The 5th GUNi World Report looks at the roles, and potential roles, of higher education institutions in the co-creation, distribution and use of knowledge that link to our aspirations for a better world. The second aim is to provide visibility for and critically examine one of the most significant trends in higher education over the past 10–15 years: the growth of the theory and practice of engagement as a key feature in the evolution of higher education. The Report is a product of three years of research, consultations, academic seminars and an international conference. 73 authors from 34 countries of all the world’s regions contributed to this edition.