The United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI) is an initiative that engages institutions of higher education with the United Nations in supporting and contributing to the realization of the Organization's purposes and principles, including the promotion and protection of human rights, access to education, sustainability and conflict resolution.
Since 2010, UNAI has created a vibrant network of institutions of higher education, connecting students, academics, scientists, and researchers worldwide. There are over 1,600 member institutions in more than 150 countries that reach over 25 million people in the education and research sectors around the globe representing a global diversity of regions and a thematic wealth of disciplines.
The work of these institutions is vital to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals as they serve as incubators of new ideas and solutions to the many global challenges we face. United Nations Academic Impact provides the integral link to these stakeholders to ensure that the international community harnesses the energy and innovation of young people and the research community in service to humanity.
United Nations Academic Impact is part of the Higher Education Sustainability Initiative (HESI) and is informed by a commitment to suport and advance ten basic principles.
Every subject and discipline can have a UN imprint. We want relevant institutions to recognize this link and, often without additional effort or expense, undertake activities that can directly support United Nations mandates and objectives.
UNAI assists stakeholders in this regard by disseminating information on UN initiatives and activities, providing ideas on how these activities can be applied at the local level on college campuses, in classrooms and in communities, and by providing a platform where university students, academics and researchers can connect and share ideas, research and resources to further the Sustainable Development Goals and other UN mandates.
There is no cost or fee for universities to join UNAI. The sole responsibility is for each member institution to actively demonstrate support of the UNAI principles and the Sustainable Development Goals. It is our hope that this support can find reflection in the United Nations’ own policies and programmes, allowing for a sharing of experiences and effective practices as well as the infusion of scholarship to advance social, economic and sustainability objectives.
Member institutions of UNAI are able to submit stories about teaching methodologies, academic research or initiatives being done on campus to be promoted on our multilingual website. Furthermore, member institutions can engage through our SDGs workshops, training sessions and tailor-made publications which act as capacity-building tools. UNAI also advertises fellowship and scholarship opportunities, academic events and calls for inputs, papers or submissions for our member institutions, their student body, staff and faculty.
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