International Association of Universities - IAU

Since 2018, the IAU Global Cluster on Higher Education and Sustainable Development (HESD) has been at the forefront of empowering universities to build more sustainable societies. As a network of IAU Member institutions from around the world, the Cluster fosters collaboration to advance the Sustainable Development Goals ( ) through innovative initiatives.

How do Cluster Members work together?
Each of the 17 is assigned an institutional team leader, joined by a group of satellite universities. Peer-to-peer learning amongst the HESD Cluster sparks new ideas and creativity among the Members of the Cluster and encourages other universities to enhance their performance towards achieving a more sustainable future. The Cluster helps generate joint and collaborative projects and other initiatives.

The IAU is responsible for leading the work on SDG 17 - Partnerships for the Goals. The full list of Cluster Members can be found here (https://www.iau-hesd.net/IAU-Global-HESD-Cluster).

🌟 Interested in joining?
If your institution is committed to sustainability and wants to collaborate with global leaders, reach out to IAU Senior Programme Officer for HESD Isabel Toman. Share your institution’s name, contact details, and initiatives—let’s build a greener future together! (Contact: https://iau.global/isabel-toman)

📖 Explore our latest activity report:https://iau-hesd.net/sites/default/files/media_files/IAUHESDClusterReportActivities2024_5.pdf
🔗 Meet our Cluster Members: https://www.iau-hesd.net/IAU-Global-HESD-Cluster

🦘The IAU is onsite at Murdoch University !

The IAU Events Manager Trine Jensen is currently visiting Murdoch University in Perth, Australia, in preparation for the IAU 17th General Conference taking place this November.

This year’s conference will explore a timely and important theme: The Role of Universities in the Era of Artificial Intelligence. As AI continues to transform education, research, work and society, universities have a critical role to play in shaping how these technologies are understood, developed and used responsibly.

Trine's visit to Murdoch University is an important opportunity to work with MU colleagues on the ground, strengthen preparations, and help ensure a successful conference that brings together higher education leaders from around the world.

We're looking forward to welcoming you onsite this November. Be sure to register now to secure your spot: www.IAUPerth2026.net


The IAU is pleased to be organising the 17th General Conference with support from Business Events Perth (BE Perth).

Home Hosted by Murdoch University, the IAU 17th General Conference on The Value of Universities in the Era of Artificial Intelligence will feature a dynamic programme exploring emerging trends in higher education, drawing on diverse perspectives from all regions of the world. 

🌍 Empowering Youth, Shaping the Future 🌟

Today, on , the IAU celebrates the transformative power of young minds in higher education.
Youth are not just the leaders of tomorrow—they are the innovators, change-makers, and problem-solvers of today. At IAU, we are committed to:
- Supporting youth voices in global higher education dialogues
- Fostering inclusive access to quality education for all
- Advocating for the human right to education as a cornerstone of sustainable development

💬 How is your institution empowering youth to drive change? Share your stories in the comments!

Have you read the IAU's quarterly peer-reviewed journal Higher Education Policy (HEP)?

HEP is an international peer-reviewed journal for advancing scholarly understanding of the policy process applied to higher education through the publication of original analyses, both theoretical and practice-based, the focus of which may range from case studies of developments in individual institutions to policy making at systems and at national level. The editorial board encompasses international experts in higher education.

All IAU Members receive complimentary access to HEP as part of their Membership benefits. Sign up to receive the table of contents for each new issue for Higher Education Policy when the issue is available online.
Learn more about HEP and accessing it here: https://iau.global/publications

What is the power of universities in the age of ?

At the IAU 17th General Conference ( ), Enzo Maria Le Fevre Cervini will explore how universities can harness their strengths in the age of AI while navigating emerging challenges in teaching, research, and societal impact. This final keynote will highlight the conference’s key insights and collective outcomes, shaping a global vision for the future of higher education in an era of AI.

Learn more about the exciting programme for the IAU 17th General Conference, set to take place from 3-6 November 2026 at Murdoch University in Perth, Australia on "The Value of Unviersities int eh Era of " : www.IAUPerth2026.net

Register before 15 September to benefit from the early brid discount: www.IAUPerth2026.net/registration

Looking to learn more about ?

The IAU advocates for open science as a key element of its vision for higher education that serves the global common good. Open science ensures that scientific knowledge is accessible, reusable, and inclusive, promoting open access to research outputs, open infrastructures, and engagement with diverse knowledge systems.

The IAU publication "Open Science: the Challege for Universities" brought together an Expert Group to provide recommendations how universities can contribute to shaping the way forward.

Read the full publication below:

Open Science: The Challenge for Universities — International Association of Universities Universities have endured over time as centres of knowledge, adapting to significant changes in their environments. They often share the ambition of being both flexible and reflective, and at the same time remaining committed to the fundamental values of higher education and to a core mission, namel

🌍 Unlock Global Opportunities with IAU Membership 🌍

Join 600+ institutions in 120+ countries as part of the International Association of Universities (IAU)—the world’s most globally representative higher education network, created under UNESCO.

Why Join?
🔹 Expand Your Network: Connect with global leaders at IAU events and working groups.
🔹 Boost Visibility: Feature in WHED, IAU’s website, and international conferences.
🔹 Amplify Your Voice: Shape IAU’s strategy, publish in IAU Horizons, and engage with multilateral organizations.
🔹 Access Expertise: Gain priority access to IAU Knowledge Hub, advisory services, and programs like ELP & HEIAS.

Learn more about IAU Membership Benefits here:

Membership Benefits — International Association of Universities The IAU is the most globally representative association of higher education institutions and their associations with over 600 members in more than 120 countries.

Looking to improve upon your skills? The IAU Executive Leadership Programme ( ) is designed for current and emerging higher education leaders and focuses on common issues and challenges and covers central aspects of higher education management for a sustainable running of the institution.

The ELP empowers university leaders to navigate the contextual and political dimensions of university leadership. In short, the programme provides a framework with which to confront the big managerial, ethical, economic and societal questions universities face.

Learn more about the ELP on the IAU website: www.iau.global/elp
And apply to participate in the ELP 2026-2027 cohort, starting in person in Perth, Australia this November: https://iau.global/news/applications-open-elp-26-27

Applications Open: IAU Executive Leadership Programme 2026-27 — International Association of Universities Each year, the IAU reserves a dedicated budget to offer a HEIAS Annual Fee Waiver to one IAU Member institution. This Fee Waiver provides access, free of charge, to selected online modules of the HEIAS services, allowing institutions to strengthen their internationalisation strategy through structur

Looking to showcase your company or product to 400+ university leaders and higher education experts? Become a of the IAU 17th General Conference, to be held at Murdoch University from 3-6 November 2026!

The conference will focus on the theme "The Value of Universities in the Era of Artificial Intelligence," and will feature a dynamic programme exploring emerging trends in higher education, drawing on diverse perspectives from all regions of the world.

Learn more about sponsorship opporunties, from our Metalic sponsorship packages to custom options, in our brochure below 👇

⛱️IAU Summer Reading List

Whether you're taking a well-deserved break or simply looking for some inspiring summer reading, we have selected a couple of articles from past and recent editions of the IAU Horizons to help you stay connected with the latest developments in higher education:

☀️Repositioning Internationalization from the Global South: Agency, Equity and Continental Resolve by Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, Vice-Chancellor, University of Ghana, Ghana (Horizons June 2026, vol 31, no 1)

☀️Driving the SDGs: Reimagining Universities for a Sustainable Future by Hicham El Habti, President of University Mohammed VI Polytechnic (UM6P), Morocco (Horizons June 2025, vol 30, no1)

☀️Ban, use, or cite Generative AI? By Anna Jobin, Senior Researcher and lecturer in Science and Technology studies, Human-IST (Human Centered Interaction Science and Technology) Institute, University of Fribourg, Switzerland (Horizons May 2024, vol 29, no 1)

☀️Reimagining our Futures Together: Implications for Higher Education by António Nóvoa, Professor University of Lisbon, Portugal and Chair of the research-drafting committee of the UNESCO International Commission on the Futures of Education (Horizons October 2022, vol 27, no 2)

Interested in more reading? Explore the full collection of IAU Horizons here: https://iau.global/all-publications/tag/IAU+Horizons