United Nations University

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United Nations University
United Nations Universty logo.svg
Other name
UNU
TypeResearch university, Think tank
EstablishedDecember 1972; 46 years ago (1972-12)
FounderUnited Nations General Assembly
AffiliationUnited Nations
Budget$111.1 million (2017-18) [1]
RectorDr. David M. Malone
Students335 (2017) [1]
Postgraduates230 (2017) [1]
105 (2017) [1]
Location
Tokyo
,
Japan

35°39′45″N 139°42′30″E / 35.66237°N 139.70836°E / 35.66237; 139.70836Coordinates: 35°39′45″N 139°42′30″E / 35.66237°N 139.70836°E / 35.66237; 139.70836
CampusUrban
Websitewww.unu.edu
UN emblem blue.svg United Nations portal
United Nations University in Tokyo
Entrance for the United Nations University

The United Nations University (国際連合大学, Kokusai rengō daigaku) (UNU), established in 1973, is the academic and research arm of the United Nations. It is headquartered in Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan, with diplomatic status as a UN institution. Since 2010, UNU has been authorized by the United Nations General Assembly to grant degrees. It also provides a bridge between the UN and the international academic, policy-making and private sector communities.

Organisation and leadership[edit]

The university is headed by a rector, who holds the rank of Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations.

To date, there have been six Rectors at UNU. The current Rector, since March 2013, is Dr. David M. Malone of Canada.

List of Rectors of United Nations University:

# Rector Took office Left office
1 James M. Hester 11 November 1974 10 April 1980
2 Soedjatmoko 10 April 1980 30 March 1987
3 Heitor Gurgulino de Souza 30 March 1987 1 September 1997
4 Hans J.A. Van Ginkel 1 September 1997 1 September 2007
5 Konrad Osterwalder 1 September 2007 28 February 2013
6 David M. Malone 1 March 2013 Incumbent

The Council of UNU[2] is the governing board of the University and is composed of 24 members who are appointed by the Secretary-General of the United Nations with the concurrence of the Director-General of UNESCO.[3]

History[edit]

The University was established in 1973 and formally began its activities in 1976 following the signature of the permanent headquarters agreement between the United Nations and Japan.[4] The creation of the United Nations University was set in motion by Secretary-General U Thant in 1969.[5]

UNU Institutes and Vice-Rectorate[edit]

Over the years, several Institutes of UNU were created to help with the research initiatives of the United Nations. Most notably, in 2007, a vice-rectorate was established in Bonn (UNU-ViE), Germany, as a way of strengthening UNU's presence in Europe. UNU-ViE is dedicated to developing knowledge-based sustainable solutions for global problems and is, therefore, an active organizer of international science policy dialogues for sustainability.

UNU as a degree-granting institution[edit]

In December 2009, the UN General Assembly amended the UNU Charter to make it possible for UNU to "grant and confer master's degrees and doctorates, diplomas, certificates and other academic distinctions under conditions laid down for that purpose in the statutes by the Council."[6]

In 2013, UNU-ISP announced its intention to seek accreditation from the National Institution for Academic Degrees and University Evaluation (NIAD-UE) which is the Japanese accreditation agency for higher education institutions.[7] UNU-IAS was formally accredited in April 2015, making it the first international organization to be recognized by the NIAD-UE.[8]

Locations[edit]

The university has several campuses spread over five continents. Its headquarters are located at the UNU Centre in Tokyo, Japan.

United Nations University is located in Earth
Brugge
Brugge
Hamilton
Hamilton
Macau
Macau
Helsinki
Helsinki
Bonn
Bonn
Dresden
Dresden
Accra
Accra
Reykjavik
Reykjavik
Tokyo
Tokyo
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur
Barcelona
Barcelona
Maastricht
Maastricht
Caracas
Caracas
Locations of UNU campuses

Research[edit]

The role of the UN University is to generate new knowledge, educate, enhance individual and institutional capacities, and disseminate its useful information to relevant audiences. Within the scope of these five thematic clusters, the UN University undertakes:

  • Cross-cultural, interdisciplinary research (utilizing innovative, science-based techniques and methodologies to study important global processes and elaborate forward-looking solutions) and targeted foresight and policy studies (aimed at developing policy-relevant prescriptions and evaluating the feasibility and comparative advantages of each option);
  • Postgraduate-level education (degree-oriented programmes and specialized training focused on problems and solutions rather than academic disciplines) and capacity development activities (aimed at helping developing and transitional countries to enhance local potential to address current problems/confront emergent challenges); and
  • Knowledge sharing and transfer (to deliver relevant information about UN University research, current scientific advances and best practices, in a timely manner and in a usable form, to those who most need it and can best utilize it).

As prescribed in the United Nations University Strategic Plan 2011–2014, the 26 major topics of focus of the UN University's academic work fall within five interdependent thematic clusters:

  1. Peace, Security and Human Rights; Peace building and peace keeping, Conflict resolution and human security, Fostering dialogue among civilizations, religions and cultures, Human rights and ethics, Gender equality and mainstreaming,
  2. Human and Socio-economic Development and Good Governance; Growth and economic development, Alleviating poverty and inequalities, Good governance, Enhancing educational capacities, Fair trade, Processes and consequences of regional integration and cooperation, Leadership, management and entrepreneurship.
  3. Global Health, Population and Sustainable Livelihoods; Global health, Safe water and sanitation, Food and nutrition for human and social development, Combating HIV/AIDS, Population changes and migration.
  4. Global Change and Sustainable Development; Climate change — adaptation and mitigation, Ecological health and biodiversity, New risk and vulnerabilities, Sustainable land, agriculture and natural resources management, Green economy.
  5. Science, Technology, Innovation and Society; Science, technology and innovation, Sustainable energy futures, Sustainable urban futures, Sustainable housing and construction.

Collectively, these thematic clusters define the programme space within which the UN University undertakes its academic activities. Some key perspectives (such as gender equality, human rights and sustainability) pervade all aspects of the UN University's work.

Institutes and programmes[edit]

The academic work of the United Nations University is carried out by a global system of Institutes, Operating Units, and Programmes located in more than 12 countries around the world.

Institutes[edit]

Operating Units[edit]

Programmes[edit]

Former[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d "United Nations University: Annual Report 2017" (PDF). United Nations University. United Nations University. n.d. Retrieved 24 November 2018.
  2. ^ "UNU Council". unu.edu. Archived from the original on 15 June 2011. Retrieved 29 May 2011.
  3. ^ "Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova | United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization". www.unesco.org. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
  4. ^ "UNTC". un.org.
  5. ^ United Nations General Assembly Session 24 Resolution 2573. International university A/RES/2573(XXIV) 13 December 1969. Retrieved 2008-05-02.
  6. ^ "UNU Charter". unu.edu.
  7. ^ "Jobs | UNU Institute for Sustainability and Peace". Archived from the original on 22 September 2013. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
  8. ^ "UNU-IAS Accredited by the National Institution for Academic Degrees and University Evaluation". unu.edu. 1 May 2015. Retrieved 3 April 2017.
  9. ^ "UNU-EHS". unu.edu.
  10. ^ "UNU-FLORES Dresden". unu.edu.
  11. ^ "Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability". unu.edu.
  12. ^ "International Institute for Global Health". unu.edu.
  13. ^ "UNU-INRA". unu.edu.
  14. ^ United Nations University. "UNU Institute for Sustainability and Peace (UNU-ISP)". unu.edu. Archived from the original on 9 June 2010.
  15. ^ "UNU-INWEH - United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health: The UN Think Tank on Water". UNU-INWEH.
  16. ^ "unu-biolac.com". unu-biolac.com.
  17. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 29 January 2010. Retrieved 29 January 2010.CS1 maint: Archived copy as title (link)
  18. ^ "The United Nations University Fisheries Training Programme in Iceland". The United Nations University Fisheries Training Programme in Iceland.
  19. ^ Geothermal Training Programme. "Geothermal Training Programme". Geothermal Training Programme.
  20. ^ The United Nations University Land Restoration Training Programme. "The United Nations University Land Restoration Training Programme". The United Nations University Land Restoration Training Programme.

External links[edit]

Video clips[edit]

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