AC21 Newsletter Archive
The AC21 consortium published 32 newsletter volumes between 2003 and 2022, roughly one to two issues per year. The newsletter was the secretariat's primary tool for maintaining cohesion across fifteen universities on four continents — a function that might seem trivial in the age of instant messaging but was genuinely important for a network that operated without a shared intranet or digital workspace.
Each volume typically ran to 12–20 pages and included reports on recent and upcoming events, profiles of member university initiatives, summaries of completed SPF projects, and occasional editorial commentary on developments in international higher education. The original PDF files were hosted on the consortium's website, which was taken offline in mid-2023. The descriptions below are based on archival copies held by the Legacy Fund.
Volume List
Volumes 1–5 (2003–2005) — The founding years. Covered the establishment of the consortium, the first two International Forums (Nagoya 2002, Strasbourg 2004), and the launch of the Special Project Fund. Vol. 3 included profiles of all six founding member institutions. Vol. 5 reported on the first Student World Forum.
Volumes 6–10 (2006–2008) — Expansion phase. Documented the growth from 10 to 15 members, the 3rd and 4th International Forums, and the first round of SPF project completions. Vol. 8 featured a special section on research collaboration between Nagoya and Freiburg in materials science.
Volumes 11–15 (2009–2011) — Maturation. Covered the 5th Forum in Bangkok, the launch of the International Graduate School, and expanded reporting on consortium activities. Vol. 13 included a review of the first five years of the Student World Forum, with alumni testimonials.
Volumes 16–20 (2012–2015) — Peak activity. The 6th and 7th Forums (Nanjing and Freiburg), multiple IGS sessions, and a growing portfolio of SPF projects. Vol. 18 reported on the OECD's citation of AC21 forum proceedings. Vol. 20 included a retrospective on the consortium's first decade.
Volumes 21–25 (2016–2018) — The "Society 5.0" era. The 8th Forum in Nagoya and the 9th in Raleigh dominated coverage. Vol. 22 featured an interview with Director Hideki Kasuya on the consortium's strategic direction. Vol. 24 introduced a new section on SDG-aligned research across member universities.
Volumes 26–29 (2019–2020) — The COVID disruption. Vol. 26 covered the 7th Student World Forum in Stellenbosch. Vol. 27 reported on the pivot to virtual programming. Vols. 28–29 documented the 10th Forum (held online, hosted by Shanghai Jiao Tong) and the challenges facing international academic networks during the pandemic.
Volumes 30–32 (2021–2022) — The final volumes. Vol. 30 covered the 6th IGS (hybrid format). Vol. 31 reported on the 11th and final International Forum in Christchurch. Vol. 32, the last issue, included a message from Director Kasuya announcing the consortium's dissolution and a timeline of key milestones from 2002 to 2022.
Monthly Reports
In addition to the newsletter, the AC21 secretariat produced 114 monthly reports between 2013 and 2022. These were shorter, more operational documents — typically 2–4 pages — circulated to the Steering Committee and member institution liaison officers. They covered meeting minutes, budget updates, and programme logistics. Monthly reports are not described individually here but are held in the Legacy Fund archive.