United Nations University (UNU)
The United Nations University, an international community of scholars, generates and transfers knowledge and strengthens capacities relevant to promoting human security and development, in particular in developing countries. As the academic institution within the United Nations system, the University is in a unique position to contribute directly to the advancement of knowledge relevant to the role and work of the United Nations as well as to its application in the formulation of sound principles, policies, strategies and programmes for action. With intellectual independence, in particular in the selection of topics and the dissemination of results, guaranteed through its Charter, the University can make these contributions with objectivity and integrity and in a problem oriented manner essential for dealing with pressing issues of global concern.
The mission and goals formulated by the founders of UNU in the early 1970s are still highly relevant, today more than ever. The mission of UNU is: “to contribute, through research and capacity development, to efforts to resolve the pressing global problems that are the concern of the United Nations, its Peoples and Member States.”
The five key roles evident from an analysis of the UNU Charter are that:
The UNU started in 1975. The UNU operates through a global framework of twenty-three centres, one of which is IEGL. One way of understanding the United Nations University is to see the ‘chancellery’ in Tokyo and the centres like faculties distributed around the cities of the world. Those centres are of two kinds – Research and Training Centres/Programs (RTC/P) which are full and permanent members of the UNU and as such full-fledged UN entities with their senior personnel being UN officials; and Associated Institutions. There are 13 of the former and 10 Associated Institutions which are established by an MOA between the UNU and a host institution (in this case, Griffith University).
The mission and goals formulated by the founders of UNU in the early 1970s are still highly relevant, today more than ever. The mission of UNU is: “to contribute, through research and capacity development, to efforts to resolve the pressing global problems that are the concern of the United Nations, its Peoples and Member States.”
The five key roles evident from an analysis of the UNU Charter are that:
- UNU is an international community of scholars;
- UNU forms a bridge between the United Nations and the international academic community;
- UNU serves as a think tank for the United Nations system;
- UNU contributes to capacity development, particularly in developing countries;
- UNU serves as a platform for dialogue and creative new ideas.
The UNU started in 1975. The UNU operates through a global framework of twenty-three centres, one of which is IEGL. One way of understanding the United Nations University is to see the ‘chancellery’ in Tokyo and the centres like faculties distributed around the cities of the world. Those centres are of two kinds – Research and Training Centres/Programs (RTC/P) which are full and permanent members of the UNU and as such full-fledged UN entities with their senior personnel being UN officials; and Associated Institutions. There are 13 of the former and 10 Associated Institutions which are established by an MOA between the UNU and a host institution (in this case, Griffith University).