Iowa State personnel planned the conference and President Martin Jischke, who is president of the consortium during its first year, gave the keynote address. Education dean Walt Gmelch also spoke on trends in educational leadership. The need for reform is global in scale and a challenge in many places. About 10 suggestions for initial working groups emerged at the Amsterdam conference, he said, including a virtual electronic university, a revolving loan fund to serve students attending consortium member schools, food safety and veterinary medicine. About 100 universities from 35 countries sent representatives to Amsterdam.
Membership is open to all colleges and universities in the world with an agriculture program.
Topel said ISU faculty and staff can receive more information on working group topics and get involved in any that interest them.