The global Talloires Network of engaged universities is holding its next leaders conference in Cape Town in December. University World News is the media partner. This is the first in a series of articles on civic engagement and social responsibility issues of significant interest to higher education globally.

The International Association of University Presidents, or IAUP, held its Triennial Conference 2014 in Yokohama, Japan, from 11-14 June under the theme “Creating the Future of Higher Education”. University World News was there and covers the conference in this Special Report and another to be published next week.

The Research, Higher Education, Development and Innovation initiative – RHEDI – held its second Executive Leadership Programme in Malaysia from 17-21 November. The global initiative aims to strengthen research, policy and practice in these crucial sectors in the developing world.

A series of special reports on the changing climate by science editor Geoff Maslen

The British Council's large annual "Going Global" international education conference was held in Miami last week and attracted more than 1,000 participants. "Inclusion, Innovation and Impact" was the theme.

South Africa is celebrating 20 years of democracy. The higher education system has doubled in size since the first democratic elections on 27-28 April 1994 and has been restructured and transformed. University World News looks at the sector and some of its challenges today, as seen through the eyes of academics.

The Mauritius International Knowledge Investment Forum 2014 was held in London last month, attended by representatives of governments, business, universities and related organisations. It was part of the Indian Ocean island's intensive efforts to become a higher education hub.

With universities around the world forging partnerships with institutions in China, University World News looks at features of successful collaborations, a start-up that links students in China to entrepreneurial learning in Britain, and an award-winning partnership between a Chinese and a US university.

Around 130 representatives of leading UK universities and a range of countries, as well as students and parliamentarians met in London at a seminar on "Implementing the Outward Student Mobility Strategy and Engaging with the Reformed Erasmus Programme". University World News was there.

In this Special Report, produced in collaboration with the Association of Commonwealth Universities, we look at the role of higher education in responding to global problems and how universities might engage with post-2015 international development goals.