About
AC21
Who we are
The Academic Consortium for the 21st Century (AC21) was established on June 24, 2002 at the International Forum 2002 hosted by Nagoya University, Japan, as an international network comprised of educational, research and industrial organizations throughout the world. The Forum brought together the presidents and high-ranking delegations from twenty-four of the world’s leading education and research institutions, and resulted in the founding of a new and vigorous global partnership in higher education, “Academic Consortium AC21”.
The principal theme of the inaugural forum, “The Role of Universities in the 21st Century”, continues to guide AC21’s activities to this day. In an era of continuous change, we believe that institutions of higher education must take the initiative in responding to the rapidly transforming needs of society, and that an international university network, with its common pool of knowledge, expertise and experience, comprises the optimum means to accomplish this. As demonstrated by the scale of our projects and activities, AC21 is firmly committed to contributing to the global knowledge sector.
The vision of AC21 is the promoting of cooperation in education and research between members, the bridging between different societies in the world and the delivering of wisdom to all people to mutually understand and share values, knowledge and cultures necessary to improve quality of life and to foster co-existence beyond national and regional boundaries in the 21st century.
AC21 members
Australia
China
- Huazhong University of Science and Technology,
- Jilin University,
- Nanjing University,
- Northeastern University,
- Peking University,
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University,
- Tongji University
France
Germany
Indonesia
Japan
Lao Peoples Democratic Republic
Thailand
United States
The AC21 Student World Forum
The AC21 Student World Forum is the biennial meeting of students from member universities of the AC21 network. On this occasion, students from member institutions are invited to exchange ideas on issues of international concern. The conferences facilitate international friendship, encourage students to develop a global mindset, and strengthen the AC21 network.
Student World Forum 2015
At the University of Strasbourg, we saw is a great opportunity to share our experience of Europe and knowledge of cross-border co-operation. Thus, the puropose of the Student World Forum 2015 is "The european experience in local and regional democracy".
During this event, AC21 students will be able to take part in a series of conferences on diverse topics such as the tasks of Congress with Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, cross-border cooperation in clusters of companies and research centers, management of cross-border projects, or sustainable development projects within Regional Authorities.
Forum sessions will be arranged according to the following sub-themes:
- Regional cooperation in Europe : overview
- Local and Regional Authorities of Europe
- The cross-border project management
- Cross-border clusters and business cooperation
- New energy concepts, innovative materials and resilience: scientific cross-border cooperation – University of Freiburg
- Transborder cooperation and regional initiatives on sustainable development / metropol
The University of Freiburg, also a member of AC21, as well as one of the major partners of the University of Strasbourg, is involved alongside the University of Strasbourg in the Student World Forum 2015.
We are delighted with this cooperation and honored to host this AC21 key event.
University of Strasbourg (France) and University of Freiburg (Germany)
University of Strasbourg, 5 centuries of excellence
Located in the heart of Europe, the University of Strasbourg is heir to a great traditionborn of the humanism of the 16th century. It boasts almost 44,000 students each year, 20% of which are foreign, togetherwith 4,600 teachers-researchers and staff, 37 training and research units, and 79 research units. These impressive figuresmake the University a rich hub driven by its active involvement in virtually every discipline comprising the current body of knowledge.
Several distinguished personalities, including 17 Nobel Prize winners, have studied at the University of Strasbourg over time. The University’s international partnerships along with its humanitarian, intellectual, and scientific potential, have contributed to fueling the greatest of ambitions on an international scale. Influenced by a variety of cultures, the University has developed strong European and international ties and offers exchange programs with countless establishments around the world.
The University of Strasbourg offers an exceptional diversity of programs that cover five principal areas of education:
- Arts, Literature, Languages
- Law, Economics, Management,Political and Social Sciences,
- Social sciences and Humanities
- Science and Technology
- Health
The University of Strasbourg and the University of Freiburg are both members of the European Confederation of Universities on the Upper Rhine (Eucor). The objective of Eucor is cooperation in instruction and research through academic exchange, joint courses of study and research programs, and accreditation of course work done at any of the participating universities.
University of Freiburg: comprehensive, excellence, minds, Alumni, Benefactors, Sponsors, Future
Comprehensive University
Already a comprehensive university at its founding in 1457, the University of Freiburg still offers undergraduate and graduate studies as well as professorial qualification in all important disciplines today: the humanities, natural and engineering sciences, medicine, law, and theology. This diversity also provides an ideal environment for innovative interdisciplinary studies.
Excellence
Many famous philosophers, top researchers, and Nobel laureates have taught and researched at the University of Freiburg. The university’s recent success in the “Excellence” competitions, 2007 for research and 2009 for instruction, testifies to its position as one of the leading universities of the 21st century.
Minds
More than 24,000 students from over 100 nations are matriculated in 180 degree programs at 11 faculties. More than 7,000 professors and lecturers and many other employees put in their effort every day – and experience that family friendliness, equal opportunity, and environmental protection are more than just empty phrases here.
Alumni, Benefactors, Sponsors
Numerous former students as well as benefactors and sponsors intensify a culture of dynamic exchange with the city, the region, and the international scientific community.
Future
All of these groups work to give the University of Freiburg the vitality that will continue to provide fertile ground for outstanding achievements in the future. We are always eager to welcome more intelligent minds to our university.