Founded in 1950 under the auspices of UNESCO, the International Association of Universities is a worldwide association of universities. In addition to placing a premium on international cooperation between member institutions and organizations, the IAU is dedicated "to the development of the long-term vision of the university's role and responsibilities in society" and "to promoting access to higher education and equal opportunities for students." Visitors new to the site will want to read through the organization's mission statement available from the homepage, along with their constitution, and activities reports for the period from 1995 to 2000. From the homepage visitors may also look through the IAU's information center, and learn about its thematic priorities, which include sustainable development, globalization, and intercultural dialogue. Finally, visitors may also read about upcoming conferences and meetings dealing with higher education and peruse recent publications such as "Constructing Knowledge Societies: New Challenges for Tertiary Education".