IAU adopts positions and develops Policy Statements on issues of global concern for higher education. The topics are identified by the Association’s leadership and membership. Each Statement is the product of extensive drafting and international consultations. All statements are endorsed by the General Conference of the Association.

The topics of such Policy Statements are usually identified by the Association’s leadership and membership as requiring the attention of the international academic community. IAU Policy Statements most frequently identify the issue area, present a number of key principles and include a few recommendations for action at either the institutional or the governmental level or both.

Traditionally, the development of an IAU Policy Statement has been delegated by the IAU Administrative Board to a small Working Group or Reference Group whose members are drawn from each world region. IAU is committed to being the global voice for higher education institutions hence the international composition of the Expert Groups is essential in order to ensure that each Policy Statement reflects the collective interests of higher education without ignoring the specific concerns or interests of institutions in various parts of the world.

IAU contributes to international debates on higher education by publishing papers on a variety of issues in journals, magazines and by contributing book chapters to key publications around the world. Please click here to view a sample. IAU takes part in debates to advance fair, inclusive and value based higher education around the world (please click here).

IAU Policy Statements:

 Transforming Higher Education in a Digital World for the Global Common Good, 2022

 IAU The Continuing Need for Internationalization of Higher Education, 2022

 IAU Iquitos Statement on Education for Sustainable Development, 2014

 Affirming Academic Values in Internationalization of Higher Education: A Call for Action, 2012

 IAU-MCO Guidelines for an Institutional Code of Ethics in Higher Education, 2012, Prepared in collaboration with the Magna Charta Observatory

 Equitable Access, Success and Quality in Higher Education, 2008

 Sharing Quality Higher Education Across Borders: A Statement on Behalf of Higher Education Institutions Worldwide, 2005, List of signatories, Prepared in collaboration with AUCC, ACE and CHEA

 Universities and Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), 2004

 Towards a Century of Cooperation: Internationalization of Higher Education, 2000

  Academic freedom, Institutional Autonomy and Social Responsibility , 1998

 The Buenos Aires Statement on Higher Education Funding, 1994

 Kyoto Declaration on Sustainable Development, 1993