The document discusses the International Association of Universities' (IAU) work on higher education and sustainable development, including their Global Cluster on Higher Education and Sustainable Development (HESD) and surveys on the impact of COVID-19. The IAU is an international organization that promotes higher education, research, and knowledge sharing. Their work includes advocacy, networking, and resources to help universities advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Surveys found COVID-19 disrupted university operations but also accelerated innovation and online learning. The pandemic underscores the need for greater collaboration and more equitable access to education.

1. ProSPER.Net Webinar on Sustainability in Higher
Education – 16th October 2020
‘Accelerating transition towards achieving the SDGs during and
after the COVID-19 pandemic’
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITIES (IAU)
HILLIGJE VAN ‘T LAND, PHD, IAU SECRETARY GENERAL
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITIES

2. The International Association of Universities (IAU)
• Created in 1950 under the auspices of UNESCO
• An independent international Non-Governmental Organization, based at UNESCO headquarters in
Paris, an official partner of UNESCO, Associate Status and ECOSOC accredited,
• Membership: IAU gathers more than 600 Members (Institutions, Organisations, Affiliates and
Associates) from over 120 countries (as of September 2020)
• One of four strategic priorities: Higher Education and Research for Sustainable Development (HESD)
• Activities for HESD include Surveys: Report for the 2nd IAU Global Survey on HESD; Resources and
Publications; Specialized Portal for HESD: www.iau-hesd.net ; and the IAU Global Cluster on HESD: a
network with over 80 universities worldwide collaborating for the SDGs: https://www.iau-
hesd.net/en/contenu/4648-iau-global-cluster-hesd.html
• Website https://www.iau-aiu.net
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITIES

3. IAU work on Higher Education and Research for Sustainable
Development (HESD)
• Policy Statements:
• IAU Kyoto Declaration (1993)
• IAU Iquitos Statement (2014)
• ABC-Strategy
• Advocacy & Analyses
• Building synergies & networking
• Communicating & convening
• Surveys: Report for the 2nd IAU Global Survey on HESD (January 2020):
https://www.iau-aiu.net/IMG/pdf/iau_hesd_survey_report_final_jan2020.pdf
• Resources and Publications: https://www.iau-aiu.net/HESD
• Specialized Portal for SD-related Actions, News, Events and documents: www.iau-hesd.net
• IAU Global Cluster on HESD
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITIES

4. IAU Global Cluster on HESD
• Launched in 2018
• 16 Universities from all world regions lead SDG 1 – 16
• 2-8 Satellite universities per subcluster (80 HEIs)
• IAU leads SDG 17: Partnerships
• IAU Member Organisations can join SDG 17
• 1 common Goal: to bring Sustainable Development in Higher
Education and Research forward
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITIES

5. IAU survey on impact COVID 19 on HE – some conclusions
• Almost all HEIs have been affected by the COVID-19 crisis in 2020, the crisis affects all institutional
activities, including enrolment for academic year
• There was/is some government support for HEIs but it is mainly emergency support– middle-and long-
term planning is difficult for HEIs
• Tech driven education and research + tech driven internationalisation, community engagement,
internships : HEIs reactive in moving online. Challenges: to quality, equality and access
• The crisis is a challenge and an opportunity; high risk of growing inequalities among HEIs
• The COVID-19 crisis : negative consequences for internationalization and research, mixed ones for
community engagement
• On the positive side, HEIs are innovative and resilient & play a major role at different levels of society
• HEIs currently recognised by respective governments as a source of relevant expertise and consulted

6. COVID 19, inequalities and IAU response
IAU Global Surveys on Impact of Covid-19 in Higher Education
• + Regional perspectives
• + Institutional and Students’ Perspectives - IAU & ESN’s joint paper on COVID-19 impact on HE
IAU Webinar Series on the Future of Higher Education – short, medium, long-term –
Webinar on Covid-19 and SDG3 (27th October 14:30-16:00 CET see: www.iau-aiu.net )
IAU joined international efforts
• the UNESCO Global Education Coalition
• the Advisory Group of the UNESCO Future of Education initiative
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITIES

7. COVID-19: a crisis opening up new opportunities
• The COVID-19 crisis has deeply affected higher education, which entered in an age of uncertainty
• Universities gradually moving from a crisis management situation to a medium/long term
planning for a new normal: challenges and opportunities
Financial crisis
Challenges/Risks
Loss of relevance
Growing inequality
Enrolment crisis
Parochialism
Opportunities
Shift of paradigm:
new means, new ways
Increased access
Global engagement/local relevance
More equality
Societal relevance
Values
Collaboration

8. IAU Global Cluster on HESD and SD T&R coordination
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITIES

9. Special page Impact COVID19 on HE
https://www.iau-aiu.net/Covid-19-Higher-Education-
challenges-and-responses
www.iau-hesd.net
www.iau-aiu.net
@IAU_HESD
@iau_aiu
@VantlandH
International Association
of Universities (IAU),
2020.
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITIES