On April 22–23, 2025, Executive Vice President Toshiya Ueki attended the seventh annual Presidential Summit of the U7+ Alliance of World Universities at the University of Ottawa in Canada.
The U7+ Alliance is a coalition of universities from G7 countries and other nations, including those of the Global South, founded in 2019 to address pressing global challenges. This summit, held, annually, is an important meeting for the presidents of member universities to discuss various issues.
EVP Ueki joined 85 other participants, including 37 university presidents from 42 universities in 16 countries. Sessions on four themes: Human-centered AI , Multilateral Engagement, Campus Dialogue, and Climate Change and Sustainability, were led by university presidents and experts, sparking productive discussions.
During the opening ceremony, a communiqué entitled ‘The Role of Universities in Advancing AI’, was officially delivered to the Canadian Government by University of Ottawa President Jacques Frémont and President of the University of Toronto and U7+ Alliance Chair, Meric Gertler. The communiqué’s recommendations include that universities play a leading role in AI governance and work with G7 and other governments to develop AI that benefits society globally. Additionally, it calls on the G7 and other governments to support universities through investments in AI research and training and create funding support for shared platforms for North-South collaboration.
More details on the U7+ Alliance Summit can be found here.
Communiqué on the Role of Universities in Advancing AI
Group photo (courtesy of the U7+ Alliance of World Universities)
EVP Ueki with University of Ottawa President Jacques Frémont
Contact:
Global Engagement Division, Tohoku University
Email: kokusai-k@grp.tohoku.ac.jp