Univer-Cities: Combatting Existential Climate ChangeVolume V

The book describes how universities can serve as stabilising anchors for society amid global uncertainty and accelerating climate change. Integrating Univer-Cities Volumes I through V, it introduces the concept of the Univer-City—a civic-collegiate compact that highlights the enduring bond between universities and the cities they inhabit.

The book frames the Univer-City as a modern agora: a dynamic space of engagement and exchange where ideas are debated, knowledge is synthesised, and intellectual and social capital are translated into meaningful civic action. It further extends this idea to a network of interconnected agoras, forming the foundation of a broader Cosmopolis.

Drawing on established models from the United States and Europe while engaging with the evolving aspirations of universities across Asia, the book offers a comparative and forward-looking perspective. It concludes by arguing that sustained academic and collegiate leadership is critical to enabling proactive, transdisciplinary responses in an AI-pervasive new millennium.

Readership: Senior academic leadership aspirants; Readings for self-development; Case studies of global Univer-Cities for reference and research (reinventing the place-making of the Univer-City of HKU-Hong Kong).For the 10,000 universities in the world, it is possible to rise in reputation and ranking, irrespective of age of founding and size of resources — examples of centennial NUS and young NTU, joint rank 11th in QS global ranking.