nongovernmental educational organization founded in 1950 to promote cooperation at the international level among the universities of all countries as well as among other bodies concerned with higher education and research. Membership consists of individual universities and institutions of university rank in 96 countries. The General Conference, convened every five years, elects an administrative board composed of the president and 14 members. The association is supported by members' dues and grants from UNESCO and maintains information centres in 120 countries, carrying out a research program with UNESCO. English and French are official languages of the association, but German, Russian, and Spanish are also used. Publications include International Handbook of Universities (triennially) and International List of Universities and Other Institutions of Higher Education (biennially).