Together with Prof Maria Nieves Tapia, Director of the Latin American Centre for Service Learning and Prof Timothy Tong, President of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Prof De la Rey have been elected to serve a three-year term until December 2016.

In the organisation’s latest newsletter, the Chairperson of the Steering Committee, Mr Mark Gearan, President of the Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva, New York, lauds the impressive vision and experience of Prof De la Rey and refers to UP’s role in civic engagement and social responsibility. The leading role the Principal and the University play in community engagement in South Africa is also profiled in the newsletter.

Since its founding conference in 2005, the Talloires Network has grown to over 300 members in 71 countries with a combined enrolment of over 6 million students. The Network envisions universities from around the world as a vibrant and dynamic force in their societies, incorporating civic engagement and community service into their research and teaching mission.

The dozen members of the Steering Committee are elected to guide the Network.