GICHE 2025: Building Innovative Networks in Complex Times - What Lies Ahead for International Collaboration in Higher Education?

In an era marked by unprecedented global challenges and complexities, the importance of innovative international collaboration has never been more pressing. Issues such as geopolitical conflicts, climate change, public health crises, and social inequalities underscore this need for adaptive and forward-thinking partnerships in higher education. 

The Global Innovation Circle on Higher Education (GICHE) is an international networking initiative designed not only to foster dialogue and knowledge-sharing, but also to develop collaborative solutions. GICHE brings together leaders from major international higher education networks from around the globe, thereby creating a “network of networks.” Our objective is to facilitate a sustainable, long-term, and inclusive global discourse on strategic questions shaping the development of the international academic and higher education landscape. 

The inaugural GICHE event will explore the theme: “Building Innovative Networks in Complex Times: What Lies Ahead for International Collaboration in Higher Education?” 

Guiding questions

• What is the role of universities in an era of constant change and complexity, and how important is international collaboration? 
• In times of global geopolitical crises and disruptive change, how can resilient international scientific collaborations be developed and what role do these partnerships play in the context of global competition and conflict? 
• What are the core values of innovative international collaboration? How can we build alliances that unite diverse perspectives, experiences, and ideals? 
• What new opportunities can we explore to address global challenges? Which innovative areas and formats of collaboration could emerge across diverse academic landscapes? 
• Which role should equity, diversity, and inclusion play in international collaboration? 
• - How can we safeguard research integrity in collaborations between partners from 
• countries with differing ideals or operating under differing constraints?