With participants from 18 countries representing the Americas, Africa, Europe and Asia, the first IAUP Semi-Annual Meeting of 2023 was held successfully at Helnan Dream Hotel in Cairo, Egypt, from May 11-13, under the theme “Transforming Global Higher Education through Quality, Innovation, and Inclusion”.

With a diverse range of discussions led by experts in higher education who explored what institutions have learned from the pandemic and what lies ahead, the IAUP Semi-Annual Meeting in Egypt highlighted the increasing relevance of international collaboration to achieve long-lasting progress and create meaningful impact, emphazising higher education as a human right and making it crucial to ensure that academically deserving students from all backgrounds have access to quality education.

Moving forward, it was pointed out that inclusivity and excellence should be at the core of the university’s efforts. Focus must be on building solid institutions that empower and shape future generations, as education holds the key for both individual and societal development.

The IAUP Presidents Roundtable, held on May 8, 2023, during the 2023 Universia’ s International Presidents Meeting (Encuentro Internacional de Rectores) in Valencia, Spain, featured more than 20 speakers representing 10 countries from the Americas, Europe, Asia and Africa, who shared their experiences and insights on the current and future landscape of higher education.

Some of the speakers included IAUP Regional Vice Presidents Dr. Enrique Graue (UNAM), Dr. Tomás Morales (CSUSB), Dr. Ignacio Sánchez (Universidad Católica de Chile), and Dr. Pilar Aranda (Universidad de Granada), as well as Presidents / Secretary-Generals of higher education organizations such as AASCU, HACU, ANUIES, FIMPES, and IAU.

The 2023 Awards Ceremony of the second IAUP International Business Model Student Competition, in collaboration with CETYS University, took place on May 31, 2023, with close to 40 international teams from different countries and diverse backgrounds and disciplines who demonstrated their passion for shaping a better future by crafting innovative solutions that contribute to the fulfilment of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals set forth in the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Congratulations to the winners!

As part of its 2021-2024 Strategic Initiatives, the IAUP promotes and facilitates student exchange amongst its participating member institutions through The IAUP Student Exchange Bank Initiative. A limited number of participants will receive some financial support from IAUP on a first-come, first-serve basis. Call is now open!

On January 24, 2023, the IAUP held the Virtual Panel: "Investing in People", with participants from over 25 countries. Renowned leaders representing higher education organizations from across the globe discussed the role of higher education in UNESCO's theme for 2023: "To Invest in People, Prioritize Education".

On June 5, 2023, the first session of the 2023 IAUP Webinar Series, titled "A Planet to Lose: Reflections on World Environment Day", took place, bringing together international experts to discuss the vital role universities play in tackling global environmental challenges.

The IAUP participated in the Annual Conference of the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC,) January 5-8, 2023, held at San Francisco, where more than 300 higher education leaders gathered to share their perspectives. The event featured sessions on financial sustainability, development of online programs, and program creation through alliances.

Dr. María V. Mestre, President of the Universidad de Valencia, Dr. Fernando Galván, IAUP Secretary General, and Dr. Fernando León-García, IAUP President, recently met in Madrid in a gathering that provided an opportunity to officially welcome Dr. Mestre and the Universidad de Valencia as new IAUP members.

During a visit of the IAUP to California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB), President Dr. Tomás Morales showcased the university's major construction projects undertaken despite the challenges of the pandemic. Additionally, a collaboration agreement was formalized between CSUSB and SIAS International University, highlighting their dedication to promoting international cooperation and exchanging best practices.

IAUP Secretary General, Fernando Galván was a Speaker in a panel session on "Education in Citizenship and Public Participation for Human Security", held online on March 9, 2023, within the context of the 6th International Conference on Future Education ("Education for Human Security"). The conference was organized by Education for Human Security (E4HS) and Human Security for All (HS4A), an initiative, in association with other partners, of the UN Trust Fund for Human Security and the World Academy of Art & Science.

On April 14, 2023, the IAUP held its fifth Executive Committee Meeting for 2021-2024. With representatives from over 20 countries, the meeting was a hybrid event where universities and organizations from the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Africa reported on their activities during Q3 and Q4 of 2022 and Q1 of 2023, as well as discussed the agenda for the remainder of 2023.

As part of the conference program, IAUP Semi-Annual Meetings attendees had the privilege of being hosted by Prof. Gamal Samy, President of October 6 University in Egypt. The gathering provided a valuable platform for fruitful discussions and meaningful connections among global academic leaders, adding an enriching aspect to the event. The university also organized a captivating showcase, enabling higher education leaders to immerse themselves in the vibrant culture of the country.

A delegation of IAUP members was recently welcomed at the prestigious Arab Academy for Science, Technology, and Maritime Transport (AAST) main campus in Alexandria, Egypt by President Ismail Abdel Ghaffar.

In May 2023, Dr. Amine Bensaid, member of the IAUP Executive Committee and President of Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane, Morocco (AUI), welcomed Dr. Fernando León García, IAUP President.

The IAUP delivered presentations at the International Forum on the Evaluation of Research Quality and Higher Education (XX FECIES Forum) held virtually from May 24-26, 2023.

The IAUP took part in the 10th edition of the World Women Presidents Forum (WWUPF), held from May 25th to 28th in Changchun, China, through the keynote “Establishing a Global Higher Education Community in the Post-Pandemic Era” by IAUP President Dr. Fernando León García. 

Dr. Fernando Galván, the Secretary-General of IAUP, made a notable contribution on Wednesday, May 31st, by participating in a roundtable discussion titled "Latin American and European Partnerships in Today's World:Perspectives from Europe.”

 IAUP member CETYS University has boosted its collaboration efforts in Ibero-America through a partnership with the Universidad de Sevilla (US).

Dr. Kakha Shengelia, President of Caucasus University and IAUP Chairman of the Board, received the 2023 Global Excellence and Stature (GES) Award from the University of Johannesburg (UJ) at a ceremony in Tbilisi, Georgia.

On March 20th, 2023, Ramu Damodaran, former secretary of the United Nations Academic Impact and current IAUP Advisor, was distinguished as Doctor of International Affairs Honoris Causa by IAUP member institution J. F. Oberlin University.

During the V President's Meeting in Valencia, Spain, Universidad de Valencia and CETYS Universidad in Mexico formalized an agreement to foster academic collaboration and promote internationalization.

On March 29, 2023, IAUP member institution IESB in Brazil was awarded first place at the National Educational Management Award 2023 in the Social Responsibility category, for its project I.Prótese IESB.

In addition to its outstanding contributions to social responsibility, IESB also recently obtained recognition through its President, Professor Eda Machado, who was awarded the prestigious Tarsila do Amaral 2022 prize in the Education category.

Two IAUP member institutions have achieved remarkable achievements in the 2023 Times Higher Education Impact Rankings: University of Johannesburg (UJ) was ranked as #1 around the world in the SDG “No Poverty”, while UNAM was Latin America’s highest ranked institution, featured among the top 100 universities.

On May 24-25, 2023, a delegation from California State University San Bernardino (CSUSB) met with the leadership of Krakow University of Economics (Poland) and Lviv Polytechnic National University (Ukraine) in Krakow, Poland, with the purpose of solidifying their commitment to fostering entrepreneurship through the signing of a trilateral agreement.

IAUP member Lahore Leads University remains committed to advancing the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through various impactful initiatives, including a recent rally to address the critical issue of drug addiction.

The III International Student Olympiad was held at Kyrgyz Economic Research University from May 2-28, 2023, with students competing in 21 disciplines of all academic areas. More than 800 people from domestic and foreign universities took part in this event which showcases students' theoretical expertise alongside their problem-solving abilities in unique and unconventional scenarios.

The IAUP was recently featured in an article by University World News (UWN), a leading source of higher education news and analysis, titled "International mentorship for new university leaders".