HESD Global Cluster: Expert Meeting 2026
Building Global Partnerships for Sustainable Development: The IAU HESD Cluster and the Road Ahead to 2030
Carthage, Tunisia | 21-22 April 2026
Universities play a pivotal role in advancing sustainable development through research, education, innovation, and community engagement. The IAU Global Cluster on Higher Education and Sustainable Development (HESD) aims to strengthen collaboration among higher education institutions worldwide and to align their work with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The University of Carthage, University of Manouba, University of Sousse, and the International Association of Universities (IAU) are hosting a workshop, to welcome 40 experts from diverse HEIs to share experiences, foster collaboration, and identify joint initiatives to advance Education for Sustainable Development. The Workshop will also address higher education’s role in achieving the SDGs by 2030, including the SDG 4 review at the UN HLPF in 2027, and explore its responsibilities beyond 2030.
Meeting Objectives
Highlighting the achievements of the IAU Global Cluster and state of play in 2026,
Share experiences and promising practices on integrating the SDGs into university strategies, teaching, research, and community engagement.
Building capacity among network members to ensure effective sustainability action,
Co-creating positions for the 2027 UN-wide review of SDG 4, and initial perspectives for higher education’s relevance in and its role for a post-2030 agenda,
Engaging with the new UNESCO World Higher Education Roadmap towards and beyond 2030 (launched in March 2026)
Develop a joint action plan identifying collaborative projects, communication mechanisms, policy perspectives, and follow-up activities.
Draft a position paper from the Cluster network regarding key roles and impact for HEIs in a post 2030 Agenda
Strengthened partnerships among universities and between the Cluster Members and external stakeholders.
Enhanced visibility and alignment of the IAU HESD Cluster’s efforts toward the 2030 Agenda.
Envisaged Meeting Outcomes
(1) Action Plan (intern IAU Cluster Network) for shared activities of the IAU HESD Cluster (all SDGs), optional action plans for each SDG Cluster
(2) Position Paper (to be published after consultations in May) to inform the 2026 UN HLPF, the World Conference on ESD in early 2027, and the 2027 SDG 4 review.
Influenced by and informing the second Global Higher Education Symposium GHES II (UN HLPF 2026)
the position paper will also be discussed at a two follow up online Cluster meetings, on 19 and 20 May 2026.
The meeting is in-person and by invitation only for representatives of HEIs affiliated with the IAU and the IAU HESD Cluster Network. Outcomes will be shared publicly. For questions, please contact hesd@iau.global.
