The Center for World-Class Universities of Shanghai Jiao Tong University is pleased to announce that the 7th International Conference on World-Class Universities (WCU-7) will take place through 6 to 9 November, 2017 in Shanghai, China. The general theme of WCU-7 is "World-Class Universities: Towards a Global Common Good and Seeking National and Institutional Contributions".

The choice of the above theme reflects the unquestioned view that education is foremost a public good whose benefits spill over to all society. In the era marked by globalization and its profound impact, there is a need to consider education as "a global common good" as only with such approach we can cope with global challenges such as technological transformation and shifting employment patterns, new information and communication technologies, environmental concerns and climate change, social and cultural transformation, etc.

In this regard, it is argued that world-class universities need to position themselves in the forefront of seeking conceptual and practical solutions to daunting challenges by paying greater attention to their roles in contributing to global common goods.

World-Class Universities (WCU), commonly recognized as global research universities or flagship universities, are essential in developing a nation’s potential for development in the global knowledge economy. The development of WCUs is high on the policy agenda of various stakeholders across the globe in the past decades. Increasing number of nations, regions and higher education institutions, in both developed and developing countries, recognize their indispensable roles in economic, social and cultural development respectively.