International Association
of Universities
The Global Voice of Higher Education
The IAU at a Glance
The International Association of Universities (IAU), established under the auspices of UNESCO in 1950, is a membership-based organization serving the global higher education community. It unites members from more than 120 countries around a set of common values and supports them through advocacy, expertise, and exchange. Watch an introductory video.
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About the IAU
The International Association of Universities, created under the auspices of UNESCO in 1950, is a membership-based organisation serving the global higher education community through: expertise & trends analysis, publications & portals, advisory services, peer-to-peer learning, events, and global advocacy.
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Membership
The IAU counts almost 600 Members from more than 120 countries amongst its four categories of Members: Institutions, Organizations, Affiliates and Associates. Benefiting from the IAU’s complete range of services, institutional and organisational Members may also participate in the election of the President and Administrative Board.
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Areas of Work
The IAU has four priority which inform the Association’s work, namely: Value-based Leadership, Internationalization for the Common Good, Sustainable Development, and Digital Transformation. In addition, the IAU also maintains and develops the World Higher Education Database (WHED) alongside UNESCO.
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Mission of the IAU
By articulating the fundamental values and principles that underpin education and the pursuit, dissemination and application of knowledge, the Association leads and advocates for the development of higher education policies and practices that respect diverse perspectives, promote social responsibility, and contribute to the development of a sustainable future.
