Internationally recognized, the Inter-American Organization for Higher Education (IOHE) is the only university association actively present in the Americas. Its objective is to encourage higher education institutions and affiliated partner organizations from pole to pole to participate in a collaborative common area that advocates for cooperative debate, reflection, and action regarding the current state of higher education and its future outlook. Through its leadership, field expertise, training programs, and inter-American and intercultural activities, the IOHE is dedicated to providing a diverse range of experts with the means to implement innovative best practice strategies to face future sectoral challenges and advance.

With almost 40 years of experience at navigating the trends and tribulations of this evolving field, this veritable academic network has proven to be an essential benchmark within the higher education community throughout the Americas, all the while ensuring that the best interest of its members are maintained. 

Representing an extensive collection of over 350 members across the hemisphere in 27 countries, the IOHE aims to serve all key-players and professionals within this domain, be they national, regional or international. Membership spans from all levels of academics and university personnel to associated partners from state and civil governments, private and philanthropic sectors, and a wide range of international organizations.

WHAT THEY DO

IOHE supports innovation and collaboration in higher education across the Americas by:

• Offering a range of services and training modules via three strategic programs:
• Institute for University Management and Leadership (IGLU), with the objective of training the new generations of University Leaders
• College of the Americas (COLAM), offering a wide-range of training opportunities for professionals from universities and government through inter-American networks of experts;
• CAMPUS, aiming to reinforce collaboration in Doctoral programs and to ensure the quality of education and its contribution to society

Though distinctive in nature and function, the principal goal shared among all three programs is to provide training programs to key-players in the sector so they may better understand the best-practice strategies and current trends facing their institution.

• Demonstrating leadership by organizing inter-American events and university missions within the Americas and in other regions of the world that aim to open new opportunities for its members.
• Acting as Executive Secretariat to the Conference of the Americas on International Education (CAIE): the only international conference of its kind that unites decision makers and field experts to create a common space for discussion and debate on current challenges, new paradigms, best practices and future trends specifically within the sphere of the Americas. The IOHE partners with 30 international organizations and HE institutions to organize this biennial event.
• Creating and promoting gender perspectives and woman leadership throughout the Americas with the Women Leaders of Higher Education Institutions in the Americas (EMULIES) annual meetings and forums, virtual and in-person training and coaching programs, and the EMULIES Observatory.
• Promoting innovation throughout the HE sector by developing a greater circulation of knowledge through formative training programs; the likes of which cover the latest trends in university management, internationalization, science and technology, and women leader equitability development, to name a few.
• Supporting and representing its member institutions by leading by example, encouraging participation and promoting innovative collaboration between universities and industries from the Americas on the international level through various missions, events, and accredited training offers.
• Encouraging the professional development for the "take-over generation" in higher education.

THEIR STRATEGIC ORIENTATIONS

Mission

The IOHE mission is to contribute to the transformation of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in order to respond to their social and political contexts, while building and innovating common spaces of Inter-American collaboration in coordination with its members and other strategic partners.

Vision

Being the reference as an Inter-American leader and a strategic ally of HEIs, page the IOHE aims to consolidate its role as a driving force for social change in order to overcome social inequalities while promoting knowledge and learning societies.

Values

Ethic
Inter-Americanity
Innovation
Equity

Strategic Axes

Social Commitment
Innovation
Internationalization
Sustainable Development
Organizational Management and Leadership