The Programme was established in 1992 following the relevant decision of the General Conference of UNESCO taken at its 26th session. It was launched with the aim of developing interuniversity cooperation, while emphasizing the transfer of knowledge between universities and the promotion of academic solidarity across the world.

UNESCO-CEPES has been involved in the Programme from the very beginning, its coordinating responsibilities being particularly focused on UNESCO Chairs and Networks relevant to activities in the field of higher education in the Europe Region.

UNESCO-CEPES has contributed to the creation of an important number of UNESCO Chairs and UNITWIN Networks established in various disciplines and inter-disciplinary fields. UNESCO-CEPES has focused its support on:

• Contribution to the process of reforming higher education, at both national and institutional level, particularly in Central and Eastern Europe, from the perspective of the objectives and principles of the Bologna Process;

• Active involvement in the creation of the necessary expertise in the region through common research programmes, academic mobility and international cooperation;

• Prospecting the development of institutional networking and of establishing new UNESCO Chairs/Networks, particularly in areas such as higher education governance and management or academic entrepreneurship.

UNESCO-CEPES support usually consists in counseling and expertise for setting up new UNESCO chairs and networks and/or small subsidies for the implementation of certain  activities at disciplinary institutional level.