Homepage for UWB Portal News

Global university strategies are no longer judged by visibility alone, but by their ability to adapt quickly to technological changes that affect both technical and social science disciplines. This was the key message delivered by the Rector of the University of West Bohemia, Miroslav Lávička, who took part on Tuesday, April 14, in the Science Diplomacy Summit as a panelist in a discussion focused on the transformation of international university strategies. He received the invitation together with Petr Kavalíř, Director of the NTC Research Center at the University of West Bohemia, from the organizing Johns Hopkins University in Washington, D.C. 

In the debate, the Rector highlighted the role of university alliances. “The goal is to remain prepared, resilient, and relevant in today’s complex world. International cooperation is essential in achieving this, as it gives a medium-sized university like ours greater reach and a stronger position in addressing challenges that go beyond national borders,” he said. The University of West Bohemia is part of the EUPeace alliance, which brings together nine universities from seven countries, nearly 200,000 students, 15,000 researchers, and around 850 research groups. The alliance’s key research priorities include security and conflict resolution, climatology and just transition, inclusive healthcare, and migration and human rights.

Another participant at the summit was Petr Kavalíř, Director of the NTC Research Center and Government Commissioner for Quantum Technologies. As part of the FlashTalks: Diplomacy in Many Languages session, he joined other experts in discussing the intersection of science, politics, and innovation, as well as the future of international cooperation.

The Science Diplomacy Summit is among the major international gatherings that connect science, policy, and diplomacy to address global challenges, including artificial intelligence, healthcare, and climate change. The conference brought together experts from around the world, each contributing their perspective on these issues in a rapidly changing world. The Science Diplomacy Summit was cofounded by chemistry Nobel laureatePeter Agre and John Hopkins University alumna Ona Ambrozaite.