Our ambition to contribute to society and the world, searching to solutions to the global challenges of our time, can only be achieved with solid relationships worldwide.

Traditionally, Leiden University has had close partnerships within Europe, but also in Asia. In recent years our focus has shifted to create a worldwide network of close collaborations, ranging from academic institutions, to local foundations and national governments.

We divided our efforts in priority regions, focusing on specific countries and partners within these regions. Each region has its own value for our university, and our overarching Global Engagement Policy aims to bring similar activities together across the world, while ensuring local initiatives are supported and strengthened. The Leiden University Global Fund (LUGF) supports these initiatives in the regions that deepen the bilateral partnerships and enhance local visibility and impact.

Five priority regions

Our activities and priorities are bundled in five regions, each with their own strategy that emphasises Leiden University’s strengths in research and education, while fitting the local context.