The  Higher Education Policy Observatory  (HEPO) is a platform recently launched by the UNESCO International Institute for Higher Education in Latin America and the Caribbean. This freely accessible platform displays systematized and comparable information about higher education systems and policies around the world, filling a gap in systematised globally, centralised and in a single location comparable data about HE systems. 

The main dimensions covered by the observatory include:  

• The governance structures and regulatory bodies  
• Key legislations around higher education 
• Quality assurance regimes  

• Policies aimed at funding and ensuring equitable access to higher education 
• Policies for the recognition of higher education qualifications   

With 45 indicators drawn from a set of more than 150 variables and 22.000 single data points, the Higher Education Policy Observatory offers a wide range of information at national level for each higher education system. In subsequent versions, it will integrate key international statistics relevant to higher education. 

This interactive database aims to be a useful tool for HE policymakers and researchers on HE legislation and policy globally. It can be consulted here.