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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Navigating Student Mobility in an Era of Geopolitical Shifts
The Student Mobility Summit 2025, hosted by the University of Barcelona, brought together higher education leaders , adminstrators, and stakeholders from across Europe to examine the evolving landscape of international student mobility.
IAU Note on Rankings Released
This note, written by an expert group and approved by the IAU Adminsitrative Board, is in Support of the Report of the UNU-Convened Independent Expert Group on Global University Rankings
UNESCO ESD-NET Europe–North America Regional Workshop: Strengthening Collaboration for ESD for 2030
The International Association of Universities (IAU) was pleased to part in the UNESCO Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) Regional Meeting held from 21-23 January 2026 in Bucharest, Romania.
New Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between IAU and ISC
IAU and ISC are pleased to announce the signing of an MOU to strengthen their collaboration on Science, Higher Education and Society.
75 Years of the IAU
On 9 December 2025, the International Association of Universities celebrates 75 years of collective commitment to strengthening higher education worldwide.
IAU at the 2025 Magna Charta Observatory Conference
The IAU was pleased to participate in the 2025 Anniversary Conference of the Magna Charta Universitatum (MCU), held at King’s College London and hosted by the Magna Charta Observatory (MCO).
IAU at the UNESCO General Conference 2025 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan
The International Association of Universities (IAU) is proud to actively participate in the UNESCO General Conference 2025. The IAU has a long-standing partnership with UNESCO and is committed to representing the global higher education community in international policy discussions.
IAU Participates in CAEI 2025 in San José, Costa Rica
The International Association of Universities (IAU) was pleased to take part in the 9th edition of the Conference of the Americas on International Education (CAEI), held from 15–17 October 2025 in San José, Costa Rica.
IAU Brings Global Attention to AAC&U Statement Defending Academic Freedom and Institutional Autonomy
The IAU brings the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) Public Statement on the Trump Administration’s “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education” to the attention of the broader higher education community.
Driving Education Policy Forward: IAU Participation in the Council of Europe’s CDEDU
As part of its ongoing engagement in global and regional education policy dialogues, the International Association of Universities (IAU) participated in the recent meeting of the Council of Europe’s sub-group on higher education policy, a body working under the Steering Committee for Education (CDEDU). The meeting, held in Brussels and Leuven, brought together representatives and experts to prepare for the upcoming CDEDU plenary and to advance discussions on the future of higher education in Europe.
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.
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 Welcomes UN Human Rights Council Resolution on the Right to Education
On 7 July 2025, the United Nations Human Rights Council adopted Resolution A/HRC/RES/59/9 on the right to education. The International Association of Universities (IAU) warmly commends the Council for this important step forward and is pleased to see growing international consensus on the evolving nature and critical importance of education at all levels.
Advancing Gender Equality in Higher Education
The International Association of Universities (IAU) was pleased to be represented at the EWORA 2025 Conference by IAU Vice Presidnet Inga Zaleniene, Rector, Mykolas Romeris University, Lithuania. The conference is concluding today at Universidade Católica Portuguesa in Lisbon.
Advancing Fair, Transparent, and Cross-border Recognition of Higher Education Qualifications
The International Association of Universities (IAU) is honoured to participate in the Second Session of the Intergovernmental Conference of the States Parties to the Global Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning higher education, held on 25 June 2025 at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris. The IAU is represented onsite by IAU President Andrew Deeks, President and Vice Chancellor of Murdoch University, Australia; IAU Secretary General Hilligje van't Land; and IAU Deputy Secretary General Andreas Corcoran.
What Role for Universities in Democracy?
In early June 2025, the Global Forum convened at Charles University to reflect on the evolving role of universities in fostering democratic societies. In a time marked by polarization and declining trust in institutions, the Forum offered a timely space for dialogue on how Higher Education can—and must—rise to the challenge.
High Level Expert Group Meeting with UN-OHRLLS on Online Universities
In early June 2025, the United Nations Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS) convened a High Level Expert Group Meeting on online university or equivalent platform for STEM education for the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) within the framework of the the Doha Programme of Action for Least Developed Countries (2022 – 2031).
Navigating Common Waters: Ocean Science Diplomacy for a Sustainable Common Future
The IAU was pleased to co-organise a side event with the University of Bergen (UiB), INPO - Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Oceânicas, the International Science Council, and the United Nations Academic Impact (UN AI) in the context of the UN Ocean Conference 2025 in Nice, France.