Universitas 21 was incorporated December 1999 in England and Wales. Universitas 21 provides a model for a new kind of network of universities to advance the central scholarly purposes of its member institutions and to enrich the essential educational and research enterprises at the heart of the idea of a modern university. It is a small, tight-knit association of kindred universities, which provides a framework for benchmarking of performance and quality of its members, and assists in the development of arrangements for student and staff exchanges. Universitas 21 is an active, effective association, small enough to permit high levels of commitment, familiarity, collaboration and inter-operability between the partner institutions, yet large enough to capture the benefits of international diversity. The association will provide international benchmarks relating to quality, funding levels, fee requirements, research outcomes, student support services, infrastructure provision, management efficiency and related matters for the member institutions.
Participation is by invitation.
United States University of Michigan Member institutions are represented on Universitas 21 by their Chief Executive Officers, and decision-making is conducted through CEOs on the basis of one vote per member institution. Each member institution has nominated a senior officer to be the U21 contact officer. The CEO designated to host the forthcoming Universitas 21 Conference is the Chair of Universitas 21 during that year. The Chair is responsible for initiating any decision-making processes required between meetings. This secretariat is maintained on a three-year rotating basis by a selected Universitas 21 institution.