n response to the increasing complexity of the architect's role in society, the UIA, together with UNESCO, created and promotes the UNESCO-UIA Charter on Architectural Education. This fundamental document sets directives on architectural education to ensure that young architects are capable of meeting the professional and cultural challenges of the modern world. Updated regularly, it is complemented by the UNESCO-UIA validation system for architectural education, which aims to provide a UIA label of excellence in architectural education to those architectural study programmes that comply with a defined set of requirements.

he UIA Accord on Recommended International Standards of Professionalism in Architectural Practice sets out what the UIA considers to be the best practices for the architectural profession and the standards to which it should aspire. Further developed through a series of specific guidelines, the Accord constitutes a set of norms currently promoted in relations with government bodies around the world.

Any UIA member Section may designate a member to participate in the work of the Commission.

rawn up jointly by UNESCO and the UIA and approved by the UNESCO General Conference, the UNESCO-UIA Regulations for International Competitions lay down the conditions required to launch and run an international architectural competition, and specify the respective rights and obligations of promoters and competitors. The UIA is the sole body mandated by UNESCO to oversee the application of these rules respected and approve competitions organized according to them.

Through its advisory role, the International Union of Architects guarantees the exemplariness of international competitions such as those that led to the construction of contemporary landmark buildings like the Sydney Opera House, Georges Pompidou Centre in Paris, the Tokyo International Forum, and the Alexandria Library in Egypt.