News
Read below IAU news both from the Association and from its Members. Search or filter news by category (IAU or Member News), as well as by subject matter.
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Western Sydney University - Welcoming the new SDG 3 Cluster Lead
The IAU HESD Cluster for SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being will be coordinated by Western Sydney University, Australia

The Academic Conscience and Artificial Intelligence
The series will consist of six online episodes, with interpretation in English and French. Each episode will feature one keynote speaker presenting for 20 minutes, followed by a moderated conversation with selected discussants, and an open Q&A session with the audience. This format is designed to foster participatory dialogue and multi-perspective exchange across regions and disciplines.

Special Issue Call for Papers on Open Science
This Higher Education Policy (HEP) special issue invites scholarly contributions that critically examine the promises and contradictions of open science. 'Contributions should critically engage with the ways in which financial interests, policy frameworks, geopolitical asymmetries, and disciplinary hierarchies shape current models of openness.

Murdoch University to Redevelop Veterinary School with Record $100m Gift
Murdoch University will fully redevelop its iconic veterinary school thanks to a $100 million gift from Perth philanthropist Ted Powell.
A new 9,600 sqm, state-of-the-art facility beside the award-winning Boola Katitjin will enable a 50% increase in veterinary training capacity in Western Australia (WA).
The largest gift ever to a WA university builds on Mr Powell’s long support through The Ragdoll Foundation, whose scholarships have helped more than 140 Murdoch students graduate.
“This extraordinary generosity will help WA remain a leading hub for animal research, teaching and training,” said Vice-Chancellor Professor Andrew Deeks.
The project also includes staged upgrades to The Animal Hospital at Murdoch University (TAHMU) and a new Conservation & Life Sciences precinct, strengthening One Health research and collaborations.

Universities and AI: Insights from the IAU Global Survey at UNESCO’s Digital Learning Week 2025
Trine Jensen, Manager of Higher Education and Digital Transformation, represented the IAU at UNESCO’s Digital Learning Week 2025. This year’s conference was themed around ‘AI and the future of education: Disruptions, dilemmas and directions’, which took place from the 2nd to the 5th of September at UNESCO headquarters in Paris, France.

BUE 20th Anniversary Closing & 10 Years with LSBU
The British University in Egypt will mark the closing of its 20th Anniversary alongside 10 years of partnership with London South Bank University on Monday, 27 October 2025, at The University Campus. Please refer to the attached flyer for details.

INQAAHE Forum 2026
The 2026 INQAAHE Forum will take place in Sun City, South Africa from 3–6 February 2026 under the theme “Quality Assurance as an impactful tool for Tertiary Education today and tomorrow.”
Institutional Site Visit on Artificial Intelligence at BNU
From August 20 to 21, 2025, IAU Institutional Site Visit on Artificial Intelligence and the Global University Leaders Forum——Harnessing AI to Transform Higher Education was successfully held at the Changping and Haidian Campuses of Beijing Normal University (BNU). Leaders, experts, and scholars from 18 universities across 16 countries in Asia, Europe, Africa, and Oceania gathered in Beijing to engage in in-depth discussions on the transformation of higher education empowered by artificial intelligence and to examine relevant practical achievements. The Site Visit and the Forum was co-hosted by International Association of Universities (IAU) and UNESCO Chair on Artificial Intelligence in Education, Beijing Normal University, which marked the first implementation of the “IAU Institutional Site Visit” program in China and also the flagship cooperative initiative following Beijing Normal University’s official accession to IAU.

The ACU launches its next 5-year strategy (2025–2030)
The Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) has unveiled its updated strategic plan, The Road to 2030. Building on a refreshed vision, the plan sets out how the ACU will work with members and partners to strengthen higher education, advance sustainable development, and connect engaged leaders across the Commonwealth.

Palestine Technical University-Kadoorie - Call for Papers: Sixth International Conference on Olive in Palestine
Palestine Technical University - Kadoorie announces a call for papers for the Sixth International Conference on Olive in Palestine (ICOP 6), which it will be organizing at its main campus in Tulkarem, Palestine, on November 24–25, 2025.

UNACH - Webinar on the University of the Future 2025
The Universidad Autónoma de Chiapas will host a webinar on The University of the Future (WUoF), Unach 2025. The event seeks to promote reflection and critical analysis on the transformations that higher education institutions must undertake to effectively address forthcoming challenges.

Association of African Universities - Renewal of Prof. Olusola Oyewole’s Mandate as Secretary General of the AAU
The Association of African Universities (AAU) is pleased to announce the Governing Board’s unanimous renewal of Professor Olusola Bandele Oyewole’s mandate as Secretary General for a second four-year term (2025-2029). This decisive endorsement reflects Prof. Oyewole’s transformative leadership in advancing AAU’s mission to enhance the quality and relevance of higher education in Africa and strengthen its contribution to Africa’s development.

IAU at the UN HLPF 2025
The IAU took part in the discussions and events at this year’s HLPF, including a side event on SDG 8 and partnering with other major HE organisations for the first Global Higher Education Symposium at the UN.

Association of African Universities - Prof Kenneth Matengu elected as New President
Professor Kenneth Kamwi Matengu, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Namibia, has been elected the 14th President of the Association of African Universities (AAU).

University Mohammed VI Polytechnic – News updates from UM6P Morocco
University Mohammed VI Polytechnic – August 2025 updates from UM6P Morocco.

UNIMED - Open call for Mediterranean universities to endorse the Girona Manifesto
The Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) and UNIMED have launched a call to action for universities across the Euro-Mediterranean region to address the climate emergency. Ahead of its official launch at COP30 in Belém, Brazil, the Euromed University Initiative for Climate Action invites higher education institutions to endorse a shared Manifesto and step up their leadership role.

Shaping the Future of Higher Education for Innovation and Sustainable Development in Africa
The International Association of Universities (IAU) was proud to participate in the 16th Quadrennial General Conference of the Association of African Universities (AAU), taking place this week in Rabat, Morocco. Held under the theme “Shaping the Future of Higher Education for Innovation and Sustainable Development in Africa,” the conference provides a vital platform for reflection, exchange, and collaboration among higher education leaders from across the African continent and beyond.
Sustainable, Inclusive, Science- and Evidence-Based Solutions for the 2030 Agenda
From 14 to 23 July 2025, the IAU actively participated in the United Nations High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), held under the theme “Advancing sustainable, inclusive, science- and evidence-based solutions for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for leaving no one behind.” With a focus on SDG 3 (Health), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 14 (Life Below Water), and SDG 17 (Partnerships), the Forum provided a key opportunity to highlight the transformative potential of higher education institutions (HEIs) in advancing the 2030 Agenda.

IAU and WUA Launch Key Activities for UNESCO-Supported Internationalization Programme
The International Association of Universities (IAU) has officially launched the implementation phase of its UNESCO Participation Programme project, "Promoting Equitable and Inclusive Internationalization at Universities in Africa," in partnership with the Women’s University in Africa (WUA).

ESN’s statement on the Global Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education
We are pleased to share ESN’s statement on the Global Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education. ESN’s Liaison Officer for Youth, Nathan Lusseau, recently attended the Intergovernmental Conference of the States Parties.