Following meetings of the International Ranking Expert Group (IREG) in Warsaw (2002), Washington (2004), Berlin (2006), Shanghai (2007) and Astana (2009), in October 2009 a group of leading experts and organizations active in the field of academic ranking and quality of higher education established international not-for-profit association IREG Observatory on Academic Ranking and Excellence with the following goals:

“The not for profit purpose of the association, will have a scientific and educational nature, namely enhancing public awareness and understanding of academic ranking and academic excellence with particular focus on standards and practice of national, regional and international rankings and their impact on institutions of higher education, stakeholders and policy making”.

“The association will pursue this aim by the initiation and management of programs and projects, advocacy measures, information and networking activities, and IREG Observatory recognition of rankings prepared in accordance with the highest quality standards - set up in the Berlin Principles on Ranking of Higher Education Institutions among others”.

(Article 3 of the Statute)