 | |
Other name | UNU |
|---|---|
| Type | Research university,think tank |
| Established | December 1972; 52 years ago (1972-12) |
| Founder | United Nations General Assembly |
| Affiliation | United Nations |
| Budget | US$124.8 million (2022–2023)[1] |
| Rector | Tshilidzi Marwala |
| Students | 315 (2021)[2] |
| Postgraduates | 225 (2021)[2] |
| 90 (2021)[2] | |
| Location | , Japan 35°39′45″N139°42′30″E / 35.66237°N 139.70836°E /35.66237; 139.70836 |
| Campus | Urban |
| Website | www.unu.edu |
 | |
 Politics portal | |
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TheUnited Nations University (UNU) (国際連合大学,Kokusai Rengō Daigaku) is thethink tank and academic arm of theUnited Nations.[3] Headquartered inShibuya, Tokyo,Japan, with diplomatic status as a UN institution, its mission is to help resolveglobal issues related tohuman development and welfare through collaborative research and education.
In 1969,UN Secretary-GeneralU Thant proposed "the establishment of a United Nations university, truly international and devoted to the Charter objectives of peace and progress".[4] Following three annual sessions discussing the matter, theUnited Nations General Assembly (UNGA) approved the founding of the United Nations University in December 1972. Tokyo was chosen as the main location due to the Japanese government's commitment to provide facilities and $100 million to the UNUendowment fund. The United Nations University was formally inaugurated in January 1975 as the world's firstinternational university.
Since 2010, UNU has been authorized by the UNGA to grantpostgraduate degrees, offering several master's and doctoral programs. The university's research officially prioritises three thematic areas: peace and governance; global development and inclusion; and environment, climate and energy. UNU also facilitates the UN's engagement with academic institutions and policymakers around the world, in part through campuses, programmes, and affiliated institutes spanning twelve countries.
The university is headed by a rector, who holds the rank ofUnder-Secretary-General of the United Nations.
To date, there have been seven Rectors at UNU. The current Rector isProfessor Tshilidzi Marwala of South Africa, who took over the role on 1 March 2023.[5] Marwala succeededDavid M. Malone of Canada, a two-term Rector who had been serving since 2013.[6]
| # | Rector | Took office | Left office |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | James McNaughton 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 van Ginkel | 1 September 1997 | 1 September 2007 |
| 5 | Konrad Osterwalder | 1 September 2007 | 28 February 2013 |
| 6 | David M. Malone | 1 March 2013 | 28 February 2023 |
| 7 | Tshilidzi Marwala | 1 March 2023 | Incumbent |
The Council of UNU[7] is the governing board of the University and is composed of 12 members[8] who are appointed by theSecretary-General of the United Nations with the concurrence of theDirector-General ofUNESCO.[9]
The University was formally established in 1972 and began its activities in 1975 following the signature of the permanent headquarters agreement between the United Nations and Japan.[10] The creation of the United Nations University was set in motion by Secretary-GeneralU Thant in 1969.[11]
The UNU headquarters building was designed by renowned architect Dr.Kenzo Tange. The handover ceremony of the building by the Japanese Government took place on 30 June 1992, and the physical move of UNU into the new building was completed the following month. The official inauguration of the UNU headquarters building, held on 17 February 1993, was attended by then Secretary-General of the United Nations, Dr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali.
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 inBonn (UNU-ViE), Germany, as a way of strengthening UNU's presence in Europe.
In December 2009, theUN General Assembly amended the UNU Charter to make it possible for UNU to "grant and confermaster's degrees anddoctorates, diplomas,certificates and other academic distinctions under conditions laid down for that purpose in the statutes by the Council."[12]
In 2013, the UNU Institute for Sustainability and Peace (UNU-ISP) in Tokyo 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.[13] In 2014, UNU-ISP was consolidated with UNU Institute of Advanced Studies inYokohama to form the UNU Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability (UNU-IAS).[14] UNU-IAS was formally accredited in April 2015, making it the first international organization to be recognized by the NIAD-UE.[15]
In 2014, UNU-MERIT, in collaboration withMaastricht University, started to grant a double degreeMaster of Science in Public Policy and Human Development. In 2018, the programme was re-accredited by the Accreditation Organisation of the Netherlands and Flanders (NVAO) and received the official EAPAA accreditation by the European Association for Public Administration Accreditation.[16]
The university has several campuses spread over five continents. Its headquarters are located at the UNU Centre in Tokyo, Japan.
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The role of the UN University is to generate new knowledge, educate, enhance individual and institutional capacities, and disseminate useful information to relevant audiences. Between 2020 and 2024, the University will be guided by the following four overarching objectives:[17]
As prescribed in the United Nations University Strategic Plan 2020–2024,[17] the UN University's academic work falls within three thematic areas:
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.
The academic work of the United Nations University is carried out by a global system of Institutes, Operating Units, and Programmes located in 12 countries around the world.[18]
