The UNITWIN/UNESCO Chairs Programme, launched in 1992 to promote international inter-university cooperation, has grown to include around 1100 Chairs and 50 networks across 130 countries. This network of universities around the world supports UNESCO’s work in education, the natural and social sciences, culture and communication, to help address pressing challenges and contribute to the development of their societies. The UNESCO Chairs and UNITWIN Network teams contribute at each stage of our work: from the exploration of emerging issues, through the development of international normative instruments to the implementation of policy recommendations at the national level. They also bring together partners in academia, civil society, local communities and policy-makers in dialogue for project implementation.

Contact: unitwin@unesco.org

Global Network of UNESCO Chairs and UNESCO 80

Dialogue with the Director-General of UNESCO on 29 January 2026

The objective of this exchange was to reflect collectively on how UNESCO can more effectively leverage the exceptional expertise of UNESCO Chairs and UNITWIN Networks to advance the Organization’s programmes and strategic priorities. In this context, the Director-General of UNESCO, Professor Khaled El-Enany, invited the UNESCO Chairs and UNITWIN Networks community to engage in a structured dialogue on UNESCO’s positioning within the UN80 reform agenda; and concrete ways in which academic networks can support UNESCO80 objectives.