“The Changing Roles of University in Social and Economic Development, WUN Ideas and Universities Conference 2012” was successfully held on Nov. 2-3, 2012 in Hangzhou. The conference was sponsored by WUN and Zhejiang University, and co-organized by the College of Zhejiang University, Local Cooperation Office of Zhejiang University, UNESCO Chair in Entrepreneurship Education at Zhejiang University and the Hangzhou Learning Promoting Society. About 150 participants from the UK, the USA, Canada, Korea, Israel, South Africa and China participated in the conference. 

    The opening session was chaired by Professor Xiaozhou Xu, Chairholder of the UNESCO Chair in Entrepreneurship Education at Zhejiang University and Dean of the College of Education, Zhejiang University. Professor Ian Wei, Representative of WUN and University of Bristol, UK, and Professor Wei Yang, President of Zhejiang University gave the welcoming remarks. 

     At the keynote session, Professor Wei Yang, President of Zhejiang University introduced the main modes of innovation and cooperation for universities, the construction of platform of “5+1+1”, and the innovative practices, outcomes and vision of Zhejiang University’s social services for local development and national strategies.
 

    Focusing on the sub-themes of “Challenges and Policy Analysis: Perspectives from Government and Society”, “Responding to Society: Experience from Universities” and “Face to Future: Social Needs and Strategy Choice”, Jianxin Jin, Deputy Chief of CPC Huzhou City Committee, Professor Ka Ho MOK, Acting Vice President of The Hong Kong Institute of Education, Yueli Shen, Deputy Director of Liangzhu Sub-district Office, Yuhang District of Hangzhou, Professor Nan Yeld, Dean of the Center for Higher Education Development, University of Cape Town, Professor Gerardo M. González, Dean of the School of Education, Indiana University, Professor Andy Green, Institute of Education, University of London, Professor Adam R. Nelson, Department of Educational Policy Studies and History, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Professor Ying Chan, Director, Graduate Institute of Educational Policy and Leadership, Tamkang University, Professor Heidi Ross, Director of the East Asian Studies Centre, Indianan University, Professor Pierre Martinez, College of Education, Seoul National University, Professor Dorothy I-ru Chen, Department of International and Comparative Education, Chi Nan University, Professor Glen Jones, Ontario Research Chair in Postsecondary Education Policy and Measurement, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto, Professor Suk Ying Wong, Associate Dean, Faculty of Social Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Professor Gili Drori, Department of Sociology and Anthropology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, gave impressive presentations.
 

    At the closing session, Professor Adam R. Nelson, Representative of WUN and Department of Educational Policy Studies and History, University of Wisconsin-Madison and Professor Min Li, Deputy Director, Office of International Relations, Zhejiang University delivered the closing remarks.