The event, held on the East Midlands campus and organised by the Institute of Advanced Studies, showcased the work of three UNESCO Chairs based at the University and highlighted the strong partnership between UNESCO and its Chairs – an initiative established in 1992 that connects higher education institutions worldwide with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) to advance the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. These Chairs provide expert insight that helps shape UNESCO’s strategy and global policy development.
Loughborough University now holds more Chairs than any other UK university, with three distinguished professors leading the way:
- Professor Mike Wilson – UNESCO Chair in Storytelling Education for Sustainability
- Professor Qiuhua Liang – UNESCO Chair in Informatics and Multi-hazard Risk Research
- Professor Richard Giulianotti – UNESCO Chair in Sport, Physical Activity and Education for Development
Pictured (from L-R): Professor Chmutina, Professor Liang, Professor Wilson and Professor Giulianotti
Throughout the day, attendees were able to learn more about the work of UNESCO and the three Chairs through various panels hosted by Professor Ksenia Chmutina, Director of the Institute of Advanced Studies and Professor Dan Parsons, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Nick Jennings said: “The diversity of our UNESCO Chairs is testament to the vibrancy of our research culture and our varied Centres of Excellence right across the whole University.
“UNESCO fosters international collaboration that addresses some of our most pressing global challenges. Closer to home, this approach also means there are a number of exciting links with our own University strategy, Creating Better Futures Together. Our strategy reflects the positive impact that we want to have on society and the planet and the belief that by working together, we can achieve so much more.”
The event also featured notable attendees including Anna L Nsubuga, Ambassador and UK Permanent Delegate to UNESCO; James Bridge, Chief Executive and Secretary-General, UK National Commission for UNESCO; and Anne Anderson, Chair of the UK National Commission for UNESCO.
Pictured (from L-R): Professor Chmutina with Anne Anderson, James Bridge, and Anna L Nsubuga
In the day’s preliminary session, they spoke on stage with Professor Chmutina about the importance of collaboration between UNESCO and universities – emphasising the critical role UNESCO Chairs play in influencing government and global policy. They also highlighted the 80th anniversary of UNESCO and expressed their hopes this would further raise the profile of Chairs’ work, noting that “others around the world want to hear what the UK is saying”.
The Ambassador also provided closing remarks to the event in which she honoured Loughborough University for its ongoing commitment to the UNESCO mission and its “visionary, forward-thinking approach to what academia is.”
The National Commission is a part of the UK’s membership of UNESCO, operating as an independent, not-for-profit organisation with grant funding provided by the UK government. Their work is embedded in UNESCO’s worldwide goal to build lasting peace through the ‘intellectual and moral solidarity of humankind’, enshrined in UNESCO’s founding Constitution from 1945.