With record numbers in higher education and growing financial, technological and social pressures, Unesco is calling for universities to make more ambitious transformations instead of incremental reforms.
In a report released last week, the organisation suggests guiding principles to help higher education adapt to rapid change while increasing sustainable and inclusive development.
The report, called “Transforming Higher Education: Global Collaboration on Visioning and Action”, also reaffirms Unesco’s commitment to its three core missions—teaching, research, and community engagement.
According to Unesco, global demand for higher education has surged over the past two decades. The number of students enrolled in postsecondary education worldwide rose from around 100 million in 2000 to about 269 million in 2024. Today, 43 percent of those eligible for higher education are taking it—the highest level ever recorded.
Student mobility has also expanded rapidly. The number of students who went abroad to study has more than tripled over the same period, to nearly seven million in 2024. Meanwhile, there are now more than 22,000 accredited higher education institutions worldwide, creating what Unesco describes as an increasingly diverse and interconnected global education system.
