International Association of Universities facts for kids
Quick facts for kids  |
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| Formation | 1950 |
|---|---|
| Type | NGO |
| Headquarters | Paris, France |
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Region served
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Worldwide |
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Membership
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More than 600 members- Universities, higher education institutions & associations |
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Official language
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French, English |
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President
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Andrew J Deeks |
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Executive General Secretary
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Hilligje van't Land |
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Main organ
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IAU General Assembly |
| Affiliations | UNESCO |
The International Association of Universities (IAU) is a group that helps universities and colleges around the world work together. It's like a big club for higher education. The IAU has over 600 members in more than 130 countries. These members include universities, colleges, and other groups involved in higher education. The IAU was created with the help of the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and is an official partner.
Contents
What the IAU Aims to Do
The IAU has four main goals to help improve higher education globally. These goals are:
- Helping leaders in education.
- Working towards a sustainable future.
- Making education more international.
- Using digital technology to improve learning.
How the IAU Started and Grew
After World War II and during the Cold War, countries realized they needed to work together more. This included working together in higher education to help rebuild and strengthen the world. So, in 1947, people started talking about creating the International Association of Universities at a UNESCO meeting.
Three years later, in 1950, the IAU held its first big meeting in Nice, France. Over the years, the IAU has been very important in helping universities worldwide cooperate. It has also helped solve problems in higher education and promote sustainable development.
In the 1960s, the IAU released important guides for its goals and created international research groups. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, the IAU grew by discussing new problems, making more partnerships, and publishing more reports. In the 1990s, the IAU started releasing official statements about important topics like sustainable development and academic freedom.
In the 2000s, the IAU focused more on making education international. It launched global reports, offered advice, and held worldwide discussions. It also started using digital technology more, creating online tools for universities. Since 2016, the IAU has continued to focus on leadership, sustainable development, internationalization, and digital transformation.
How the IAU is Run
The IAU is run by its members, which helps universities worldwide work together.
The General Conference
This is the highest decision-making group. It includes representatives from all member universities and organizations. They meet at least once every four years. At these meetings, they decide the IAU's main plans, choose the President and the Administrative Board, and discuss important global topics in higher education. It's also a place to encourage diversity and teamwork in global education.
The Administrative Board
This board includes the President, the Secretary-General, and members from many different countries. They meet once a year to carry out the decisions made by the General Conference. They also manage the budget and oversee the daily work of the IAU office.
The Executive Committee
This smaller group includes the President, four Vice-Presidents from different regions, and the Secretary-General. They meet twice a year. This committee acts on behalf of the Administrative Board, helping to plan meetings and guide the agenda. The IAU President and all Administrative Board members are chosen by election and serve for four years. Executive Committee members are chosen by the President and approved by the Administrative Board.
The Secretariat
This is the main office of the IAU, located at UNESCO's headquarters in Paris. The Secretariat carries out the IAU's programs, handles daily tasks, and provides information and advice to members.
Who Can Join the IAU
The IAU has over 600 members in more than 130 countries. These members come from different parts of the world and work together to share knowledge and create new ideas in higher education. There are four types of members:
- Institutions: These are mostly universities and colleges.
- Organizations: These are groups and networks of higher education institutions.
- Affiliates: These are organizations that support the IAU's goals but don't fit other categories.
- Associates: These are individuals who are experts in higher education.
Members get many benefits, like chances to connect with others, resources to help them grow, and a say in the IAU's decisions. The benefits can change depending on the type of membership. Each type of member has specific rules for joining and an application process. To become a member university, an application must be sent and approved, making sure the university fits the IAU's mission. There is a yearly fee that changes based on the member type and the country's income.
What the IAU Works On
In its 2023 report, the IAU shared its plans to focus on key areas to help solve global challenges and improve higher education.
Developing Leaders
The IAU believes in strong leadership to help universities deal with challenges and make social progress. One important program is the year-long Executive Leadership Program. This program teaches current and future university leaders skills to handle important issues in management, ethics, and society. It uses both in-person and online lessons, covering ten different topics.
Supporting Sustainable Development
The IAU does research and works with others to support the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals for 2030. The IAU has a group called the Higher Education and Research for Sustainable Development (HESD) Cluster. This group helps universities worldwide work together on specific sustainable development goals. The IAU also works closely with UNESCO and other groups to make education more sustainable. It leads research projects, like the Global Survey on HESD, to gather information for sustainable development.
Making Education International
The IAU promotes fair and ethical internationalization in higher education. This is done in several ways, including the 6th Global Survey on Internationalization. This survey gathers information from universities in 110 countries to understand global trends. Partnerships like the Future of Internationalization Partnership help understand how international education is changing. Initiatives like an Online Diploma on Internationalization Management help people around the world learn about managing international programs.
Embracing Digital Transformation
The IAU understands how technology is growing and helps universities use it to make education more accessible and better quality. Recent projects include creating an Open Science Expert Group. This group supports using UNESCO's Open Science ideas and discusses how new technologies like artificial intelligence affect education. The IAU also brought back its Institutional Site Visits Program, which helps universities learn from each other about new digital practices.
See also
In Spanish: Asociación Internacional de Universidades para niños
