U7+ Alliance calls on G7 countries to leverage the power of academia for global peace, security

An international coalition of university leaders called the U7+ Alliance have called on the G7 countries to leverage the power of academia to advance global peace and security. “Education and knowledge creation are vital to building peaceful and sustainable democracies,” said University of Toronto President Meric Gertler, who is the chair of the U7+ Presidential Steering Committee. “To address the global challenges we face, we need collaboration and partnership among universities, governments, communities and industries to foster deeper understanding and greater trust among citizens.” The coalition called on G7 leaders to take actions such as supporting access to education, incorporating research into policy, and reducing barriers to student exchanges.