The IAU portal on HESD is an interactive web-based platform which showcases a growing number of HEIs and research bodies and their actions and initiatives for sustainable development. It lists news, events and resources on Sustainable Development in relation to Higher Education and Research. It provides tools for decision-makers, academia, staff and students as well as for other HE stakeholders. The aim is for it to become a global reference portal, increasing, connecting and showcasing actions and institutions, giving them global visibility and, ultimately, creating a global network of actors raising awareness and fostering north-south, south-south and south-north cooperation. Online assistance is provided to help the user in order for the tools listed to be used to the full, fostering networking, sharing, scaling up initiatives, and giving the opportunity to create the space for out of the box cooperation between stakeholders.

1. Desk top research: 1.a. Systematically monitor and search the internet for sustainable development networks, HEI, resources, conferences, actions and initiatives of member institutions and organisations involved with SD in order to regroup and connect them through this common platform;1.b. To collect HESD news, assessment tools, research, declarations, reports and initiatives worldwide in order to showcase them, link them and facilitate exchange and partnership. 2. Member surveys. Curate, edit and upload information received;3. Maintain a global calendar of events for the 2030 agenda for sustainable development.4. Advocate for the need to strengthen the whole institution approach in order to integrate Education for Sustainable Development fully and to engage beyond boundaries and disciplines in higher education.

To organise targeted events to support the global agenda. Next : the IAU 15th General Conference on Higher Education: A catalyst for innovative and sustainable societies www.etouches.com/iau2016

1. IAU HESD team works under the leadership of the IAU President, Professor Pam Fredman, Former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Gothenburg, and IAU Working Group of experts mostly composed of eminent Members of the IAU administrative Board. With one Director working half time and one Programme Officer working full time. 2. The IAU HESD Portal was used by UNESCO during the UN Decade on Education for Sustainable Development; information provided was used to inform the final Decade Report. The portal now is to showcase HE & R work in support of the 2030 agenda for sustainable development and associated SDGs. IAU adopts Higher Education and Research for Sustainable Development as an overall conceptual frame, involving its 650 institutional and organisational Members and reaching out to the higher education community and HE stakeholders globally.3. There are three main mechanisms for impact evaluation: 3.a. measuring and monitoring the number of HEIs, events, actions and resources listed on the portal (the growing of numbers) registered. The HESD Portal is the only forum of its kind. 3.b. Hits and contact messages received.3.c. Review by IAU board members as part of the sustainable development action of IAU 4. The HESD Portal provides information on resources produced by scholars and researchers and other practitioners from around the world and includes references and direct access to statements, surveys and reports, publications.

UNESCO, Copernicus Alliance, the Ubuntu Committee of peers, UNEP, GUPES, HESI Members, PRME, among others.