The Norwegian University of Science and Technology and UN-HABITAT jointly organized a Round Table event for Habitat Partner Universities during the Fourth Session of the World Urban Forum. The event was attended by 40 universities from across the globe who discussed the way forward for the Habitat Partner University collaboration. University representatives from a wide range of countries, including Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Finland, Germany, Ghana, Jamaica, Kenya, Norway, the Philippines, South Africa, Sweden and Tanzania contributed to the debate. Some of the key issues highlighted were the emphasis of linkages between universities regionally and across regions, as well as the need for universities to link more with grassroots organizations, communities, as well as with local and Central authorities, in order to bridge the gaps between education, research and practice, and achieving impact at the level of policy- and decisionmakers. This event also marked the shift from the pilot phase of the Habitat Partner University initiative to become an actual Network, whose website will be generously hosted by Tongji University. |
