“Progress in the developing world cannot be sustained without a vibrant constellation of universities, colleges, and research institutes to anchor local knowledge and innovation.” – Khalil Z. Shariff, AKFC CEO
In April 2016, Aga Khan Foundation Canada, Academics Without Borders, and the International Development Research Centre—with financial support from Global Affairs Canada—convened the Smart Global Development Conference under the premise that higher education institutions have tremendous potential to bring about sustainable improvements in the Global South.
Over 300 global thought leaders, policymakers, and practitioners from 20 countries participated in person and online, sharing thoughtful dialogue on the intersections between higher education and global development. In their keynote addresses on day one and day two of the conference respectively, His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, and the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Canada’s Minister of International Development and La Francophonie, set the stage for thoughtful dialogue on the intersections between higher education and global development
Higher education is an investment in the future, in creating the expertise, resources, and leadership all societies require to achieve and sustain the Global Goals. Sustained engagement and dialogue are needed to keep this momentum going. We are thus pleased to share the Conference Report and Executive Summary from this landmark conference.
Read more:
- Keynote and plenary sessions are available through a video archive.
