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University leaders from around the globe gathered on campus May 7-9 to discuss existential threats facing higher education.

“When the truth is under siege, the university must not flinch,” said Fanta Aw, executive director and CEO of , and keynote speaker at the event, the Annual Network Meeting and Presidential Symposium for .

Discussions held throughout the three-day event centered on ways universities can better serve marginalized communities, advance equity and inclusion, and strengthen their role in addressing global and societal challenges through collaboration, innovation and public engagement.

“We recognize that we are engaging in this conversation at a critical moment, both nationally and globally,” Chancellor Gary S. May said. “In the United States, the landscape around equity, diversity and inclusion is shifting in complex ways, making it even more essential that we reaffirm our commitments and seek new strategies to advance these values.”

Attendees — who came to 91��Ƭ Davis from 27 leading, research-intensive institutions around the world — agreed that universities play a vital role and must stand together in opposition to efforts to downplay their importance, but many expressed uncertainty about the future as institutions face funding cuts and direct pressure to change or abandon programs. Many stressed there was room for improvement among universities.

"The university must prove relevance not in what it preserves, but in what it transforms," Aw said. She said it's the obligation of universities to consider who is being left out of discussions about what knowledge is considered valid and important, and to consider why many members of the public have poor opinions of higher education. She emphasized that while statements of solidarity and institutional values are important, they are not sufficient on their own. Aw urged universities to move beyond rhetoric and take concrete, measurable actions.

Aw said discussions like the ones held on campus would lead to progress.

"At a time when there are so many challenges, our colleagues internationally have shown a solidarity I haven’t seen before,” she said. "We're in this together."

U21, a global network of 30 leading research-intensive universities, connects senior university leaders to share best practices and resources, learn together and co-design solutions to common challenges. Members are drawn from six continents; 91��Ƭ Davis is the only member institution in the western United States.

A spirit of collaboration was inspiring for fourth-year international relations major Meghan Van Note, who asked Aw a question about the role students will play in transforming institutions to Aw’s vision of universities as "gateways, not gatekeepers. "

"I want to gain more of a global perspective," Van Note, who is part of a cohort of working on 91��Ƭ Davis’ contributions to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, said of her reasons for attending and speaking up during a question-and-answer session.

Jenny Dixon, provost of U21, said international collaboration is an important way for leaders in higher education to learn from each other and strengthen how we can work together to accelerate pace and scale; she said the conference was intended to provide space for these conversations.

"What we're here to do is reimagine the future of higher education,” Dixon said.

In discussions with colleagues who work thousands of miles apart, attendees said they found common ground.

"A lot of the issues seem to be shared," said Moira O'Bryan, dean of science at the University of Melbourne.

An Descheemaeker, director of the International Office for KU Leuven in Belgium, said she wanted to learn more about how universities can remain faithful to their values amid challenges.

"The world is changing," Descheemaeker said.

The importance of inclusion

Attendees at the U21 event discussed the benefits of programs promoting diversity, equity and inclusion as those efforts face greater scrutiny around the world.

"Talent is equally distributed, but opportunity is not," said Mark Scott, vice chancellor and president of the University of Sydney. "To do equity and inclusion well is a commitment to meritocracy."

David Garza, president of the Tecnológico de Monterrey university system in Mexico, said he has sought to bring more diverse voices to his leadership team, an effort that has led to new conversations about ways to make students feel welcome.

"It's highly related to the core aspect of education," he said.

May, who moderated a panel discussion on equity and inclusion, agreed on the benefits of including more people. He also moderated a panel discussion at with government, 91��Ƭ Davis and U21 university leaders, including Rep. Ami Bera (D-Sacramento), focused on building stronger, more resilient collaborations between universities and governments to address our global challenges.

"All of us are smarter than any of us," May said.