OSUN News

Voices from the Margins: Universities as Frontline Responders

Voices from the Margins Frontline Leaders include: Samia Huq of BRAC University, Jude Samuel Acquaah of Ashesi University, Rabih Shibli of the American University of Beirut, Nurzhamal Karamoldoeva of American University of Central Asia, Maheen Mumtaz of National University of Sciences & Technology, and Elisa Manríquez Hörmann of Pontifical Catholic University of Chile.

OSUN's Engaged Scholarship project and the Talloires Network (TN) are partnering to co-implement a new global initiative entitled “Voices from the Margins – Listening and Raising Up Stories of Universities as Frontline Responders.” Acknowledging that the concept of universities as frontline responders is situational and contextual, the initiative brings together higher education leaders of the Global Majority who will share their experiences on the frontline with communities. Working hand-in-hand with leaders at American University of Beirut (Lebanon), Ashesi University (Ghana), BRAC University (Bangladesh), National University of Science and Technology (Pakistan), and others, this initiative seeks to encourage universities to lead as bold and nimble civic actors who partner with communities to respond swiftly and intelligently to unexpected societal challenges.

"Emerging from multiple conversations with the OSUN Civic Engagement Intiative (CEI's) Steering Committee was a sense of urgency to help institutions reconceive their roles as civic actors," says Erin Cannan, director of CEI. "As networks, TN and OSUN partners are working together to think differently about how to prepare institutions and the people in them to respond to the critical social concerns we are all facing."

Throughout 2023, a small group of educational leaders will gather, listen to, and document voices from the margins – exploring different models of universities as frontline responders. Together they will co-design an international gathering to explore the role of universities and share different models of universities as frontline responders. Approximately 30 participants from the Global Majority –network members and partners, university heads, student leaders, and leaders in philanthropy– will contribute to the dialogue and exchange their impressions in October of 2023. By year’s end, the group will synthesize the ideas and strategies of university frontline responders to articulate imperatives for the international higher education sector.

Read more about the Frontline Leaders

Post Date: 05-16-2023