IAU 2025 International Conference: Building Trust in Higher Education | 21-23 Oct 2025, University of Rwanda in Kigali, Rwanda

28 July 2025 | From UNICA

The International Association of Universities’ 2025 International Conference will be held from 21-23 October at the University of Rwanda in Kigali, Rwanda. Focusing on the theme of “Building Trust in Higher Education“, the conference promises to consider critical questions facing the global higher education community today.

About the Conference

The annual IAU International Conference is a unique global platform for higher education leaders to meet, network and exchange on the development of higher education. The 2025 Conference aims to bring together members of the global higher education community to consider Building Trust in Higher Education. In doing so, the conference will play host to conversations considering the role of trust in higher education: what creates trust in higher education? What must universities do to retain it across all their missions?

About the topic

The university, in its corporate structure, is one of very few institutions in global history that have survived the passing of time. Ideally, universities are marked by unique ethical commitments that enhance their trustworthiness. The idealized view of academia stresses its openness, its universality, its institutionalized procedures for self-criticism and self-correction, being a force for good across all its missions.

But what is challenging higher education as we know it is that it has become increasingly harder to convincingly demonstrate its merits and benefits. Given the growing influence of technology and commodification of universities, it is being asked whether the university is still one of the most suitable institutions to provide the skills and competences the labour market requires and if a university degree is still key to personal and collective economic growth and societal advancement.

Given the inextricable relationship between universities and trust afforded to them over time, this conference wishes to ask what it is that creates trust in higher education? What must universities do to retain it across all their missions? Their governance, administration, research practices, teaching methods and learning processes, admissions procedures, and knowledge-sharing approaches? How can they strengthen their engagement with the dynamic and diverse world beyond their institutional boundaries to build better and just societies? After all, it is trust in higher education where it starts and ends.

Download a copy of the complete concept note here.

Programme and registration

Registration to this event is open until the 15 October, here.
Learn more about the conference, the diverse speakers, the exciting programme, and more on its dedicated website: www.IAUKigali2025.net

You can also learn more about IAU Conferences and events here.