We are delighted to welcome you to the U21 Annual Network Meeting and Leadership Summit 2026 hosted by the University of Glasgow as part of its 575th anniversary celebrations.

Presidents, Vice-Chancellors, Senior Leaders and U21 Officers from Universitas 21 member universities are invited to attend the Annual Network Meeting (ANM), taking place on 20–21 April 2026.

This year, we are expanding our usual Presidential Symposium into a broader, sector-wide Leadership Summit, offering something truly ambitious and future-focused for the network, and the sector as a whole.

Running on 22–23 April 2026, the inaugural U21 Leadership Summit will bring together senior leaders from across our network, alongside policymakers, sector experts, and key strategic partners. Together, we’ll explore the big questions facing higher education leadership today and tomorrow.

You can expect a range of keynote addresses from high profile speakers, panel discussions and more intimate sessions all addressing key challenges and opportunities facing higher education, innovation, and global engagement today.  

This expanded summit, set against the backdrop of Glasgow’s landmark anniversary celebrations, will be a flagship event for U21, bringing new voices into the conversation while building on the trust and collegiality that define our network.

“I’m delighted to welcome you to the U21 Annual Network Meeting and inaugural Leadership Summit. In a rapidly changing world, this marks an important time to come together as a global community of leaders to share perspectives, challenge ideas, and reimagine the future of higher education for the benefit of our students and society.”

Professor Jenny Dixon, Provost, Universitas 21

“In 2026, the University of Glasgow will mark its 575th anniversary with a year-long programme of events that not only celebrates our rich history but also sets out our ambitions for the future.

In honour of this significant milestone, we are proud to host the inaugural Universitas 21 Leadership Summit, a global gathering of senior leaders from the U21 Network and beyond. Drawing on the collective power of the U21 Network, the Summit will bring together leading voices from higher education, government, industry and the third sector to examine the forces transforming our societies, and the critical role universities play in responding to the grand challenges of our time.

From reimagining the way that we educate future leaders to exploring the impact of AI, global inequalities, and geopolitical instability, the Summit will explore how collective action and shared purpose can drive meaningful and lasting change, locally, nationally, and globally.

More than a celebration, this is a call to action, and an opportunity to mobilise the collective power of a global network that spans six continents and 20 countries.

We invite you to join us in making this Summit a catalyst for collaboration, innovation, and long-term impact. Together, we can change the world.”

Professor Rachel Sandison OBE, Deputy Vice-Chancellor - External Engagement, University of Glasgow

Find out more about U21 and the University of Glasgow

Welcome to Glasgow