Global Crises, Local Impacts: University-City Collaborations for Social Cohesion - Strong Cities Innovation Labs

Every month, we invite city officials, researchers and other experts to explore how mayors and local governments can most effectively manage inter-communal tensions resulting from global crises, such as migration, climate-related challenges, conflicts and rising levels of on/offline hate that threaten to increase social polarisation. To date, this series has reached more than 1500 mayors and other city officials, practitioners, researchers and civil society actors. We invite you to learn more through the Global Crises, Local Impacts Initiative page on our website, which includes policy briefs, webinar reports and key findings from the series.

Date & Time:  Tuesday 27 January 2026 1600hrs UK/1100hrs DC/0800hrs Vancouver

Our next webinar will feature information on the proposed Strong Cities Innovation Labs (SCIL) global programme, which would be delivered in partnership with EdVenture Partners, Strong Cities members and their local universities.   

Introduced at Strong Cities Sixth Global Summit in December 2025, SCIL aims to allow university student teams, working in collaboration with local governments, to create and implement dynamic local projects to address impacts of global crises and enhance social cohesion during the fall 2026 semester. Under the programme, students to first select and then research a challenging issue facing their city, create a strategic plan, and then implement a customized social and digital media initiative, product or tool that the students and local government believe will help strengthen social cohesion in their city.   

As a follow on to Strong Cities Global Crises Local Impact October 2025 webinar City–University Collaboration in Preventing Hate and Maintaining Social Cohesion in Times of Global Crises this webinar will feature an overview of the initiative, presentations from university students who engaged in similar EdVenture Partners campaigns as well as additional information on structure, funding and how to confirm your city’s interest in participating in and helping to launch the programme. 

Register until Friday 23 January here: Register for the January Global Crises, Local Impacts webinar at this link