Global Scientific Committee
	Approach The highly qualified researchers and policy-makers of the Global Scientific Committee carefully balance the activities from the regional committees in order to make sure all regions are visible and represented. Additionally, they identify overriding global issues and challenges in the areas of higher education, research and knowledge. The Chairs from the respective Regional Scientific Committees are part of the Global Scientific Committee, so as to facilitate the link and continuity of work and ideas between regional and global levels. The Global Scientific Committee is to function as an intellectual platform transcending institutional boundaries, with the objective to perform as a 'global springboard' of critical thinking, analysis, reflection and strategy on higher education, research and knowledge. The overall objective of the Committee is to conceptualize long-term strategies to promote research and knowledge by detecting change, debating choices, and stimulating new thinking and visions for development and change. Main themes Anticipating new trends in higher education, research and knowledge production Analysis of new theories and paradigms in higher education, research and knowledge production/management Evaluation of current mechanisms, structures and experiences in these areas

Members of the Global Scientific Committee Prof. Thandika MKANDAWIRE (Chair) - Malawi Prof. Hebe VESSURI (Vice Chair) - Venezuela Prof. Goolam MOHAMEDBHAI - Mauritius Prof. Akira ARIMOTO - Japan Prof. Ulrich TEICHLER - Germany Prof. Nouria BENGHABRIT-REMAOUN - Algeria Prof. Guy NEAVE - United Kingdom Prof. Hans N. WEILER - United States of America Prof. Silvia TORRES-PEIMBERT - Mexico Prof. Eugenia M. FLORES - Costa Rica Prof. Fahima CHARAFFEDINE - Lebanon Prof. Ashis NANDY - India Prof. Fatou SOW - Senegal Prof. Jajah KOSWARA - Indonesia Prof. Nabeel KASSIS - Palestine 3rd Global Scientific Committee Meeting 6-7 October 2005 Paris, France The meeting focused on management issues and the planning of the Global Colloquium scheduled for late November beginning of December 2006. The Global Scientific Committee supported the UNESCO Forum secretariat to transform the Global Research Seminar, which was planed in December 2005 to an Invitational Workshop for experts on research systems, which would take place in April 2006. Professors Hans Weiler and Goolam Mohamedbhai were appointed to write the terms of reference for the workshop. Furthermore the need for an advisory board was discussed as well as the next Sida application and it was decided to propose a common publication policy of the UNESCO Forum. 2nd Global Scientific Committee Meeting 23-24 July 2004 Sao Paolo, Brazil The meeting was looking at managerial issues related to the activities of the UNESCO Forum and how the Global Scientific Committee could fulfil its role as the think-thank. The committee members divided themselves in several ad hoc groups looking at the First Global Colloquium and the publication related to the event, the publication of the First Global Research Seminar, the mapping of higher education and research systems, on possibilities for making policy briefs, the Forum website and the Future Scenarios of Knowledge. 1st Global Scientific Committee Meeting 16-17 October 2003 Paris, France The meeting focused on identifying areas of work for the committee and they where invited to select a paper of their own writing for circulation to the committee members to familiarise themselves with each other’s academic work. They where also encouraged to select articles of interests to stimulate discussion and debate. Moreover, the committee members were urged to propose topics for the next meeting in Brazil, for the First Global Colloquium and a short, medium and long-term working agenda for the committee.