Guillaume Fiquet, Sorbonne University’s Vice President for International Relations, opened the forum. He spoke of the increasing role of research universities on the international stage, particularly in the face of contemporary crises and geopolitical shifts. He emphasized the importance of universities in advocating for scientific diplomacy, and identified many of the most salient challenges of today: the health of the planet and our oceans, artificial intelligence, and global health. According to Fiquet, in addressing these numerous issues, the role of research universities is pivotal.
“Research universities have a decisive impact in strengthening the link between citizens and the scientific process,” he said in his opening words.

To execute this vital role, Fiquet noted, international collaboration is key, and this was certainly the theme of the day at the 2023 forum.

A wide range of representatives from UDICE members participated in panel discussions throughout the day: round tables on scientific diplomacy and research security, lessons learnt from the war in Ukraine, and the role of European university alliances and instruments for Europe’s global attractiveness.

Valerie Brisset, Deputy Director for Influence Diplomacy at the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign affairs, introduced the first round table by reminding the audience that “Collaboration is at the core of science.” She spoke also of reciprocity, recognition, and using country and sector-based approaches to promote scientific policy on the international stage.

Alain Fuchs, President of Paris Sciences et Lettres (PSL), echoed these core sentiments of collaboration and internationalization: “Science is international. There is no such thing as national science.” He called for improved dialogue between governments and universities, as it is universities who are the most “reliable players on these complex issues.”

The 2023 UDICE International Forum also welcomed its esteemed Ukrainian colleagues from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv: Volodymyr Bugrov, Rector, and Kseniia Smyrnova, Vice Rector for International Cooperation. Smyrnova highlighted the fact that, whilst short-term crisis responses are evidently important, universities need also to look towards long-term collaboration in understanding and responding to the effects of the war, and in driving reconstruction.

To bring the forum to a close, Michael Deneken, President of UDICE and of the University of Strasbourg, delivered a spirited closing speech.
“Our values remain those of Europe - of Athens, Rome and Jerusalem: Dialogue, human rights, freedom of movement, people, goods, and ideas. But there may be new ways to be faithful to these values, to defend them.”

Deneken spoke of the delicate balances between the local vs the global, harmony and conflict, autonomy and collaboration. But his through line was the same one that had been supported, debated, and considered over the course of the day: working together as a cohesive, European union: “Resilience,” he said, “begins when we meet, as we did today, to strengthen our family ties.”