WUN Workshops and AGM May 2017 New York City
The WUN Workshops and AGM 2017 – a flagship of our annual calendar – will be held from 3-5 May 2017 in New York City. This is a particularly important AGM for the Worldwide Universities Network.
We have recently launched a fundamental review of the Network to transition us from our 2014-17 to 2017-20 strategic plans. Meetings in New York will distill the input from all groups to form a fit-for-purpose strategic plan that carries WUN into the next decade. This is an opportunity to facilitate a focused discussion within and among all the groups represented in WUN.
Side meeting opportunities
We will also take advantage of being in New York City, home of the United Nations General Assembly, many major funding agencies and civil society organisations. We will work over the coming months to invite senior representatives to meet leadership and research teams to explore potential partnerships.
Several universities have also indicated that they will hold associated events, such as alumni receptions and fundraising meetings, as part of their visit to New York.
Workshops
Allied academic workshops in Global Higher Education and Research and in Heritage will occur from 30 April to 1 May at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. A WUN Data Science Thematic Workshop on Wellness Data for Healthy Societies will be held on 1-2 May at IIE. The in-FLAME group will hold their annual workshop from 3-5 May at the Sheraton Lincoln Harbor Hotel.
We encourage a high level of participation from the Partnership Board, Global Challenge steering Groups members, our Academic Advisory Group, Coordinators, and leading researchers at the AGM events in New York City. This will maximize the impact of AGM 2017, build critical teamwork across the network, spark new international funding and research collaborations, and lay the groundwork for our next three-year strategic plan.
Accommodation
New York City
WUN has secured a very special rate of USD 219 + tax per night at the conference hotel ONE UN New York. Rates apply for 2-6 May, are inclusive of WIFI, and are limited to the first 80 people.
Located just next to the United Nations in Manhattan, this is an extremely low rate for a hotel of its class in New York City. All AGM business meetings will take place within this hotel, except for the Presidents Forum which will be held at the Institute of International Education, only a two minute walk away.
Participants should make their reservations directly with the hotel. Please contact us to request the link to secure your special rate booking.
Amherst
50 rooms have been reserved for 28 April – 3 May at Hotel UMass. Please contact the hotel before 31 March and request a room using the following code: CHS17C
The cost per room is $140 plus fees. Rooms may be available at this rate after March 31, but they are not guaranteed to be available.
Hotel UMass contact details
Email hotel@umass.edu, phone (877) 822-2110 or use the online contact form.
Key Dates
Academic Workshops
| 30 April-1 May | WUN Heritage Workshop The Role of Heritage in Migration and Displacement Chair: Professor Elizabeth Chilton Location: University of Massachusetts Amherst |
| 1-2 May | WUN GHEAR Workshop Sustainable Development Goals for Higher Education Chair: Professor Joe Berger Location: University of Massachusetts Amherst |
| 1-2 May | Wellness Data for Healthy Societies Chair: Dr Jane Gatewood Location: Institute of International Education in New York |
| 3-5 May | WUN in-FLAME Workshop Chair: Prof Susan Prescott Location: Sheraton Lincoln Harbor Hotel in New York |
Global Challenge Steering Group Meetings
3 May 2017: WUN Strategic Plan & Governance Meetings
Agenda: Fundamental review of WUN in preparation for the Strategic Plan 2017-20
| 0900 | Strategic review – Context and overview Professor Joseph Sung and Professor John Hearn |
| 0930 | Presentations and Discussions
|
| 1100 | Coffee break |
| 1120 | Presentations and Discussions
|
| 1230 | Lunch Public Health and Responding to Climate Change Steering Groups will meet as a working lunch during this time. Understanding Cultures and GHEAR Steering Groups will meet alongside their workshops in Amherst |
| 1400 | Breakout Sessions: (i) Global Challenges and alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals; (ii) Education and Mobility; (iii) Enabling Cores supporting global challenges, (iv) Engagement, Visibility and Impact |
| 1530 | Coffee Break |
| 1600 | Plenary: Reporting Session |
| 1730 | End of Session |
| 1830 | Opening Reception and Working Dinners (PB, AAG and GC Chairs and Enabling theme leaders; Coordinators) |
4 May 2017: WUN Strategic Plan & Governance Meetings & AGM
| 09.00 | WUN Highlights for sustainable programs (speakers TBC – 10 minutes each) |
| 10.00 | Partnership Board, AAG, and Coordinators Individual Governance Group Meetings
|
| 1230 | Lunch with optional breakout session on Mobility (Dr Jane Gatewood and Dr Susie Jim) |
| 1400 | Governance Meetings Roundup Session |
| 1500 | Coffee Break |
| 1530 | Plenary: Reporting Session |
| 1630 | AGM |
| 1730 | End of session |
| 1830 for 1900 start |
WUN Annual Conference Dinn |
5 May 2017: Presidents Forum on Higher Education and the Sustainable Development Goals
Program: available here from 1 March 2017
Location: Institute of International Education
Time: 9 am – 5 pm
Venues
The venue for the 2017 WUN Conference & AGM is hotel ONE UN New York including the Welcome Reception & Dinner (3 May) and the Conference Dinner (4 May).
The WUN Heritage Workshop (30 April-1 May) and the WUN GHEAR Workshop (1-2 May) will take place at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. 50 rooms have been reserved for 28 April – 3 May at Hotel UMass. Please contact the hotel before 31 March and request a room using the following code: CHS17C
The Presidents’ Forum on 5 May will take place at the Institute of International Education, a 2-minute walk from ONE UN New York.
Getting there and away
New York City
Please see this website for 9 ways to get from New York JFK Airport (JFK) to ONE UN New York (including estimated costs). With AirportShuttles.com you can make reservations with local shuttle providers such as SuperShuttle, GO! Airport Shuttle and more.
A taxi ride from New York JFK Airport (JFK) to ONE UN New York – Millennium will take around 21 minutes (depending on traffic). One-Way from: $55 – $70 USD.
Amherst
The closest airport to UMass Amherst is Bradley International Airport in Hartford, Connecticut. Please note that Bradley has limited international flights (Dublin, Montreal, Toronto, and Caribbean). However, if a person has a connection in the US, they could get a flight to Bradley from another US airport.
Attendees may want to purchase what is termed an “open jaw” ticket — for instance, flying into Boston or Bradley and then out of NYC.
Travel from/to Airports
From Hartford Bradley, Boston Logan, or NYC JFK airports, Hotel UMass recommends you take Valley Transporter.
Other options include:
- UMass Amherst “meet and greet” service — pick up/drop off to Bradley Airport, and Boston Local or NYC (JFK) airports (as well as to train statins or bus stations, if desired).
- A bus could be chartered (please see this list of coach services).
- There are public transport options including Peter Pan Bus Service and Amtrak Train Service. However, this would require the additional step of getting from the airport to the bus/train station, and then being picked up from the bus/train station.
Visa requirements
The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) enables nationals of certain countries to travel to the United States for tourism or business (visitor visa purposes) for stays of 90 days or less without obtaining a visa.
Please check your visa requirements at the ESTA website and if you are a VWP traveler please don’t forget that you are required to apply for authorization though the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA).
If you are not eligible for the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) and you need to obtain a visa, please let us know as soon as possible to allow enough time to organise a visa letter for you.
If you have any questions about this process please email us for support.
Visiting New York
The Big Apple with its iconic sights, broadway musicals, world-class museums, and urban buzz will fill your calendar with reasons to love New York, the city that never sleeps. View this page at the hotel’s website for local things to do.
Check this website regularly for more information as it becomes available.
We look forward to seeing you in New York City!
Registration
Please follow this link to register for the AGM (Presidents Forum, Global Challenge Steering Group Meetings), academic workshops and conference dinner. You have received the code for this closed event via the WUN AGM mailing sent on Wednesday 25 January 2017.
Please register here for the WUN in-FLAME workshop.
