International Day of Universities

The International Day of Universities, IDU, is one day each year, on 7 November, when universities everywhere celebrate what they give to humanity, thank the people who make them, and invite the world inside. It is an initiative of the World Universities Foundation.

A world that celebrates its universities, every year, on the same day.

The initiative

Executive summary

The International Day of Universities in one page.

What: A yearly international day for the university: for every institution, its people and everyone around it.
Why: Universities form every profession and serve every society, yet no international day is given to universities themselves, and most of the world’s 35,000+ universities are rarely seen.
When: 7 November, every year. Announced on 7 November 2026; to be founded at FC27, the WUF Founders’ Council, Antalya, Türkiye, 26 to 29 January 2027; to be adopted by university leaders at WSU27 on 7 November 2027; to be celebrated for the first time on 7 November 2028.
Who: Every university, of every type, in every region, with its students, professors, staff, alumni and leaders, and the families, cities, companies and public bodies around it.
How: Each university celebrates in its own way: an open campus, public lectures, student showcases, thanks to professors and staff, alumni coming home, service to the community, links across borders.
Outcome: A lasting tradition, proclaimed by the United Nations, that makes the whole university world visible, close to its societies and proud of its people.
Ask: Take part at IDU.news/take-part or write to connect@idu.news: found the day at FC27, endorse it, join the team, send a comment or share it. One person can take more than one role.

The challenge and context

A community larger than most nations.

35,000+universities
200+countries
260+ millionstudents
15+ millionacademics
20+ millionadministrative staff
1+ millionexecutives and leaders

Source: World Universities Foundation, 2026.

The initiative

A world that celebrates its universities, every year, on the same day.

One fixed date
7 November, every year, in every country, so that every university and every calendar can carry it.
Every university, its own way
No single program. Each university chooses how to celebrate, from one lecture to a whole open day.
A home for the day
IDU.news: the call, the five ways to take part, and in time a free toolkit and a map of celebrations.

How it works

Ways to celebrate 7 November

There is no single program for IDU. A large research university and a small community college will celebrate the day differently, and both are right.

A day to say thank you

Thank you, professor. Three words that every university should hear once a year.

Value and expected outcomes

Roadmap and timeline

Announce, found, adopt, celebrate

361days to 7 November 2027

7 November 2026
Announce
WUF announced the worldwide call for the International Day of Universities and invited every university, organization and person to take part.
26 to 29 January 2027
Found
At FC27, the WUF Founders’ Council in Antalya, Türkiye, the IDU Founding Board and its Initiative Founding Members will found the day: at most two from each country. Join the Founding Members by 30 November 2026, and reserve your seat.
7 November 2027
Adopt
University leaders from every region will adopt the day at the World Summit on Universities (WSU27), Antalya, Türkiye, on the date itself.
7 November 2028
Celebrate
The first International Day of Universities will be celebrated on campuses around the world, and every year after that.

Why now

A call that has found its home

The International Day of Universities was first proposed by Prof. Bassem Khafagy on 7 November 2019, as a worldwide call to set aside one day each year to celebrate the roles and achievements of universities. Now the day has a home large enough to carry it. WUF keeps the date, the name and the logo, and carries the call each year. The universities of the world own the day: each one decides how it celebrates. The logo, the guides and the theme of each year are free for every university to use, in any language. [IDU.news](https://idu.news/) is the day’s home. The World Summit on Universities (WSU) is its strategic partner. WUF is also taking the call to the United Nations: starting now, it informs the United Nations of the International Day of Universities and asks that it be proclaimed an international day, as soon as possible.

A letter from the Founder

Prof. Bassem Khafagy

Founder and Secretary General, World Universities Foundation

Founder of the International Day of Universities

Next steps and call to action

Take part

Five ways to carry the International Day of Universities. Take one, or several.

Found
A founding position
Found the day with WUF at FC27, the WUF Founders’ Council, Antalya, Türkiye, 26 to 29 January 2027. The IDU track takes at most two Initiative Founding Members from each country; Founding Board seats are offered by invitation. Join the Founding Members by 30 November 2026, and reserve your seat.
Found the day
Endorse
A leading position
Endorse the day as an individual, or on behalf of a university, an association or network, an NGO, a company or a public body.
Endorse the day
Join
A team position
Help in a way that suits you: translate the call into your language, be the IDU contact at your university or in your city, help with media and design, or help plan a celebration.
Join the team
Comment
An advising position
Send a note, an idea or an observation. The IDU team reads every one.
Send a comment
Share
An engagement position
Tell others about the day: a ready post, the logo and #IDU28. Studied or work at a university? Ask it to endorse the day.
Share the day