Nagaoka University of Technology (NUT), a UNAI member institution in Japan and UNAI SDG 9 Hub Vice-Chair, highlighted youth-led engineering and international collaboration during a series of SDG-focused engagements held on 27 January 2026. On the same day, Mount Kenya University (MKU), a UNAI member institution in Kenya and UNAI SDG 9 Hub Chair, built momentum through a global webinar that brought together partners supporting sustainable development.
Nagaoka University of Technology: Youth-Led Engineering and Global Exchange
At NUT, United Nations University (UNU) Rector and UN Under-Secretary-General Dr. Prof. Tshilidzi Marwala, Director of the United Nations University Institute for Advanced Studies on Sustainability (UNU-IAS) Dr. Shinobu Yamaguchi, and Executive Director of UNU-IAS Graduate Programmes Ms. Taka Horio visited the campus.
They toured facilities including a snow storage chamber and a demonstration site for an aquaponics circular farming system, and met with university leadership to exchange views on the mission and activities of UNU and UNU-IAS, as well as NUT’s Sustainable Development Goals-related work, including international cooperation through its United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Chair.
A round-table discussion then brought together the visiting UNU delegation and NUT students. Students introduced themselves and candidly shared what they were learning at NUT, their research topics and their perspectives on student life, creating a friendly and open dialogue.
Later that day, NUT hosted the UNAI SDG 9 Hub Event, “Youth-Led Engineering Initiatives for SDG9 Addressing Regional Challenges Domestically and Internationally”, in a hybrid format. Opening remarks were delivered by Dr. Prof. Takashi Yamaguchi, followed by a keynote lecture by Rector Marwala, who spoke about the relationship between artificial intelligence and the SDGs and referred to cooperation with UNU-IAS.
Student-led and partner presentations formed the core of the event. Mr. Tsubaki introduced STI-Gigaku, a student-led international conference, while the KOSEN Open Innovation Challenge was also presented. Award-winning student teams shared projects on improving the cacao growing environment in Ghana and advancing high value-added fishery in Senegal. NUT SDGs Promoter Ms. Shintani also presented work on building a foundation for VR educational materials in the Itoigawa Geopark. The event provided an opportunity to share local issues and student initiatives in Japan and abroad.
Mount Kenya University: Strengthening Global Partnerships for SDG 9
Complementing these efforts, Mount Kenya University (MKU), a UNAI member institution and SDG 9 Hub Chair, convened a global webinar on 26 January 2026 to promote SDG engagement through partnerships. The webinar brought together over 30 partners from Kenya, the United States, Malaysia, China, and beyond.
Participants included Julia Hagl representing the UN Academic Impact, Dr. Mami Katsumi representing NUT as UNAI SDG 9 Hub Vice-Chair, and Dr. Josep Miquel Piqué Huerta representing La Salle Ramon Llull University, another UNAI SDG 9 Hub Vice-Chair. MKU also welcomed partners from Kenya, the United States, Malaysia and China. Speakers reaffirmed support for SDG 9 and wider SDG action, with MKU underscoring its commitment to all 17 Goals and calling for support that is “intentional”. The webinar also pointed to future joint activities, including wider collaboration through 2030 and participation in the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace.
Together, the two events reflected how the UNAI SDG 9 Hub network is advancing innovation, partnership and youth engagement across regions. Through youth-led innovation at NUT and partnership-driven engagement led by MKU, universities are demonstrating how collaborative action can help advance sustainable development worldwide.
Learn more about Nagaoka University of Technology.
Learn more about Mount Kenya University.