Association of Indian Universities (AIU) is an apex inter university representative body of universities and other higher education institutions in the country. Established in 1925 as the Inter University Board (IUB) of India, it acquired its legal status as a registered society in 1967 under the Societies Registration Act 1860 and was rechristened as Association of Indian Universities (AIU) in 1973. AIU is the second oldest university association in the world next to the Association of Commonwealth Universities which was established in 1913. It has the distinct feature of having the largest network of universities and other HEIs under its ambit with 972 members in India and 17 Associated members from foreign countries. The membership of AIU includes all types of universities e.g., Conventional Universities, Open Universities, Deemed to be Universities, State Universities, Central Universities, Private Universities and Institutes of National Importance. In addition to Indian Universities, Universities/Institutes from Bangladesh, Bhutan, Republic of Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mauritius, Nepal, Thailand, United Arab Emirates and United Kingdom are its Associate Members. Since its inception AIU has played a very significant role in the development of Higher Education in the Country. Some of the eminent scholars and visionary leaders like Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, Dr Zakir Hussain, Sir A L. Mudaliar have given leadership to AIU. During such a long journey, AIU has carved a niche for itself by serving the Ministry of Education, Govt of India as a research-based policy advisory body. Being an apex institution, it constitutes an integral part of all major decision-making committees and commissions in the country.
As an academic ‘think tank’ organisation, AIU supports the Government as research-based policy advisory body with the wider mandate of taking up research projects on higher education policy, capacity building. It also acts as a bureau of information on higher education; liaise with international bodies and universities for internationalization of Indian higher education among many others. The Vision of AIU is to emerge as a dynamic service and apex advisory organization in India by undertaking such initiatives and programmes which could strengthen and popularize Indian higher education as leading-edge system in the world and promote greater national and international collaboration in Higher Education, Research, Extension, Sports, Youth and Cultural Activities. It is bestowed with the mission of promoting and representing the Indian Universities and other higher education institutions through strong liaison with the government and National/International organizations, sister associations world over and establish liaison between/among universities through active support, cooperation and coordination among the member universities and all its stakeholders for quality education, research and other academics and extension activities.