Membership
The World University Family
Every university, every region, every stakeholder.
The World University Family is the membership of WUF: open to every university and every stakeholder, from every region, so that the voice of WUF is the voice of all of them.
A voice is only as true as the people it speaks for
Many organizations speak for universities. Most of them speak for a few: the largest, the oldest, the highest in the rankings, or the ones in a single region. WUF is built differently. Its membership is designed to hold the whole university world: every type of university, every region and every stakeholder around them. When WUF speaks, it speaks with all of them.
Full representation is not a feature of WUF. It is the purpose of WUF.
Three promises of representation
- Every type of university: public and private, research and teaching, technical and professional, regional and community, large and small, old and newly founded, on campus and online, specialized colleges and institutes.
- Every region of the world: Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, the Middle East, North America, Oceania and the small island states.
- Every stakeholder: university leaders, faculty and staff, students and alumni, ministries and public bodies, associations and networks, companies and innovators, civil society, thinkers and experts.
Six ways to take your seat
| Role | Who | Joins through |
|---|---|---|
| Delegates | Any legitimate university in the world | Contribution, no fee |
| Ambassadors | Universities and degree-granting institutions | Fee for the role |
| Conveners | Associations, networks, public bodies, NGOs | Fee for the role |
| Sponsors | Companies | Fee for the role |
| Liaisons | Smaller companies and innovators | Fee for the role |
| Fellows | Individuals | Application, approved by WUF |
A university may begin as a Delegate and become an Ambassador when it is ready. An individual may be a Fellow while their university is a Delegate or an Ambassador.
Four principles that keep the table open
- A path without a fee. Any legitimate university can join as a Delegate and pay through contribution instead of money. Cost never keeps a university away.
- One fair fee for paid roles. One simple fee for each role, the same in every country. No special prices for the powerful and no hidden levels.
- Equal standing. Inside the family, a small college and a famous university sit as equals. Every member is heard, and no member speaks for the others.
- Balance in every activity. WUF builds balance across regions and types of universities into its gatherings, its panels, its surveys and its recognition.
Read more: What every member receives · How to join · Take Your Seat, the membership document