The International USR Summit 2024, themed “University Social Responsibility: Educational Transformation and Sustainable Development”, was co-hosted by Beijing Normal University and the University Social Responsibility Network (USRN) from 21 to 23 October 2024. Organised by the Institute of International and Comparative Education (IICE) and the Center for International Education Research (CIER) of Beijing Normal University, the Summit officially kicked off at the Yingdong Academic Hall of Beijing Normal University on the morning of 21 October 2024.

Over 200 experts and scholars from 14 countries and regions gathered to discuss pressing issues related to the transformation of higher education and sustainable development. The three-day summit featured 16 keynote speeches, 2 roundtable discussions, and 17 parallel sessions. Participants shared their insights and engaged in discussions on seven sub-themes including “Educational Transformation and Holistic Human Development,” “Educational Transformation and Technological Innovation,” “Educational Transformation and Cultural Flourishing,” “Educational Transformation and Economic Growth,” “Educational Transformation and Ecological Justice,” “Educational Transformation and Social Well-being,” and “Educational Cooperation and Global Development.”

Professor Chen Xing, Vice President of Beijing Normal University; Professor Ben Young, Chairman of the USRN Executive Committee and Vice President (Global and Student Affairs) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and Professor Liu Baochun, Director and Professor of the Beijing Normal University’s IICE attended the summit’s opening ceremony and delivered opening remarks. The ceremony was chaired by Professor Wu Yujun, Director of the International Exchange and Cooperation Office at Beijing Normal University.

In the opening remarks, Professor Chen Xing emphasised that Beijing Normal University highly values the practice of university social responsibility. In the “Global Development Strategic Plan of Beijing Normal University” released in 2020, the construction of a social responsibility community was clearly identified as one of the university’s key priorities. The university actively promotes educational transformation, drives educational innovation, assumes its responsibilities, and serves as a vital force for social development. Additionally, leveraging the UNESCO Rural Education Research and Training Center and other international cooperation platforms established at the university, Beijing Normal University vigorously advocates for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals with a proactive approach and pragmatic spirit, engaging actively in global governance to support holistic human development.

Professor Ben Young expressed his sincere gratitude to Beijing Normal University for its leadership and hospitality in hosting the flagship event of the USRN, the International USR Summit 2024. He highlighted the numerous achievements of the USRN in addressing global challenges through social practices. Professor Young called on participating experts and scholars to share their valuable insights to help higher education tackle the global challenges. He emphasised that the USRN is committed to collaborating with like-minded institutions to develop innovative solutions to the world’s global challenges, and to inspire a new generation of leaders, scholars, and change-makers who will work together to fulfil social responsibility and contribute to the realisation of the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in promoting educational transformation and sustainable development.

In his remarks, Professor Liu Baochun highlighted the current challenges facing global higher education. These challenges stem from external factors such as uncertainties in global development and new issues arising from digital technology and artificial intelligence. In addition, there are internal challenges within the higher education system itself, including the global learning crisis, declining quality of education, reduction in investment, and equity concerns. Professor Liu pointed out that reshaping the global higher education system and fully leveraging the critical role of universities in sustainable development poses a considerable challenge for educators worldwide. However, it also presents a unique opportunity to advance education. This endeavour requires collaborative efforts from all stakeholders to explore solutions and promote sustainable development in education.

In the keynote speech sessions, several distinguished scholars took the stage including:

• Professor Xie Weihe, Former Vice President of Tsinghua University
• Professor Zhou Zuoyu, Former Vice President of Beijing Normal University
• Professor Susan L. Robertson, President of the Comparative and International Education Society of North America, Former Dean of the Faculty of Education at the University of Cambridge
• Professor Ka Ho Mo, Vice President of the Hang Seng University of Hong Kong
• Professor Sui Yifan, Professor of the College of Education at Zhejiang University
• Professor Aaron Benavot, Professor of the Albany-State University of New York
• Professor Huang Futao, Vice Director of the Research Institute for Higher Educationat Hiroshima University
• Professor Yang Rui, Dean of the Faculty of Education at the University of Hong Kong
• Professor Zhang Yingqiang, Professor of the College of Education at Zhejiang University
• Professor Katrin Kohl, Professor of the Faculty of Education at York University, Canada
• Professor Yan Guangcai, Director of the Institute of Higher Education at East China Normal University
• Professor Zhou Guangli, Dean of the School of Education at Renmin University of China
• Professor Bie Dunrong, Dean of the Institute of Education at Xiamen University
• Professor Zhou Haitao, Dean of the Institute of Higher Education at Beijing Normal University
• Professor Karin Amos, Vice President of the University of Tübingen, Germany
• Professor Huang Yu, Associate Professor of the Institute of International and Comparative Education at Beijing Normal University

The keynote sessions were chaired by Professor Geoffrey Shen, Associate Vice President (Global Partnerships) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University; Professor Wu Fengshi, Associate Professor in Political Science and International Relations at the School of Social Sciences at UNSW Sydney; Professor Jennifer O’Brien, Academic Lead for Sustainability Teaching and Learning of The University of Manchester, Professor Liu Baochun, Director of the Institute of International and Comparative Education, and Professor Gao Yimin, Deputy Director of the Comparative Education Society of China at Beijing Normal University.

In the first roundtable discussion chaired by Professor Shi Xiaoguang from Peking University themed “Innovation in Teaching and Learning of the University”, Professor Hong Huaqing, Research Scientist at the Centre for Research and Development in Learning at NTU, Singapore, Professor Li Jun, former President of the Comparative and International Education Society at Western University in Canada, Professor Yin Hongbiao, Chairperson of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, and Professor Paul Wakeling, Professor of the Faculty of Education at the University of York, UK conducted an in-depth analysis and engaged in lively discussions on the “transformation of teaching and learning models in universities”.

The second roundtable discussion on “How Can Universities Lead Sustainable Development of Society” was chaired by Professor Jiang Kai from Peking University. Professor Michael Crossley, Emeritus Professor of Comparative and International Education at the University of Bristol , Professor Alan Cheung, Chair of the Department of Educational Administration at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Professor Anatoly Oleksiyenko, Professor of International Higher Education at The Education University of Hong Kong, Professor Guo Shibao, Professor of the Werklund School of Education at the University of Calgary , and Professor Charles Hopkins from York University in Canada engaged in thoughtful discussions about the role of universities in leading sustainable development in society. Their conversations offered valuable ideas and inspiration for universities to embrace social responsibility and lead efforts in sustainable development.

During the summit, the 7th USRN Executive Committee meeting was held at Beijing Normal University in a hybrid format. A total of 25 committee members from 12 countries and regions attended the meeting to jointly review the network’s key initiatives for 2024 and discuss the priorities for USRN development. Professor Ben Young, Vice President (Global and Student Affairs) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, on behalf of the USRN Executive Committee, presented a souvenir to Professor Chen Xing, Vice President of Beijing Normal University, in gratitude for the university’s active participation in USRN’s related work and strong support for the USR Summit.