The International Association of Universities (IAU) was pleased to take part in the 2024 International Conference of Non-Governmental Organizations, held at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris over the course of three days. The conference convenes representatives from over 400 NGOs working across UNESCO’s areas of competence and serves as a platform to strengthen collaboration between civil society and the organization.

The International Association of Universities (IAU) was pleased to be represented by IAU Board Member Professor Abdul Rasheed Na’Allah at the 15th General Assembly and Scientific Conference of the African Academy of Sciences (AAS), held in Abuja, Nigeria from 9–12 December 2025.

The International Association of Universities (IAU) was proud to be represented at the recent UNESCO Forum on Higher Education in Africa: A Driver for Sustainable Development, a major event that brought together higher education institutions, youth leaders, skills providers, and development partners from across the continent. Held under UNESCO’s global priority on Africa and aligned with Agenda 2063 – The Africa We Want – the Forum provided a vital space to reflect on how Africa’s higher education ecosystem is helping to address sustainable development challenges at local, national, and regional levels.

From 2–4 December 2024, UNESCO convened the International Forum on the Futures of Education in Suwon, Gyeonggido, Republic of Korea. The event brought together policymakers, scholars, practitioners, and international organizations to reflect on how education can be reimagined to build more sustainable, inclusive, and just societies. Central to the discussions was UNESCO’s call to renew the social contract for education.

From October 31 to November 1, 2024, Fortaleza, Brazil, hosted the highly anticipated Global Education Meeting (GEM), convened by UNESCO and the SDG4 High-Level Steering Committee. This landmark event brought together education leaders, policymakers, practitioners, and advocates from every corner of the world to accelerate progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG4) — ensuring inclusive, equitable, and quality education for all.

The IAU was proud to serve as a key partner at the recent International Forum of UNESCO Chairs and Partners on “Transforming Knowledge for Africa’s Future,” held in Addis Ababa from 30 September - 2 October 2024. Convened by UNESCO and the African Union, the Forum brought together diverse actors from across the globe to explore strategies to strengthen higher education systems, advance knowledge co-creation, and support sustainable development in Africa.

On the occasion of the 735th Opening of the Academic Year at the Università degli Studi di Macerata, IAU Secretary General Hilligje van’t Land delivered a keynote address on “The Value and Values of the European University in Global Context.” The ceremony marked not only a significant milestone for one of Europe’s oldest universities, but also an opportunity to reflect on the evolving role of higher education institutions in a time of global change.