The University of Leeds has signed a strategic partnership with Universität Hamburg that commits to addressing some of the world's biggest challenges.
The agreement means the two universities will work together on joint activities that deliver on their shared ambition to tackle inequalities, benefit society and drive change through educational excellence.
These activities include contributing to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and leading research and teaching across a range of interdisciplinary areas.
The Universität Hamburg is a HEI signatory of the Knowledge Equity Network (KEN), sharing the collective commitment and aspiration to reduce inequality by increasing access to knowledge.
The strategic partnership with the University of Leeds is an important milestone.”
Professor Simone Buitendijk, Vice Chancellor and President of the University of Leeds and co-founder of the Knowledge Equity Network visited Hamburg earlier this year for the Global University Leaders Council (GUC) Hamburg, where Professor Dr. Hauke Heekeren, President of Universität Hamburg and Professor Dr. Laura Marie Edinger-Schons, Chief Sustainability Officer, signed the KEN Declaration on Knowledge Equity.
Professor Buitendijk said: “The signing of this strategic partnership with Universität Hamburg is part of our ongoing work to create a collaborative, global network of institutional partners who share our ambitions to make a difference in the world.
“I was delighted to welcome Prof. Heekeren and his team to our campus and also continue our conversations on the Knowledge Equity Network, exploring how we can work together to facilitate fair access to knowledge and higher education to transform academic culture.”
The shared commitment to transform academic culture with new models of equitable partnership that open access to research and high-quality university education will provide a global platform for collaboration and open sharing of expertise.
Professor Dr. Hauke Heekeren, President of Universität Hamburg, added: “As Hamburg is a University of Excellence, we want to be an even more international university.
“The strategic partnership with the University of Leeds is an important milestone. It adds a strong partner from the all-important United Kingdom to our network.
“Building international bridges and promoting transnational exchange is more important than ever. I am very pleased that we are now embarking on this path together with our partners in Leeds.”
Delegates from the Universität Hamburg visit the University of Leeds, in the new HELIX facility on campus.
During the Knowledge Equity Network session, delegates discussed research culture, UK and German developments and the ongoing relationship with KEN.
Professor Nick Plant, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research and Innovation at the University of Leeds, said: “Our planet and its people are facing unprecedented challenges and widening inequalities. By working together, we are embracing exciting plans to adopt open and collaborative practices of knowledge creation and dissemination with and for our local and global communities.”
Collaborative working between Professor Helen Finch, a Professor of German Literature at the University of Leeds and Professor Anja Tippner, Professor of Slavic Literature, from Universität Hamburg is one example of partnership working across both Universities.
Professor Finch said: “The Hamburg-Leeds collaboration allows us to combine the expertise of professors, postdoctoral researchers and early career researchers. Our project is very much focussed on supporting early career researchers and on drawing in colleagues from Eastern Europe.”
Further Information
Picture Credit: Mark Bickerdike.
For more information, please contact Rebecca Hurrey in the University of Leeds press office.
The Knowledge Equity Network was founded by the University of Leeds and had its inaugural global summit in November 2022. Now it is expanding and gathering signatories from across the globe. The network aims to enable global open access to research production and outputs and high-quality university education, providing a global platform for collaboration and open sharing of expertise.
For more information on the Knowledge Equity Network, please visit the website.
For further information on joining the Knowledge Equity Network, please contact the team.