IAJU is "the international advisory and coordinating body to the Secretariat of Jesuit Higher Education and, through him, to Father General and his Assistants in matters related to higher education and the intellectual apostolate," according to its charter.
[2] It was established during an international assembly of Jesuit higher educational institutions at the University of Deusto in Bilbao, Spain.
[3] IAJU is part of the Jesuits' higher education apostolate, and its main mission is to "contribute to the progress" of the said apostolate to "promote the development of a more just and humane world for the greater honor and glory of God."
Members of the IAJU come from the six educational associations[4] representing geographical areas where the Society of Jesus operates.
These include more than 200 Jesuit-run higher education institutions in more than 50 countries.