The International Association of Universities (IAU) is very pleased to launch the website " Aiming Higher ", which showcases the wonderful results of the IAU series on higher education, produced by BBC StoryWorks. Higher education is instrumental to the development of sustainable and democratic societies; shaping minds, promoting diversity, ethical leadership and social responsibility. In light of increasing global challenges, higher education institutions play a key role in addressing the societal transformations that lie ahead. Each film highlights how a different university contributes to these goals: through projects that work towards sustainable development, internationalisation, leadership and innovation. Check out the films here .

In the outcome document of the Rio+20 Conference, in 2012, entitled “The future we want”, and again in “Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”, in 2015, United Nations Member States decided that the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development would be informed by the Global Sustainable Development Report. In the Ministerial Declaration of the 2016 Forum, Member States decided that the report would be produced quadrennially by an independent group of scientists appointed by the United Nations Secretary-General and comprising 15 experts representing a variety of backgrounds, scientific disciplines and institutions, with geographical and gender balance. This report, The Future is Now: Science for Achieving Sustainable Development, is the first quadrennial Global Sustainable Development Report prepared by an independent group of scientists. Download the report here .

During the 1st meeting of the Commonwealth Climate Resilience Network held in Kingston Jamaica, July 5th-8th, representatives from 34 Commonwealth universities identified a two year work plan and agreed on a governance structure for enabling sustained collaboration and effective support for the delivery of the work plan. Read more about the Commonwealth Climate Resilience Network here , and download the meeting report below.