AAU was founded in
Rabat,
Morocco on November 12, 1967, following recommendations made at an earlier conference organized by the
United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in
Antananarivo,
Madagascar, in September 1962. The Antananarivo recommendations were taken up by a preparatory committee of the heads of African institutions of higher education, which met in
Khartoum in September 1963 and drafted the founding constitution of the association. With an initial membership of 34, the association now has over 373 members from 46 countries. The association convenes African higher education institutional leaders and policy-makers on issues related to African higher education and development. ==Members==