APRU ends pandemic hiatus with first physical meeting at NTU Singapore and highlights urgency to collaborate through international university networks
The Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU) wrapped up the 26th annual Presidents’ Meeting held at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore on July 9, 2022. UC Davis Chancellor Gary May, accompanied by Global Affairs Vice Provost and Dean Joanna Regulska, represented UC Davis as a member university. As a network of leading universities linking the Americas, Asia, and Australasia, APRU brings together thought leaders, researchers and policy-makers to exchange ideas and collaborate on practical solutions to the challenges of the 21st century.
This year’s theme of “Reconnecting in a Sustainable World” included six sessions focusing on tackling climate change and sustainability issues. Chancellor May served as a panelist for a presentation titled “Responses to Crisis in a Diverse Region”, where panelists discussed the various ways their institutions responded to the impacts of the pandemic on higher education. One topic of discussion was the use of virtual reality technology at Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) to create a “Metaversity” in which students could virtually participate in lab experiments for their courses. Chancellor May presented the work UC Davis has been doing in promoting sustainability and reducing the effects of climate change.
“Regarding the climate change crisis, we talked about our various activities in the evolution toward carbon neutrality and how we're addressing the UN sustainability goals,” said May.
The meeting concluded with the university presidents committing to continued collaboration, scholarship and research between all 60 APRU member institutions in order to create long-lasting sustainability. The agreement aligns with UC Davis’s commitment to environmental sustainability, including the pledge to become carbon-neutral by 2025.