News
University College Cork – a spotlight on world-leading sustainability practice
University College Cork won Sustainability Institution of the Year at the 2023 International Green Gown Awards – the 2024 Awards are open now.
2024 Frederik Paulsen Arctic Academic Action Award
UArctic and the Arctic Circle welcome nominations for the 2024 Frederik Paulsen Arctic Academic Action Award until April 30, 2024.
International Green Gown Awards 2024: Apply now!
We are thrilled to announce that the International Green Gown Awards 2024 Awards are open. Join us in celebrating sustainability for the 10th anniversary of the IGGAs. With 8 categories to choose from, reward your sustainability journey and apply today! Don't miss the deadline on April 29, 2024.
Exploring Perception of Faculty Engagement in Sustainability: A Global Survey
Take part in a global survey global survey on Exploring Perception of Faculty Engagement in Sustainability: An International Survey Identifying Levers of Action and Best Practices.
Spotlight #2 on pilot participants - IAU and SOS Responsible Futures Programme
Learn about the participants in this international pilot and their achievements so far in the journey of integrating ESD at the whole institution. This second spotlight looks at Queen's University, Canada
MECCE Call for Proposals on Climate Change Education
Submit an application to conduct a case study of climate change communication and/or climate change education.
IAU-EWORA Webinar: Tackling the Leaky Pipeline in Academic Leadership
IAU and EWORA organised a discussion ahead of International Women's Day, on "Tackling the Leaky Pipeline in Academic Leadership". Watch the recording now!
Responsible Futures International - ongoing pilot with 7 institutions around the world
Find out how your institution can join the next cohort 2024-25 of the Responsible Futures International Programme !
Call for Contributions: The Ocean Decade Vision 2030 White Papers Review Process
A milestone initiative of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development 2021-2030 (‘Ocean Decade’), Vision 2030 is a strategic ambition setting process which aims to identify a common measure of success for each of the Ocean Decade Challenges. Led by 10 Working Groups, one per Challenge, the White Papers are the result of several months of collaborative work initiated in early 2023. Between 22 January and 22 February 2024, we are inviting you to participate in the review process of the draft White Papers developed by the 10 Working Groups.
Spotlight #1 on pilot participants - IAU and SOS Responsible Futures Programme
Learn about the participants in this international pilot and their achievements so far in the journey of integrating ESD at the whole institution. First up: Trinity College Dublin in Ireland!
Transforming Education Together: 2023 ESD-NET Global Meeting in Tokyo
The ESD-NET Global Meeting in Tokyo, which commenced on December 18, 2023, marked a successful gathering at the United Nations University with the presence of representatives from more than 80 countries. This year’s meeting focused on sharing the implementation and progress of the ESD-2030 national initiatives, trends, challenges and innovations within the framework of Agenda 2030 and discussing the action points for the next two years 2024-2025.
IAU, ACU & AUF sign a Memorandum of Understanding - 2020
During the UN High-level Political Forum (HLPF) 2020, the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU), the Agence universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF), and the International Association of Universities (IAU) have formalised their collaboration through a memorandum of understanding (MoU). Together, the three associations represent more than 2,000 higher education institutions across more than 140 countries – providing a strong base to advocate for higher education on a wide international scale.
IAU SDG 12 Cluster and IAU President Join Virtual Conference hosted by Moi University
From the 12th to 14th of August, 2020, the Virtual International Conference on Phytochemistry, Textile & Renewable Energy for Sustainable Development, hosted by Moi University, Kenya, took place.
IAU joined the 2017 International Conference on Sustainable Development Goals: Actors and Implementation
On September 18-19, the Polytechnic University of Catalonia hosted the International Conference on SDGs organized by the Global University Network for Innovation (GUNi). IAU Secretary General, Dr. Hilligje van't Land, was one of the speaker.
2017 Release of "Higher Education Paving the Way to Sustainable Development: A Global Perspective"
The IAU launched the report of its 2016 global survey on Higher Education and Research for Sustainable Development (HESD).
IAU joined the University Alliance for Sustainability Spring Campus 2017
From March 27-31 Freie Universität hosted the second Spring Campus event of the University Alliance for Sustainability on the topic “Societal Transformation to Sustainability: Universities as Pacesetters?”. IAU Deputy Secretary General, Dr. Hilligje van't Land, was one of the keynote speaker.
IAU 15th General Conference - Speakers’ presentations available online
From November 13 to 16, the IAU held its 15th General Conference in Bangkok which was hosted by a consortium of Thai universities.
IAU and COPERNICUS Alliance join forces to work on HESD
IAU and COPERNICUS Alliance signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to work on Higher Education and Research for Sustainable Development (HESD).
Rio Declaration 1992 and Rio+20 2012 renewed commitments from HE
The UN Conferences on Sustainable Development, in particular in 1992 and 2012, marked milestones for change and provided a platform for exchange, for all stakeholders. Higher Education strongly advocated for its role early on and mobilised the HE community to recognise the need for action and take the next steps. IAU and partners have been supporting these efforts in various ways.
IAU Engagement at COP21 (2015)
The collective voice of the world’s universities and colleges was heard at COP21 when a global alliance of tertiary and higher education sustainability networks, including the IAU, representing more than 3000 universities and colleges worldwide, jointly issued an Open Letter urging Ministers and Governments to acknowledge and strengthen the research and education role that universities and colleges play in addressing climate change. IAU also represented its members by taking part in a COP21 panel debate on “Climate change as part of the curriculum from kindergarten to university”.
2015 HESI Event before COP21: Higher Education for Climate Change Action
IAU is pleased to draw your attention to this Conference organised by HESI and supported by the IAU, which took place at UNESCO Headquarters.
IAU Horizons Volume 20, No.3, 2014 and Volume 21, No.1 on HESD (2014)
Launched at the UNESCO World Conference on ESD in Nagoya the Vol.20, No.3 issue offers a series of 18 papers on why higher education plays a crucial role in addressing the challenges of today and tomorrow. Focusing on the theme of the IAU Global Meeting of Associations 6, the Vol.21, No.1 issue offers a variety of papers on why and how higher education fosters social innovation.
Post-Nagoya Summary
The UNESCO World Conference on Educations for Sustainable Development (WC-ESD) 2014 adopts The Aichi-Nagoya Declaration and the launches the Global Action Programme.
ESD after 2014: Launching the Global Action Programme
The Global Action Programme (GAP) on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) seeks to generate and scale-up ESD action. It is intended to make a substantial contribution to the post-2015 agenda. The overall goal of the GAP is to generate and scale up action in all levels and areas of education and learning to accelerate progress towards sustainable development.
World Conference on Education for Sustainable Development 2014 Called for Renewed Commitment by all Countries
To mark the end of the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development and the beginning of the Post 2015 agenda activities, UNESCO and the Government of Japan held the UNESCO World Conference on Education for Sustainable Development - Learning Today for a Sustainable Future. The World Conference on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, closed on November 12, 2014 with a declaration calling for urgent action to mainstream ESD and include ESD in the post-2015 development agenda. The Aichi-Nagoya Declaration calls on all nations to implement the Global Action Programme on ESD (GAP) to move the ESD agenda forward.
IAU 14th General Conference focused on HESD
Under the theme "Higher Education and the Global Agenda”, the 2012 IAU GC devoted sessions to the promotion of SD by higher education
Call for African Universities and Scholars to Apply to the CADFP Programme
The Carnegie African Diaspora Fellowship Program (CADFP) is now accepting Project Requests from African host universities and Scholar Applications from qualified African academics in the diaspora in the United States and Canada.
Interactive Session: How to find information on higher education and SDG actions using the IAU HESD Portal
Would you like to learn how to find actions from universities on sustainable development and SDGs? Interested in resources for teaching SDGs? Join the free 30 min interactive online session to learn more about the IAU HESD Portal and the IAU HESD work.
Social Impact and IAU HESD Cluster Members
IAU HESD Cluster leads Siam University, Thailand, and Beirut Arab University, Lebanon, recently presented their work with the SDGs and social impact during an online event.
International Women's Day 2021: IAU launches new Publication on SDG 5 Gender Equality
On the 8th of March, 2021, the IAU launched a free online publication prepared with the University of Bologna on University actions towards SDG 5: Gender Equality.