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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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.
University of Oslo launches Centre for Global Sustainability
The University of Oslo has officially launched its new Centre for Global Sustainability in June 2025, following the university board’s decision in September 2024. The Centre strengthens UiO’s already high-level sustainability research across disciplines, with a mission to advance critical interdisciplinary research, education, and communication for a more just and sustainable global future.
McMaster at the UN Financing for Development Conference – Seville 2025
On July 2, 2025, McMaster University played a leading role at the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4) in Seville, Spain. Professors Thomas Marois (Public Banking Project, McMaster University) and Bonny Ibhawoh (Senator William McMaster Chair in Global Human Rights and Vice-Provost, International) co-organized the official event, “A Global Public Development Bank Ecosystem, Climate-Aligned Finance, and the Right to Development.
Simone Lepore Elected President & Policy Recommendations for Erasmus+ 2028–2034 Released
ESN has elected Simone Lepore as its new President. Simone will officially begin his mandate on 1st August 2025. He succeeds Rita Dias, whom we thank for her dedication and leadership.
Boston College Center for International Higher Education - IHE Issue #123 marks 30 years!
IHE No. 123 is now avalaible. This summer 2025 Issue of International Higher Education #123 marks a pivotal milestone—celebrating 30 years of International Higher Education with a rich collection of global analyses. It’s a must-read for anyone involved in shaping or studying the future of universities worldwide.
Out Now: IAU Horizons issue, Volume 30, no. 1, 2025
The UNESCO Future of education Initiative, the UN 2023 SDG Summit, in New York, the Pact for the Future adopted at the UN in 2024, and upcoming discussions at the 2025 UN High-Level Political Forums all in which the IAU is strongly involved, underscore the pressing need to reflect on what has worked, what has not, and what must come next. In this critical moment, this issue of IAU Horizons is devoted to the topic Transforming Our World: Shaping the Path Forward. It is an invitation for the members of the higher education community to reflect on their engagement with the SDGs and to share insights on both the achievements and shortcomings of the current agenda. More importantly, the aim is to steer a forward-looking discussion on the evolving role of higher education in driving transformation beyond 2030.
Responsible Futures International Grant Opportunity
Beginning with the 2025-26 cohort, the IAU offers one grant to cover the participation of one IAU Member HEI for the Responsible Futures International programme. With the IAU RFI Grant, we hope to increase access and diversity of participating institutions working towards the development of a truly global programme. The grant will cover the participation fee for the full programme, including ad hoc support; the institution will cover the travel and subsistence costs if opting for an audit in person.
Sustainability at the whole institution
With just five years remaining until the 2030 deadline for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), it is increasingly clear that progress is falling short. Global efforts to advance climate action, reduce inequality, and ensure quality education have been hampered by compounding crises, political inertia, and widening structural divides. Yet, across university campuses, there is a markedly different mood: students are not waiting passively. Around the world, young people are demanding that their institutions take bolder, more integrated action to confront the intersecting social and environmental challenges of our time.
ESSA welcomes New CEO
After five impactful years, Dr. Lucy Heady will step down as CEO of ESSA at the end of July 2025. She will be succeeded by Dr. Pauline Essah, currently ESSA’s Chief Impact Officer. Dr. Essah will assume the role of CEO from August 2025.
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.
COPERNICUS Alliance - Higher Education Summit 2025 - Call for Contributions
The 2025 Higher Education Summit is organized by the COPERNICUS Alliance, oikos International, Students Organizing for Sustainability International and Students4Sustainability and will be held online from 19-20 November 2025.
UNINETTUNO - Call for International Academic Tutors
The International Telematic University UNINETTUNO is delighted to announce a non-binding call for expressions of interest from qualified scholars and professionals to join our esteemed pool of academic tutors in the Faculties of Economics and Law, Engineering, and Psychology.
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.
Siam University - Student Action camp and Asia Cooperation Dialogue
The Asia Cooperation Dialogue-University Network (ACD-UN), in collaboration with World Federations of United Nations Association (WFUNA) and Siam University, hosted a highly successful "Action Camp on Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11)" from June 4–6, 2025. Gathering 60 students from 12 countries, the camp empowered young global citizens to co-create innovative urban sustainability action plans using the living lab approach.
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.
The XVI ESN survey is now open for answers!
The XVI ESN survey is open to students who have been on an exchange during the last two years (but also before 2023), all international students who are pursuing degrees abroad (including at our University), and also students who have not been on an exchange.
The University of Costa Rica reaffirms commitment to Agenda 2030 and Sustainable Development Goals
The University of Costa Rica (UCR) reaffirmed on 27 May 2025 its commitment to the principles of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as fundamental guides for university action in favour of human rights, environmental sustainability, equity and social justice.
HEIAS Expert Site Visit to Toyo University
From June 30 to July 2, 2025, The IAU concluded a three-day HEIAS (Higher Education Internationalization Assessment Service) site visit at Toyo University in Japan. The visit focused on evaluating the university’s progress in achieving comprehensive internationalization and enhancing global engagement across the entire institution.