We're thrilled to announce the finalists of the 2026 International Green Gown Awards, delivered by EAUC.

The International Green Gown Awards are endorsed by United Nations Environment Programme and are supported by the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU), L’Agence universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF) and International Association of Universities (IAU). Now in their 12th year, the Awards recognise the outstanding and innovative sustainability projects being implemented in tertiary education institutions around the world. 

This year, we have 94 finalists from 34 countries and 63 institutions across eight categories, and we are pleased to see that once again several IAU Members are amongst the finalists!

Finalists that are IAU Members sorted after category:

2030 Climate Action

• Laval University
• University Mohammed VI Polytechnic
• Tashkent State University of Law

Benefitting Society

• Pontifical Catholic University of Peru
• Siam University

Creating impact

• Daffodil International University
• Siam University
• Technological University Dublin

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Sustainability

• De La Salle Lipa
• University Mohammed VI Polytechnic
• Tashkent State University of Law

Nature Positive

• University Mohammed VI Polytechnic

Next Generation Learning and Skills

• De La Salle Lipa
• Daffodil International University
• University Mohammed VI Polytechnic
• Siam University

Student Engagement

• University Mohammed VI Polytechnic
• International Islamic University Malaysia
• Siam University

Sustainability Institution of the Year

• University Mohammed VI Polytechnic

-> Learn more about the awards and read about the finalists and their projects on the Green Gown Awards website.

The Education and Academia Stakeholder Group (EASG) has launched its sectoral paper for the 2026 UN High-Level Political Forum (HLPF), presenting a global perspective on the role of education in advancing sustainable development. Developed through contributions from international education networks, civil society organisations, student representatives, and academic institutions, the paper highlights the interconnectedness of SDG 4 with other priority goals, including clean water and sanitation, clean energy, sustainable cities, innovation, and global partnerships.

The report examines persistent global challenges such as unequal access to quality education, underfunded education systems, digital divides, inadequate school infrastructure, and barriers faced by marginalised communities. It also outlines recommendations for governments and international stakeholders, including stronger public investment in education, climate-resilient and inclusive learning environments, ethical approaches to digital transformation and AI, and greater participation of youth and civil society in education governance.

IAU and several Members and partners provided input for the paper.

Explore the Sectoral paper here

The IAU HESD Global Cluster Expert Meeting 2026, on the theme ''Building Global Partnerships for Sustainable Development'', brought together 40 higher education leaders, experts, and IAU Cluster members from around the world to advance the role of universities in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The meeting was hosted in Carthage,Tunisia, in partnership with University of Carthage, University of Manouba, and University of Sousse. Over two days, participants engaged in a dynamic programme designed to foster collaboration, share knowledge, and co-create future strategies.

Day 1 featured an opening session, two panel discussions, and interactive world-café style group work sessions. These exchanges highlighted the need for universities to act as catalysts for sustainable, inclusive, and resilient societies through partnerships, innovation, and institutional transformation. The opening session highlighted the urgency of collective action as institutions work toward the 2030 Agenda and prepare for the challenges beyond. Speakers emphasized that universities must go beyond their traditional roles of teaching and research to become active drivers of societal transformation. Through global partnerships, innovation, and institutional change, higher education can help build more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable societies. Collaboration, particularly aligned with SDG17, was identified as a key enabler for progress across all goals.

Day 2 focused on a collaborative work session to develop a common Cluster action plan, followed by a workshop on the whole-institution approach to Education for Sustainable Development (ESD).

The workshop aimed to take stock of the IAU Global Cluster’s progress in 2026, share promising practices for integrating SDGs across university functions, and strengthen members’ capacity for effective sustainability action. Participants also contributed to shaping positions for the 2027 UN SDG 4 review and explored higher education’s role in a post-2030 agenda, in alignment with UNESCO’s new World Higher Education Roadmap. 

Key outcomes include the development of a joint action plan for the IAU HESD Clusters, and using the discussions from the workshop as foundation, a position paper will be drafted to inform the 2026 UN HLPF, the World Conference on ESD in early 2027, and the 2027 SDG 4 review. As a whole, the meeting facilitated strengthened partnerships, and enhanced visibility and alignment of collective efforts toward the 2030 Agenda.

More information about the meeting can be found here

The IAU is pleased to announce the launch of the 4th Global Survey on Higher Education and Sustainable Development (HESD). This survey aligns with the IAU’s commitment to advance sustainability in higher education (HE) across the world and to forward the HE sector’s contribution to a more sustainable future. To ensure wide participation, the survey deadline to respond has been extended to 31 May 2026.

Conducted every four years under the IAU’s strategic priority on Higher Education and Research for Sustainable Development (HESD), the Global Survey is a keystone in providing insight into how higher education institutions (HEIs) integrate sustainable development into teaching, research, governance, and community engagement. This 4th edition will further investigate how sustainability is integrated into higher education, focusing specifically on institutional policies, curriculum design, research priorities, and external partnerships. In addition, it will analyse how higher education institutions (HEIs) align with major global frameworks, such as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in order to advance a more comprehensive and systemic understanding of sustainable development within the sector.

The success of the 4th IAU Global Survey on HESD relies on active participation of HEIs and universities worldwide. We invite you to use this opportunity to share your institution’s sustainable development progress and contribute to an important global research initiative.

Survey goals:

• Map global engagement of higher education institutions with sustainable development across teaching, research, governance, and community engagement.
• Assess progress and identify challenges in integrating sustainable development principles within higher education since the previous survey edition.
• Examine institutional approaches to embedding sustainability in curricula, research agendas, policies, and institutional strategies.
• Analyse alignment with global frameworks, including the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• Capture regional perspectives and diversity, ensuring balanced representation across geographic, cultural, and institutional contexts.
• Identify good practices and innovative approaches that can inform peer learning and institutional transformation.
• Provide an evidence base to support institutional decision-making, policy development, and strategic planning on HESD.
• Strengthen advocacy efforts highlighting the essential role of higher education in advancing sustainable development at national, regional, and global levels.
• Foster collaboration and knowledge sharing among higher education institutions, networks, and stakeholders committed to sustainability.

The IAU sincerely thanks its partners for their generous support: 

• Académie de Recherche et d’Enseignement Supérieur (ARES)
• Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF)
• Association of African Universities (AAU)
• Association of Arab Universities (AARU)
• Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU)
• Conference of Rectors of Spanish Universities (Conferencia de Rectores de las Universidades Españolas) (CRUE)
• European University Association (EUA)
• German Rectors’ Conference (Hochschulrektorenkonferenz) (HRK)
• Global Student Forum (GSF)
• Qatar Foundation (QF)
• Students Organising for Sustainability (SOS)
• Unión de Universidades de América Latina y el Caribe (UDUALC) 

For more information on the 4th Global Survey on HESD and instructions to take part, please visit the IAU website.  
 

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About

In the context of the 2026 UN DESA ECOSOC Partnership Forum, and held in parallel with the Learning Planet Institute Festival, this virtual side event examined the critical role of higher education institutions as key partners in advancing sustainable development at the local level. The discussion highlighted how universities, students, and civil society actors contribute to transformative action on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), extending well beyond education-focused initiatives.

Aligned with the overarching ECOSOC theme, “Transformative, equitable, innovative and coordinated actions for the 2030 Agenda,” the event explored how universities function as societal actors, working collaboratively with cities and communities. Particular attention was given to place-based partnerships, futures-oriented approaches, and whole-institution strategies that support progress on SDGs 6, 7, 9, 11, and 17.

Speakers

Keynote
Nudhara Yusuf – Co-Chair, Coalition for the UN We Need; Fellow, Princeton University, United States
Topic - Global youth governance, futures thinking, and multilateralism

Case Study 1
Mark Charlton – Chair Lead, United Nations Academic Impact SDG 11 Hub; Associate Professor of Sustainable Development, De Montfort University
ZamZam Yusuf – Alumni De Montfort University, Founder ZamZam Unlimited Possibilities CIC
Topic - Local partnerships for sustainable and inclusive cities: university–city collaboration and students as co-designers

Case Study 2
Robert Didham – UNESCO Chair on Education for Sustainable Lifestyles; SDG 4 Cluster Lead; University of Inland Norway
Topic - Mobilising global higher education networks to advance SDGs 6, 7, 9, 11, and 17 across regions

Case Study 3
Abel Kinyondo – SDG Academy; Associate Professor of Geography and Economics at University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM), Tanzania
Topic - Innovation, infrastructure, and energy transitions with strong student and community engagement

Student Perspective
Jacob Blasius – Executive Director, Global Student Forum
Topic - Lived experience of student engagement in SDG partnerships, accountability, and access to decision-making

Closing Remarks
Jayashri Wyatt – United Nations Academic Impact
Reflections on how partnership models can inform ECOSOC processes and High-Level Political Forum follow-up

Co-Moderators
Isabel Toman – Senior Programme Officer, Sustainable Development, IAU
Katrin Kohl – Co-Chair holder of the UNESCO Chair, York University

Organizing partners

This official ECOSOC side event was jointly organized by the IAU in collaboration with UN Academic Impact (UNAI), the Education and Academia Stakeholder Group (EASG), the Global Student Forum, SDG Academy at York University (Canada) – IAU HESD SDG 4 Cluster Lead, and De Montfort University – UNAI SDG 11 Hub Chair.

Watch the recording of the discussion now

📌 Topic: Partnerships with Academia as an Accelerator for local Innovation and sustainable Communities 
🗓️ Date: 26 January 2026                                                                                                                             
🕘 Time: 15:00 – 16:30 CET                                                                                                                               
🔗 Learn more here (concept note) 

IAU and our member Western Sydney University (Australia) are pleased to announce that as of August 2025, WSU is taking over the lead and coordination of the IAU HESD Cluster on SDG 3. Prof. Kathy Tannous, Dr Rocco Cavaleri and Dr Deep Jyoti Bhuyan, PhD, all part of WSU's Global Challenge Leads (Fostering Healthy Communities), will be the main contact points for this Cluster Lead for SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being.

This network, along with Western Sydney University, includes Makerere University (Uganda), Universidad de Caldas (Colombia), Universitas Gadjah Mada (Indonesia), UAM Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana (Mexico), University College Dublin (Ireland), and Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (Spain).

IAU expresses its gratitude to the previous coordinating institution, the Open University of Catalonia (UOC), which has played a pivotal role since the creation of the Cluster in 2018 and has strengthened the collaboration throughout the past years, introducing a cluster strategy, bringing member together in an in-person meeting, and through numerous publications and webinars. UOC will remain an active member of the Cluster.

Learn more about the SDG 3 Cluster's work on the new website here: https://www.westernsydney.edu.au/sustainable-development/sdg3 

The IAU Global Cluster on HESD promotes the role and potential that HEIs globally have to achieve the SDGs and the 2030 Agenda. It is composed of 16 lead Institutions, each championing and working on one specific SDG while linking it to other relevant SDGs. Additional institutions are invited on board as ‘Satellites’ and observers around each SDG. Currently, around 70 universities and over 100 individuals are engaged in the Cluster. Learn more here.

We are pleased to announce the release of a new edition of IAU Horizons. This issue 30.1 of IAU Horizons offers insights on IAU initiatives and activities and presents articles related to the strategic priorities of the Association.

A decade ago, the United Nations set a bold and inclusive vision for global transformation with the adoption of the UN Agenda 2030 – Transforming our World and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – a holistic framework built on 5 pillars, environmental, social, economic dimensions, and peace and partnerships as key enablers for this much needed progress. It acknowledged the essential contributions of all sectors, yet, while higher education was recognized as a stakeholder, its pivotal role in advancing the SDGs was not given the centrality it deserves.

Now, with just five years to 2030, it is urgent to accelerate progress, particularly in a context in which the goals and the Agenda 2030 are being challenged, at times even overruled. The world faces complex crises - from climate change and multiple conflicts to growing inequalities and backsliding of democracy; this calls for renewed commitment and innovative approaches to sustainable development. 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.

-> Read the magazine: https://www.iau-aiu.net/IMG/pdf/iau_horizons_vol.30_1_en__v4.pdf