Mark Emmert, who has been President of the United States-based NCAA since 2010, says IDUS "holds special meaning for the NCAA".

It is celebrated on September 20 each year.

This year will see the fourth edition of the celebratory day.

"America is home to some of the world’s best college athletic programs where American and international students compete and learn together," Emmert added

"Our member schools across the country understand the unique benefits that higher-education provides not only to student-athletes who participate, but also to the communities that embrace their local college athletics programme.

"In these challenging times, universities around the world must continue to focus on policies that promote student-athlete health and well-being, both physical and mental.

"Sports integrated in higher-education can create a pathway to lifelong success."

Emmert has been a member of the International University Sports Federation (FISU) Academic Advisory Board since it was created in 2018.

With the coronavirus pandemic making it difficult to stage in-person celebrations across much of the world, FISU will be marking IDUS virtually.

The IDUS Dance Challenge - an online contest spearheaded by cheerleading athletes - is one such example of how it will be doing so.

As the US has seen more coronavirus deaths and cases than any other country, university sport there has been hit particularly hard by the pandemic.

However, multiple university athletic conferences have been able to begin their American football seasons this month.