World-encompassing issue at northeast university (8)
I believe the answer is:
sorbonne
'university' is the definition.
(a university in Paris)
'world-encompassing issue at northeast' is the wordplay.
'world' becomes 'sorb' (I've seen this in other clues).
'encompassing issue at' becomes 'on' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should believe this answer much more).
'northeast' becomes 'ne' ('NE' can be a synonym of 'northeast').
'sorb'+'on'+'ne'='SORBONNE'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for sorbonne that I've seen before include "Common name for the University of Paris" , "Non-Boers go over to this French university" , "Parisian university" , "Famous part of Paris University with literature and science faculties" , "Parisian institution" .)