4-week online program, Mid-Career Researchers from across U21’s global membership network will convene to share knowledge, perspectives and ideas. This provides 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.
For: This program is for any Mid-Career Researchers.
McMaster Contact: Office of International Affairs via nominations from the Faculties
4-week online leadership development with global peers. An opportunity for emerging and high-potential leaders from academic and professional disciplines, specially selected from the world-leading universities in the U21 membership.
McMaster Contact: Office of International Affairs via nominations from the Faculties/ Departments
The U21 Awards celebrate the achievements of individuals or teams showing great impact in internationalization. This award is for staff or faculty whose work shows an impactful, evidence-based contribution to climate action across borders in the world of higher education, exceeding the usual expectations of their role or has furthered progress towards the Sustainable Development Goal 13 (Climate Action).
McMaster Contact: Nominations via Office of International Affairs
An award to celebrate students and alumni with great impact in internationalization
Seed-funding opportunities available across the Universitas 21 network to support joint research, academic exchange, and strategic collaboration.
Applications as per instructed in the U21 portal.
Theme: “Universities as Global Anchors: Trust, Value, and Equitable Progress.” This strategic gathering will bring together research leaders, graduate studies deans, and senior university executives to align priorities and explore solutions to shared global challenges.
Theme: Held as part of Glasgow’s 575th anniversary celebrations, this expanded summit will convene university presidents, vice-chancellors, and senior leaders to discuss global engagement, leadership, and innovation in higher education.
Audience: Education Leaders, Senior Leaders, and representatives from the Global Education groups.
This flagship event will continue the tradition of strategic dialogue and collaboration across the U21 network, focusing on future challenges and opportunities in global higher education.
McMaster Contact: President’s Office
Universitas 21 has an ongoing partnership with the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) for effective collaboration and capacity building between the networks. As part of this partnership, five research projects for Early Career Researchers have been funded, developing relationships between U21 and ARUA academics and beyond.
The U21 Communities of Practice provide a route for all faculty and staff within the U21 network to gain new professional perspectives, share ideas and resources and make important international links by connecting with their counterparts and peers from across the world operating in particular disciplines/areas of work. Communities of Practice are self-managed, collaborative initiatives.
Below is a list of existing U21 Community of Practice (CoP). For more information and interest in joining any of them, please email McMaster’s Office of International Affairs: oia@mcmaster.ca
Technical Skills and Strategy
This is a new CoP which is seeking representatives from across the network. The CoP is focused on advancing understanding and support for technical professionals across global higher education.
FINE
The Forum for International Networking in Education (FINE) connects postgraduate and early career researchers from U21 partner universities, fostering professional development, engagement, and research collaboration through webinars, social media, and collaborative projects.
Established in 2000, the U21 Deans of Education group brings together Education Deans from Universitas 21 institutions to discuss shared challenges, foster collaboration, and advance educational initiatives.
Data Sharing Supporting Strategy (DS³) Collaborative Group
The DS3 collaborative group promotes and contributes to the sharing of expertise, performance indicators and measures and university-related intelligence across institutions, to support and inform strategic planning within and across the U21 network institutions.
The International Dementia Network Community of Practice aims to:
Develop a platform where U21 researchers can share findings and tools to tackle current challenges in dementia research and practice;
Exchange knowledge, expertise and technical ‘know-how’;
Facilitate international collaborations;
Promote high-quality research to generate impactful and significant outcomes.
U21HREx Community of Practice is a knowledge translation and exchange network for students and early career researchers in Health and Social Care. Consisting of the University of Maryland, US (lead institution), University of Birmingham, UK, and University College Dublin (Ireland), it emphasizes diversity, inclusivity, and culturally sensitive evidence‐based research mentorship and professional development providing the opportunity to expand on local and international research, practice, and joint academic initiatives to train the next generation of researchers.
Research Methodology Network
This is a new CoP which is seeking representatives from across the network to provide a global community of practice for research-led staff, students and managers/administrators focused on innovation, excellence, pedagogy and partnerships in social research methodology
The Social Work Community of Practice provides an international network to improve professional knowledge and practice through sharing research, education and scholarship. The CoP seeks to enables social work academics throughout their career to connect and learn from colleagues and collaborate around topics of shared interest.
Sport
As a global network of world-leading research-intensive universities, Universitas 21 (U21) provides student opportunities to foster internationalization, cultivate global citizenship, and prepare students for success in an interconnected world through the opportunities below.
During this 3-week online program, students develop the skills needed to thrive in the 21st century whilst tackling some of the world’s most pressing problems, outlined in the United Nation Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG). Participants will have the chance to meet with like-minded individuals to develop ideas for social change as well as connect, learn and discuss global issues with students around the world including social and environmental challenges.
Testimonials of McMaster students that benefited from U21 Global Citizens program can be found here.
For: Current students, undergraduate and graduate
McMaster Contact: Student Success Centre
During this 3-week online program, students work with fellow peers from across the globe to share knowledge and expertise whilst being tasked with providing a solution to a real-life Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) related challenge.
RISE is U21’s international showcase of student achievement in sustainability and social innovation designed to accelerate the scale and impact of student-led projects. For students working with projects related to sustainability and environmental and societal development, the RISE Showcase Award is a chance to gain access to a global audience of potential supporters. Winning teams receive seed funding of $2,000 per team to further their project from the U21 network.
The Three Minute Thesis competition (3MT) provides research students with the opportunity to develop their academic, presentation, and research communication skills by receiving international peer review, and gaining skills surrounding the presentation of their research to a wider international audience.
For: Graduate students only
McMaster contact: School of Graduate Studies
The U21 Leaders of the Future Awards celebrate the achievements of either current students or recent alumni at U21 member universities who show great promise or impact in internationalization. Nominees may be current students or alumni. Nominations will open November 2025.
For: current students or recent alumni at U21 member universities
McMaster contact: Student Success Centre
The U21 School for Sustainable Policy Leadership invites graduate students from diverse academic disciplines to an enriching experience focused on sustainability, leadership, and global impact.
For: Current graduate students
McMaster Contact: Students Success Centre
The U21 School for Sustainable Policy Leadership 2026, hosted by McMaster University between 13–17 July, invites postgraduate students from diverse academic disciplines to an enriching experience focused on sustainability, leadership, and global impact.