Université Catholique de Lille to Lead the IAU HESD Subcluster Work on SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
Paris and Lille, June 2026
The International Association of Universities (IAU) and Université Catholique de Lille are pleased to announce that Université Catholique de Lille has confirmed the leadership and coordination of the IAU Higher Education and Research for Sustainable Development (HESD) Subcluster on Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 10: Reduced Inequalities.
The IAU HESD Cluster is a global network of universities working together to advance the Sustainable Development Goals through teaching, research, campus operations, community engagement, and partnerships. Each SDG is coordinated by a lead institution working closely with a network of satellite universities to foster collaboration, share expertise, and develop joint initiatives.
The IAU thanks the University of Tsukuba in Japan, for its valuable support and work on SDG 10 over the last years. The transition to a new sub-cluster leadership was discussed during the recent IAU HESD Cluster Expert Meeting and Workshop held in Carthage, Tunisia, where higher education leaders and sustainability experts from around the world came together to identify joint priorities and collaborative actions towards and beyond the 2030 Agenda.
As the new lead institution for SDG 10, Université Catholique de Lille aims to strengthen international cooperation on issues related to inclusion, equity, and social justice. Initial discussions have highlighted several areas of potential collaboration, on global migrations and how higher education, through teaching, research, service-learning and community engagement, can help address and reduce inequalities. Academic freedom and social cohesion, joint research projects, field-based learning opportunities, and student mobility initiatives will be promoted and developed.
“Universities have a critical role to play in addressing inequalities through education, research, and community engagement. By leading the SDG 10 Cluster, Université Catholique de Lille aims to strengthen international collaboration around themes such as migration, and social inclusion, while creating meaningful opportunities for students, academics, and partners to learn from one another and contribute to positive societal change.””
SDG 10 Sub-Cluster Satellite Institututions
University of Tsukuba, Japan
Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT), India
University of Bologna, Italy
Utrecht University, Netherlands
Queen's University, Canada
Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil
To launch this new phase of collaboration, Université Catholique de Lille and the IAU will convene the first SDG 10 Expert Exchange Meeting in early July 2026. The online meeting will bring together existing SDG 10 satellite institutions, IAU Members that have expressed interest in the theme, and new partners wishing to contribute to collaborative projects and knowledge exchange.
The meeting will serve as an opportunity to identify common priorities, discuss future collaborative projects, and explore how higher education institutions can contribute to reducing inequalities through research, teaching, and community engagement.
“At a time when societies around the world are facing growing social, economic, and political divides, higher education institutions have a responsibility to facilitate dialogue, to foster equity, inclusion, and solidarity. The SDG 10 Cluster provides a valuable platform to translate these commitments into collective action and lasting impact.”
Universities interested in joining the SDG 10 discussions and future activities are invited to contact the IAU HESD team.
About the IAU HESD Cluster
The IAU Higher Education and Research for Sustainable Development (HESD) Cluster is a global network of higher education institutions, created by the IAU in 2018, collaborating to advance the UN SDGs. Through peer learning, joint projects, expert exchanges, and knowledge sharing, the Cluster supports universities in strengthening their contributions to sustainable development at institutional, local, national, and global levels.
