This year, the International Association of Universities (IAU) celebrates its 75th anniversary. According to Prof. Dr. Inga Žalėnienė, Rector of Mykolas Romeris University (MRU) and Vice-President of IAU, this collaboration among universities has greatly contributed to fostering a global academic community that inspires innovation, understanding, and progress.

IAU – a driving force for international collaboration and higher education development

Founded in 1950, the International Association of Universities (IAU) brings together higher education institutions and organizations, promotes international cooperation, and strengthens the transformative power of higher education and research. Over the past 75 years, IAU has become a global voice for higher education and today unites nearly 600 members across more than 120 countries.

The association actively works in four thematic areas – leadership, internationalization, sustainable development, and digital transformation. Through conferences, seminars, various initiatives, and other academic events, IAU consistently seeks to strengthen the international academic network and ensure equitable access to higher education.

Greetings from MRU Rector Prof. Dr. Inga Žalėnienė

Addressing the international academic community, the MRU Rector emphasizes that universities must remain responsible for intellectual life and the core values on which higher education is based:

"As the founders of IAU stated, universities must remain conscious of their great responsibility as guardians of intellectual life and the fundamental principles that every university should stand. Together, we have traveled a long way in upholding and implementing these values. Together, we are equipping future generations to tackle the challenges facing humanity, while fostering a global academic community that inspires innovation, understanding and progress for a brighter tomorrow."