PRESS RELEASE U15 e. V. I 25 November 2014 U15 signs up to ‘Hefei Statement’ on characteristics of research universities and ‘Leiden Statement’ on the importance of SSH research in a globalized world German U15, the association of 15 research universities in Germany, has joined with other global universities and groups of research-intensive universities in signing the Hefei statement and the Leiden statement. The Hefei statement outlines ten characteristics of research universities, including the excellence, breadth and volume of their research outputs, and the way in which a research culture permeates all of their activities, from teaching and learning to their engagement with business, government and the broader community. The Leiden statement affirms the important role of the social sciences and humanities in the global research landscape. The statement signals that in the world’s leading research universities there is growing concern over the perceived marginalization and undervaluing of scholarship in the humanities and social sciences. Signatories to the statements are 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. the Association of American Universities (AAU) An exclusive association of 62 top public and private research universities in the United States and Canada, founded in 1900 with headquarters in Washington, DC. the Association of East Asia Research Universities (AEARU) The Association of East Asian Research Universities (AEARU) is a regional organization (mainland China, Korea, Taiwan, Japan, and Hong Kong), founded in January 1996. C9 League in China (C9) An association established in 2009 as China’s equivalent to the US Ivy League, following the Chinese government’s decision to select nine universities for additional funding for an initial period of three years. the Group of Eight in Australia (GO8) A coalition of eight research-intensive universities that began in 1994 as an informal network of vice-chancellors and was then formally incorporated in 1999, with headquarters located in Canberra. the League of European Research Universities (LERU) An association of 21 leading research-intensive universities founded in 2002, headquartered in Leuven/Belgium. Research Universities 11 (RU11) in Japan RU 11 is a consortium which was established in 2009 consisting of 11 of the top research universities in Japan. It is managed by the member universities. the Russell Group in Great Britain The group represents 24 leading UK research universities. Founded in 1994, it is headquartered in Cambridge. the U15 Group of Canadian Research Universities (Canadian U15) The group represents 80% of Canadian research universities, with headquarters in Ottawa. Notes to editors: 1. The Hefei statement can be found here: http://www.leru.org/files/publications/Hefei_statement.pdf 2. The Leiden statement can be found here: http://www.german-u15.de/en/presse/ressourcen/leiden_statement__21_nov_2014_0.pdf?1416732406 Press contact U15: Ass. jur. Denise Feldner, M.B.L. German U15 e. V. Wissenschaftszentrum Berlin Reichpietschufer 50 10785 Berlin [email protected]