Secretary-General
	International Association of Universities (IAU)
	UNESCO House
	1, rue Miollis
	75732 PARIS Cedex 15
	France

Date: 

Dear Secretary-General,

Re: Commitment to core academic values

By joining the International Association of Universities (IAU), [the applying Institution] recognizes and fully endorses the commitment of IAU to uphold and advance the core academic values that the Association considers to be the defining features of universities and all other higher education institutions whose primary goal it is to pursue and disseminate knowledge.   

While noting and respecting differences in context, culture and tradition, we acknowledge that through its work, IAU strives to achieve common higher education goals and shared ideals, and to transcend such differences as language, economic wealth, political ideology, religious beliefs and others.  

Included among the core and enduring academic values, identified in the IAU Constitution as underpinning and defining the role of higher education institutions, are the following: 

•	academic freedom in the dissemination, creation and pursuit of knowledge;
•	institutional autonomy balanced by social responsibility and responsiveness;
•	excellence and merit as the standard measure of performance;
•	opposition to all forms of discrimination based on gender, race, religion or ethnicity; 
•	respect for divergent opinion;
•	promotion and development of intercultural dialogue and learning;
•	freedom of academic mobility and enhancement of the internationalization of knowledge; and
•	promotion of human rights, justice, freedom, human dignity and solidarity.  

IAU believes that higher education and research institutions, as places of ‘light, liberty and learning’ must play a major role in society and work to create global communities of shared knowledge.  This imperative is of utmost importance today, when the planet has become globalised and when rapid and profound changes are, in large measure, driven by advances in science, technology and knowledge.  
	
We also acknowledge the IAU’s affirmation that higher education and research institutions should create and disseminate knowledge in order to overcome the existing and growing inequalities among individuals and nations and to prevent and resolve conflicts, and that they should do so while protecting and promoting academic values and fundamental rights.

I, the undersigned, as the representative of [the applying Institution], agree to support the IAU mission and to ensure that the values and principles embraced by the Association are known and understood by my institution’s academic and administrative staff and students.

Yours sincerely,

Name of Head of Institution and Signature