Open Letter from the President: an Invitation to the IAU 17th General Conference

A Personal Invitation to the IAU 17th General Conference

The International Association of Universities' 17th General Conference comes at an important moment for higher education.

Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing how knowledge is created, accessed, and shared. Universities are already experiencing the opportunities and challenges that accompany these developments. At the same time, institutions are being asked to respond to growing expectations from governments, industry, students, and society while remaining faithful to their core missions of education, research, and service.

These are not challenges that individual universities should address in isolation.

From 3 to 6 November 2026, university leaders and higher education representatives from across the world will gather in Perth, Australia, for the IAU 17th General Conference, hosted by Murdoch University under the theme The Value of Universities in the Era of Artificial Intelligence.

The conference will provide an opportunity to examine how our institutions can navigate technological change while preserving the values that make universities essential to society.

The strength of the IAU has always been its ability to bring together diverse perspectives from every region of the world. The General Conference provides a unique forum for open discussion, shared learning, and collective reflection on the future of higher education. It is also an opportunity to strengthen international partnerships and contribute to shaping the next chapter of the Association.

I invite you to join colleagues from around the world in Perth as we explore one of the defining issues of our time and reaffirm the enduring value of universities in advancing knowledge, opportunity, and the public good.

I look forward to welcoming you to Australia.

Andrew Deeks
President, International Association of Universities
President and Vice-Chancellor, Murdoch University, Australia