Global Higher Education Interdisciplinary Network

GHEIN North America Chapter Members

First North American Meeting: 27th April 2026 

AI, Impact Measurement, and Institutional Best Practices

The North American Regional Chapter first convened on 27th April 2026, bringing together senior research leaders from 20 universities across Canada and the United States to examine the role of the Global Higher Education Interdisciplinary Network in supporting the acceleration of scientific discovery across the region.

Members were clear that the network must offer distinct value beyond existing groups where many participants already engage. The consensus was that GHEIN should focus on outcomes rather than interdisciplinarity for its own sake — pursuing purposeful collaboration that accelerates discovery and delivers real-world impact. In particular, the role of AI in reshaping the scientific process was identified as an inherently interdisciplinary challenge where the network could play a catalysing role.

A strong theme was the need for structured sharing of institutional best practices — understanding what works and what does not in building and sustaining interdisciplinary initiatives — grounded in existing scholarship rather than starting from scratch. Members also saw the network's international and cross-regional dimension as a key differentiator, offering perspectives on shared challenges that no existing North American network currently provides.

Going forward, the chapter will work to define concrete priority areas and early deliverables that demonstrate measurable value and justify the commitment of an already well-networked group of leaders.