1 The International Association of Universities Internationalisation and global collaboration and networking opportunities Dr. Hilligje van‘t Land, Director Membership and Program Development, IAU at the International Seminar and II General Assembly of the Grupo Coimbra de Universidades Brasileiras November 25-28, 2009 Salvador de Bahia, Brasil

Presentation Background, Definition and Mission of IAU Values and Principles Membership Administrative structure Priority themes Action and services

In a nutshell IAU in independent, bilingual, non governmental membership based organisation which offers support to its members and acts as a voice of higher education to UNESCO and other international organisations; IAU’s goal is to offer a platform for reflection and action on common priorities; IAU facilitates this by offering a platform for better understanding internationally of the wealth of the diversity of higher education globally and by strengthening international cooperation between universities and through partnering with key higher education organisations and other stakeholders

Mission of IAU Founded in 1950, the IAU UNESCO-based International Association of Universities is the leading global association of higher education institutions and organisations from around the globle. It celebrates its 60th years in Its mission is to strengthen higher education by providing a global forum for leaders of institutions and associations to discuss, reflect and take action on issues of shared interest.

IAU pledges to Contribute to the development of knowledge, higher education and research in the public interest Strengthen academic solidarity, understanding and appreciation among HEIs and promote cooperation rather than competition Promote equitable access, success and equal opportunities for students, researchers, faculty and staff Encourage the pursuit of diversity and quality while respecting and valorising cultural differences

IAU promotes the following Values Academic Freedom Institutional Autonomy Freedom and Justice, Human Dignity and Solidarity

IAU promotes Institutional accountability, Institutionnal effectiveness, The ideal of knowledge made accessible to all through collaboration and improved access to higher education. The fundamental basic principle: the right to pursue knowledge for its own sake, promotion and upholding of tolerance of divergent opinion and freedom for political interference. The obligation of universities to act as true social institutions

IAU representation IAU Members are : degree conferring higher education institutions (granting at least an undergraduate or first cycle degree of at least three years and be recognised by a competent body. Members are also: associations of Universities (national, regional and international) Membership: more than 630 Memberss – universities and other higher education institutions and their associations from 130 countries.

IAU Governing Board The Members of the IAU Administrative Board are elected every four years at IAU General Conferences IAU Board: Executive Committee: President: Juan Ramon de la Fuente, Former Rector UNAM, Mexico; 4 Vice-presidents from Asia (Malaysia), Europe (Italy), the Americas (USA), Africa (Kenya); Secretary General Board and Deputy Board Members: acting Rectors of Universities representing the following geopolitical regions of the world: Africa; Americas; Asia and the Pacific; Europe Secretariat and Office: UNESCO / NGO-House, Paris: 17 staff members Board Meetings: once a year (full Board) + every 6 months (Executive Committee)

Priority themes Internationalisation, Cross-Border Higher Education and Inter-cultural Dialogue Higher Education and Society Equitable Access and Success

Internationalisation, cross-Border Higher Education, Inter-cultural Dialogue 3 rd Global Survey Report on Internationalisation Report: publication in early 2010 Collaborative reviews of Internationalisation strategies; first issue: at Hokkaido University, Japan Thematic Conferences: Lyon France on Internationalisation; Alexandria, Egypt on Cross-border Higehr Education; Beirut, Lebanon on Intercultural Dialogue. International Task Forces Focused WebPages

Higher education and society HEEFA Portal: launch information tool and interactive portal linking higher education and research to the UN goal of Education for All and the Millenium Development Goals Higher Education and Sustainable Development: – Support the UNESCO led UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development – Partnership with UNEP on Global Survey on Sustainable Lifestyles (project linked to the Marrakech Project) – Thematic WebPages

Equitable Access and success IAU Policy Statement on: Equitable Access, Success and Quality in Higher Education New project being developed with the World Bank International Task Force

Actions and services Covening Advocacy Research and analysis Information Dissemination Capacity Building

1. Covening International Conferences Expert Meetings Topical Seminars

17 IAU International Conferences 4-6 November 2009, Notre Dame University, Lebanon International Conference on: the Role of Higher Education in Fostering the Culture of Dialogue and Understanding June 2010, Mykolas Romeris University, Vilnius, Lithuania International Conference on: Ethics and Values in Era of Globalization

Upcoming Conferences and Meetings 2010: Mozambique: Meeting on HE and EFA 2010: International Seminar on the Changing Nature of Doctoral Programs in Sub-saharan Africa 2011, Kenyatta University, in Nairobi, Kenya International Conference of the IAU Kenyatta University, in Nairobi, Kenya 2012, Interamerican University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, USA November 12-18: IAU 14th General Conference

IAU bi-annuel Global Meetings of Associations (GMAs) IAU and the Indian Association of Universities Place: Delhi, India Date: April/May 2011 Global Meeting of Associations GMA IV The 2009 global meeting took place in Guadalajara, Mexico, and was co-organised in collaboration with ANUIES

2. Advocacy IAU acts as the voice of Higher Education leaders Elaborates Declarations and Policy Statements Promotes views to international organisations and intergovernmental bodies like UNESCO, OECD, World Bank, etc.

3. Research and Analysis Higher Education Policy Global Research on Internationalisation of Higher Education (3rd Survey report under way) Research in the field of Higher Education and Sustainable Development Research Project on the changing nature of doctoral programs in Sub-saharan Africa

4. Information dissemination IAU/Unesco Information Centre on Higher Education Electronic bibliographic database: HEDBIB Clearinghouse of information on higher education systems, institutions and qualifications worldwide Monthly e-bulletin IAU Website

International Handbook of Universities Guide to Higher Education in Africa World Higher Education Database on CD-Rom IAU Horizons (magazine published 3 times a year) Annual Reports

5. Capacity Building LEADHER (Leadership in Higher Education) Programme: grant ( US$) offered to IAU Members to help support professional development and capacity building through South-North or South-South international partnerships and cooperation

Presence IAU in Brasil and Latin America In Brasil In Latin American Membership at Institutional and Organisational Levels IAU as a true international and global platform for exchange of information, for better understanding and dissemination of information IAU acts as a facilitator for the development of collaborative regional and global projects and partnerships

Open invitation To the Coimbra Group to come and participate in the debates that will take place at the GMA IV in Delhi, India, in 2011 To all to come and participate actively in the International Conference on Ethics and Values in an Era of Globalisation, in Vilnius, Lithuania, June 2010

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