In Brazil, the lack of gender equality is imbalanced in higher education, which increases in favour of women. Access to public higher education institutions needs to be expanded to a larger proportion of young people aged 18-24, particularly those coming from the lower social stratum. Evaluations indicate the existence of major quality disparities among educational institutions, especially among private organizations.

UNESCO in Brazil has been in permanent dialogue with public higher education institutions, with universities and other higher education and research institutions. The Organization has tried to promote teacher education and mobility, higher educational quality, educational changes and innovations that have become essential due to emerging challenges faced by today’s knowledge society. In this direction, UNESCO:

• articulates international and regional information and knowledge networks (UNESCO Chairs/UNITWIN Networks),
• gathers decision-makers and researchers,
• promotes studies and discussions, and
• incentivates higher education institutions and countries exchanging programmes. 
• sponsors innovative programmes in higher education area both in partnership with public institutions, such as programmes with the Ministry of Education,  as well as with private institutions and entities of civil society.
• makes available to higher education institutions and universities the reference documents considered indispensable for changing or innovating processes in the area of higher education.

In Latin America, UNESCO actions are coordinated by UNESCO International Institute for Higher Education in Latin America and the Caribbean - IESALC. UNESCO Brasilia Office, in partnership with IESALC, participates in the implementation of two projects in intercultural integration universities that are based in essential values such as the respect for the human rights, for the intercultural dialogue, for cultural diversity, and for peace between civilizations.

The two projects are:

• The creation of the Federal University of Latin American Integration – UNILA: located in Foz do Iguaçu, Parana, Brazil. It intends to promote the development of a mentality among students of regional integration based in the essential values mentioned above.
• The creation of the Federal University of Portuguese-African-Brazilian Integration - UNILAB: located in Ceara, Brazil. It intends to contribute to the knowledge exchange between Brazil and other Member-States of the Portuguese-Speaking Countries Community (CPLP), especially African countries.