The United Nations Academic Impact is informed by a commitment to support and advance ten basic principles:

1. Addressing Poverty – A commitment to addressing issues of poverty through education;
2. Capacity Building – A commitment to building capacity in higher education systems across the world;
3. Education for All – A commitment to educational opportunity for all people regardless of gender, race, religion or ethnicity;
4. Global Citizenship – A commitment to encouraging global citizenship through education;
5. Access to Higher Education – A commitment to the opportunity for every interested individual to acquire the skills and knowledge necessary for the pursuit of higher education;
6. Human Rights – A commitment to human rights, among them freedom of inquiry, opinion, and speech;
7. Intercultural Dialogue – A commitment to promoting intercultural dialogue and understanding, and the “unlearning” of intolerance, through education.
8. Peace and Conflict Resolution – A commitment to advancing peace and conflict resolution through education;
9. Sustainability – A commitment to promoting sustainability through education;
10.  United Nations Charter – A commitment to the principles inherent in the United Nations Charter.