An official partner of the “Global Leadership for the 21st Century. Strategies for Transformative Global Leadership” international conference held between June 15th-19th 2020 at the initiative of the World Academy of Art and Science and the United Nations Office in Geneva, the Institute for Advanced Studies in Levant Culture and Civilization organized a panel debate on The Role of the Academic Environment in Elaborating a Vision and Strategy for Global Governance in the 21st Century on June 17th, 2020.
The discussions, moderated by Emil Constantinescu, President of the Institute for Advanced Studies in Levant Culture and Civilization, were joined by Professor Jeffrey Sachs (University of Columbia, Director of the United Nations Centre for Sustainable Development), Dr Ismail Serageldin (Vice-Chair of the World Bank 1992-2000, founder of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Co-Chair of the Nizami Ganjavi International Centre), Professor Luiza Spiru (“Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacology, President of the “Ana Aslan” International Academy), Professor Remus Pricopie (Chancellor of the National University of Political Studies and Public Administration), László Borbély (Associate Professor at the “Babeș-Bolyai” University of Cluj-Napoca, State Counsellor and Coordinator of the Department for Sustainable Development of the Romanian Government, Chair of the 19th session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development (2010-2011)) and Dr Oana Brânda, project manager for “The World Post-COVID-19 Pandemic: A Humanist Vision for Sustainable Development” project undertaken by the Institute for Advanced Studies in Levant Culture and Civilization.
A strategy for global governance cannot be created without a clear definition and an efficient and effective collaboration between different fields of activity. This raises the issue of how to better manage of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, with a view to incorporating the “novel” instruments of truth and creativity. Both the academic environment and decision-making bodies must commit to a meaningful dialogue aimed at identifying potential problems and elaborating appropriate solutions, wherein decision makers must act as a catalyst for positive change. Technology has also proven invaluable in improving standards of living, educational methods and medical systems alike – all deeply affected by the pandemic. In the end, globalisation must be approached from a new perspective, one that can capitalise on potential benefits to human lives in the long-term.
