About GUSI – Global Universities for Societal Impact

Global Universities for Societal Impact (GUSI) is a strategic alliance of internationally engaged universities working together to amplify their collective impact through meaningful global collaboration.

Founded by the University of Bonn, Emory University, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, the University of St Andrews, and Waseda University (learn more about each member institution in the tabs below), GUSI unites institutions that share a common vision: to promote excellence in research, education, and innovation while advancing global societal progress.

Our Mission

GUSI’s mission is to foster purposeful international collaboration that enhances the global reach and institutional strategies of its members. Through long-term partnerships, joint academic initiatives, and coordinated action on shared challenges, GUSI empowers universities to create knowledge and opportunities that benefit society at large.

The network emphasizes academic excellence, societal relevance, and ethical innovation. Its current thematic focus—Artificial Intelligence—guides collaborative efforts from 2024 to 2027 and serves as a platform for interdisciplinary engagement.

Strategic Focus

GUSI operates across three core pillars: research, education, and leadership and innovation. These areas support collaborative projects that deepen global perspectives, strengthen academic communities, and build capacity to respond to the world’s most pressing issues.

Through these pillars, GUSI enables academic collaboration across institutions, facilitates mobility and exchange for students and staff, and encourages the pooling of expertise to address global challenges.

Governance and Participation

The network is governed by a rotating Network Board composed of senior representatives from each member institution. The Board is responsible for determining strategic priorities, overseeing collaborative projects, and ensuring alignment with institutional goals. It meets annually, with hosting duties rotating among member universities.

The day-to-day coordination of network activities is managed by an Operations Committee, composed of Directors of International and project leads. Project Working Groups implement specific initiatives under each thematic pillar, with participation open to all members.

All members are signatories to a shared Memorandum of Understanding and are expected to participate actively in governance and project work.

Looking Ahead

In the years ahead, GUSI intends to expand its membership to include institutions from Africa and South America, broadening the network’s reach and enhancing its capacity for inclusive and impactful global engagement.

GUSI is a platform for institutions that believe in the power of collaboration to advance knowledge, tackle complex challenges, and shape a more connected, equitable world.

 

Member Institutions

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

A global top-100 institution and Israel’s leading academic and research university, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HUJI) was founded by visionaries including Albert Einstein and Sigmund Freud. With six campuses and over 100 research centers, HUJI hosts nearly 4,000 active research projects across fields ranging from mathematics (ranked 22nd globally), medicine, and agriculture to brain sciences, law, and the humanities.

Our researchers are internationally recognized, with accolades including nine Nobel Prizes, the Fields Medal, Turing Award, and Wolf Prize. HUJI is a hub of innovation and entrepreneurship, home to Yissum - its renowned tech transfer company - and a growing number of global partnerships.

Through its outstanding international programs and a student body representing over 90 countries, HUJI fosters a dynamic and diverse academic community rooted in Jerusalem - one of the world’s most historic and inspiring cities.

Emory Univeristy

University of Bonn

 

The University of Bonn is one of eleven German Universities of Excellence and leads with six Clusters of Excellence. In recent decades, it has produced more Nobel laureates and Fields Medal winners than any other German university. Renowned for top-level research and science, it has shaped knowledge for over 200 years. With around 30,000 students, 6,000 doctoral candidates and 750 professors, Bonn is among Germany’s largest and most research-intensive universities. Its seven faculties offer a wide range of subjects, many of which rank highly internationally. Six transdisciplinary research areas foster innovation in response to major societal and scientific challenges. Notable researchers include Nobel laureates Wolfgang Paul and Reinhard Selten, as well as Fields Medalists Gerd Faltings and Peter Scholze. The university drives progress through strong knowledge transfer, science communication and cooperation with industry. This ranges from joint professorships to contract research, establishing the university as a hub for social and technological development.

University of St. Andrews

Founded in 1413, the University of St Andrews is the third oldest university in the English-speaking world. Renowned for both its historic legacy and innovative approach to research and teaching, St Andrews is a leading Scottish institution with a strong global outlook. It combines the academic strength and international reach of a world-class university with the intimate, community-driven atmosphere of a small coastal town. With students, staff, and academics from over 135 countries, the University fosters a vibrant, inclusive environment that supports excellence in education, research, and innovation. Its compact size and flexible structure - spanning four Faculties (Arts, Divinity, Science, and Medicine) and twenty Academic Schools - promote curiosity-led research and interdisciplinary collaboration for the benefit of society and culture worldwide.

Waseda Unviersity

Waseda University, founded in 1882, is renowned for its academic excellence. Located in central Tokyo, it hosts 50,000 students across 13 undergraduate and 21 postgraduate schools. Its three core principles are: the independence of scholarship, the practical application of scholarship, and the fostering of good citizens. These principles emphasize freedom in research, the pursuit of knowledge for societal progress, and the cultivation of individuals who contribute positively to the global community.

In recent years, Waseda has focused on internationalization through its Vision 150 strategic plan. This initiative aims to prepare students for global leadership by promoting study abroad programs and increasing partnerships with top universities worldwide. By fostering global citizens, Waseda University enhances its students' international perspectives and capabilities, ensuring they thrive in a diversifying global society.

Waseda University continues to provide a stimulating academic environment, welcoming students from around the world to engage in innovative research and education.