From Japan to Kenya: UNAI SDG 9 Hub Advances Youth Innovation Worldwide
Nagaoka University of Technology (NUT), UNAI SDG 9 Hub Vice-Chair, hosted a series of events highlighting youth-led engineering and global collaboration, including a visit by UNU Rector Dr. Tshilidzi Marwala and a hybrid SDG 9 Hub event featuring student innovations and international partners. Mount Kenya University (MKU), UNAI SDG 9 Hub Chair, complemented these efforts through a global webinar, bringing together partners to strengthen collaboration and advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Koya University Wins Prestigious Athar Award for Environmental Initiatives
, a UNAI member institution in Iraq, has won the Athar Award for environmental sustainability, ranking first in the Kurdistan Region and among Iraq’s top universities. Its initiatives in waste reduction, energy efficiency, and environmental education reflect a strong commitment to building a “Green University.”
Announcement: 2025 UNAI Annual Activity Report Submission
UNAI member institutions are invited to submit their 2025 UNAI Annual Activity Report through the online form:
2025 UNAI Activity Report | United Nations
Submitting the annual activity report is mandatory to maintain UNAI membership. The deadline for submission is 30 April 2026.
United Nations Intensive Summer Programme: Shaping Global Leaders Through Immersive UN Engagement
The 2026 will be held from 8 to 12 June near UN Headquarters in New York City. , a UNAI member institution in the United States, delivers the one-week course through its in collaboration with the (UNA-USA). The programme provides participants with a genuine immersion in the dynamics of the United Nations, featuring a series of off-the-record conversations with UN practitioners and representatives of government and civil society. Applications close on 1 April 2026.
Commitment to the Future: Unesulbahia Aligns Academic Training with the SDGs in Community Health Campaign
A partnership between UNAI member institution , the Vida Mais Association, and the Municipality of Porto Seguro in the state of Bahia, Brazil, is delivering specialized health services to the district of Trancoso, aligning higher education initiatives with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and advancing community well-being.
Advancing SDG 15: Biodiversity and Health at Washington University in St. Louis
The first annual convening of WashU Public Health’s Solutions through Planetary Health Research (SPHERE) network brought SDG 15: Life on Land to the forefront, highlighting how protecting and restoring ecosystems is critical to reducing infectious disease risks in a changing environment. The event underscored the need for coordinated, multisectoral collaborations that safeguard biodiversity and strengthen planetary health.
Reflections from the 2026 ECOSOC Partnership Forum Virtual Side Event: Partnerships with Academia as an Accelerator for Local Innovation and Sustainable Communities
How can universities turn the SDGs into real-world change? Ahead of the 2026 ECOSOC Partnership Forum, higher education leaders, students and UN partners explored trust-based, place-driven partnerships advancing SDGs 6, 7, 9, 11 and 17. From local innovation to global education networks and student leadership, the discussion shows why higher education is a vital civic partner—and why partnerships, not promises, will drive SDG progress.
Modern Slavery in Focus: Dialogue and Research
The in New Zealand hosted a panel of experts to address modern slavery and child labour. The event highlighted the need for New Zealand legislation, business accountability, victim support, and immigration reform. Initiatives such as the Chocolate Scorecard promote collaboration and remediation. Research from the Centre for Research on Modern Slavery underscores the exploitation of migrant workers, while media coverage amplified calls for stronger research and global supply chain accountability.
EcoSynergy: Phase-Out Plastic Campaign Launches at the National University of Sciences and Technology
On 8 December 2025, the (NUST), serving as the UNAI Global Hub Chair for Sustainable Development Goal 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), launched EcoSynergy, a campus-wide initiative aimed at phasing out single-use plastics and promoting responsible consumption.
Young Leaders for Peace Meets the Moment: A Summer Leadership Program at the University for Peace
Young Leaders for Peace (YLP) is an interdisciplinary, innovative two-week program designed to empower youth with the knowledge and skills to lead peace efforts in their own communities. Launched in summer 2025 at the (UPEACE) in Costa Rica, YLP promotes leadership and peacebuilding through immersive workshops and experiential learning. The program emphasizes community collaboration and highlights the close relationship between peace, sustainability, and the natural environment.
Afghan Scholar Reinstated as Visiting Professor at De Montfort University After Forced Exile Under Taliban Rule
An academic who lost her career and became a refugee when the Taliban took control of Afghanistan has been conferred as a Visiting Professor at (DMU), which serves as the United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI) SDG 11 Hub Chair.
Atefa Waseq was stripped of her teaching role and her right to pursue a doctorate when the Taliban seized power. After Taliban fighters retook Kabul on 15 August 2021, edicts restricting women’s movement and banning women and girls from secondary and higher education left over 78 per cent of Afghan women out of education, a situation UN Women has is increasingly untenable.
Empowering Communities, Inspiring Hope: Ahfad University Internships Amid Sudan’s Turmoil
The Regional Institute of Gender, Diversity, Peace, and Rights (RIGDPR) at in Sudan—UNAI SDG Hub 1 Vice-Chair for Outreach and Partnership—leads student-centered internships with partners across sectors. Despite ongoing conflict in the country, students have contributed to gender assessments, empowerment workshops, and psychosocial support for displaced women—bridging academic training with real-world action and driving meaningful social change.
University of Aveiro Becomes Portugal’s First Higher Education Institution Certified for Sustainable Event Management
UNAI member institution (UAveiro) in Portugal has achieved a national milestone as the first higher education institution in Portugal to be certified under the ISO 20121 standard for its Sustainable Events Management System. The certification covers all stages of event organization—from planning to execution—and ensures environmentally responsible, socially just, and economically viable practices.
Voices of Equality: Advancing Gender Justice Through Dialogue and Action
CHRIST University, India, the UN Academic Impact SDG 5 Hub Chair for Gender Equality, held an event on 26 July 2025 titled “Voices of Equality.” The full day gathering brought university faculty and students together with social activists, government officials, UN representatives, corporate leaders, and civil society representatives.
Returning to “Plastic Island” off Norway’s Coast for Beach Cleanup Week
On 25 September, the University of Bergen (UiB), the UNAI SDG 14 Hub Chair for Life Below Water, organized a coastal cleanup for students and staff. As last year, the destination was Lisle Lyngøy, often referred to as “Plastic Island” off the coast of Hellesøy. The day was filled with strong impressions — and some good news for the island’s ecosystem.