By virtue of the ideas we generate and the people we educate, the university plays a critical role in helping the global community address issues of peace and security, governance, and human well-being. Stanford has the opportunity to be the leading institution in the search for knowledge and solutions for these problems and in the education of future leaders equipped to deal with 21st century problems.

The Stanford International Initiative was launched in 2005 to promote collaboration throughout the campus on three large and interconnected themes:

• Pursuing peace and security
• Improving governance locally, nationally, and internationally
• Advancing human well-being

In all of these areas, the International Initiative sponsors innovative faculty research, new courses for students, and outreach activities to policymakers and the public. Along with the Initiative on Human Health and the Initiative on the Environment and Sustainability, the International Initiative is at the heart of the university’s efforts to bring Stanford’s resources to bear in seeking solutions to intractable global problems.