HISTORY
Presidents of ten universities in the US, Asia, Europe, and Africa participated in the HLU’s First Conference in Groningen, the Netherlands. At the meeting, participating presidents voiced their preference to focus on the practical application of science and technology as a basis for world university rankings, rather than the mere output of research papers and citations that currently represent the majority of factors used to compare and gauge the quality of a university. The presidents agreed to turn the meeting into the First Conference of the Hanseatic League of Universities, with the mission of working together to address the real impact of higher education on society and industry.

