Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University is organising a World Universities Congress on the theme “What should be the new aims and responsibilities of universities within the framework of global issues?” in October 2010.

The main responsibilities of universities around the world can be defined as to offer education and training leading to the acquisition of a profession, to conduct scientific research, and to provide other services to the community. However, in a world in which global issues are increasingly impacting on daily life, contemporary universities have a duty to assume more responsibility in a wider field.

The trend towards globalisation, resulting from such factors as efforts to integrate national economies, an increase in international and intercultural relations, and the disappearance of national borders in the sphere of communications, has obviously brought with it a number of problems. It is therefore necessary for topics such as those listed below to be discussed at university level and universities also need to redefine their aims and responsibilities and to make and share suggestions for lasting solutions on international platforms. In addition to the three traditional tasks mentioned above, universities need to define their duties and objectives with regard to the following topics:

	Understanding and prevention of global warming
	Preventing global terrorism
	Eradicating of global poverty
	Solving the problems of global migration
	Eradicating  inequalities in income distribution
	Eradicating injustice in health services
	Eradicating inequality in educational opportunities.
	Proposing solutions to environmental pollution
	Preventing regional conflicts
	Securing of world peace
	Protecting cultural heritage
	Developing lasting solutions to rapid population growth
	Expanding the role of non-governmental organisations in local and international developments

It is obvious that issues like this, which continually threaten the whole of mankind, cannot be solved only by international or transnational organisations, such as the United Nations, European Union, UNESCO, OECD and G8, or by governments alone. Universities can provide a significant contribution by participating in the debate, producing solutions and redefining their role. In order to assist in resolving these issues, they need first of all to include relevant goals in their strategic planning, create research and training centres and rethink their teaching programmes. Universities will doubtless have the opportunity to determine what can be done during sessions at the congress.

Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University intends to bring together universities and other closely associated institutions, researchers and intellectuals, and to provide a wide-ranging forum to discuss the above-mentioned and similar global issues threatening our planet and the new tasks and roles of universities in the process of seeking solutions. We therefore look forward to hearing your views and suggestions with regard to the goals and themes of the World Universities Congress which Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University is proposing to host from 20th – 24th October 2010 and whether you would be willing to participate in such a congress.
 

Yours sincerely

Prof. Dr. Ali Akdemir
Rector