The World 100 Reputation Network Conference is the key annual opportunity for highly ranked universities - both members and non-members - to share reputational achievements.

The W100 Annual Conference 2013 took place at the University of York, United Kingdom, from 16 – 17 September. Hilary Layton, Director of International, University of York, was our host. The conference focused on the theme of communicating the global university through leadership, strategy and brand promotion.

The theme ‘Communicating the Global University: Marketing, media and brand strategies for reputational impact’ allowed for discussions on a wide range of higher education issues impacting university internationalisation, including leadership and global challenges, partnerships, benchmarking and rankings, communicating internationally and media relations, internal engagement and brand promotion.

Those responsible for reputation management in a range of exceptional international universities led master classes on topics such as the role of sport in reputation building, the impact of technology in brand building, the impact of country branding, international policy and PhD student university choice.


Conference Highlights


Steering institutional strategy to compete internationally | Dr Masako Egawa, University of Tokyo
University of Tokyo’s implementation of strategies to promote mobility and diversity of students and faculty members, including change in the academic calendar to “four-term” system.

The impact of fees on reputation and student choice | Richard Stenelo, Lund University and Dave Roberts, The Knowledge Partnership
How higher fees are driving students to take a fresh look at what and where to study.

Partners: how to choose partners to raise profile | Hilary Layton, University of York and Sun Wen, Nanjing University
York and Nanjing share their unlikely partnership story, demonstrating, through collaboration, some of the best profile-raising the universities have experienced.

University of Cape Town’s challenges and approaches to engaging diverse audiences | Gerda Kruga, University of Cape Town
How universities communicate across social, racial and other divides, whilst maintaining world-class standards.

Global or disconnected futures? | Lyse Doucet, The BBC
The challenges of communicating and understanding in a segmented world.

Our Speakers

Brian Cantor
The University of York

Dr Masako Egawa
The University of Tokyo

Hilary Layton
The University of York

Michael Kurts
The University of Toronto

Kerry-Anne Hoad
The British Council

Ben Sowter
QS Intelligence Unit

Sandra Elliot
Cardiff University

Lyse Doucet
BBC

Richard Stenelo
Lund University

TRACY CHALK

Tracy Chalk
Australian National University

Alan Ferns

Alan Ferns
The University of Manchester

Members Day | 15 September 2013

Our York hosts put together some fantastic social activities, kicking off with a historical walking tour of York and the Minster. After an afternoon of High Tea at Betty’s Tea Room, members experienced Evensong at York Minster, followed by a contemporary British curry at Mumbai Lounge. The evening ended with a traditional evening ghost tour of York, where members explored thousands of years of history, mystery, folklore and legends that smoulder beneath the city’s ancient streets.

Study Tour | 18-19 September 2013

After the conference, a group of W100 members headed up to Scotland to spend a couple of days at The University of Edinburgh – a member of the Russell Group and LERU and the sixth oldest university in the English-speaking world. During the visit, members learned about the University’s research, strategy and brand promotion. As well as educating themselves about the university, members enjoyed planned activities including a guided tour of the city and a splendid evening with a Scottish feast at St Trinneans, the previously famous school known for its radical education practice.

Become a Member

The World 100 Reputation Network is a group of the best universities in the world, delivering research that enhances reputation and offering leaders the chance to develop their own careers on a global stage. Members benefit from events and study tours, training, monthly media monitoring, and unique reputation research to provide institutional advantage.

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