国連大学高等研究所（UNU-IAS）

 The United Nations University – Institute of Advanced Study 06.23.2010
 

 

About The United Nations University – Institute of Advanced Study (UNU-IAS)
 
 
The United Nations University – Institute of Advanced Study, UNU-IAS, was established in 1996.
This Institute is the newest among the institutes in the United Nations University.
Headquarter : Yokohama, Japan
Numbers of staffs : It changes every year.
                               Around 8 to 10 researches study about the problem this world has.
                               Around 5 people come to do internships.
　　                          Office faculties are working there too.
　　　　　　                                     Signatories : around 70 countries (which means it is not decided clearly)

 
 
Fundamentally, what is the United University?
 
 
       In 1969, UN Secretary, General U Thant, proposed the creation of a new sort of university to be allotted to researching impending global problems and encouraging international understanding. Based on that vision, the United Nations University was established.
　　 The UNU operates as “an international community of scholars, engaged in research, postgraduate training and dissemination of knowledge in furtherance of the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations.” In addition, the University shall operate as “a world-wide system of research and training centres and programmes” and “will have its location at the site of each centre or programme.” Thus, unlike a traditional university, the UNU functions as a unique, decentralized global network, which offers the concomitant advantages of a global perspective, improved interaction with world-wide academic communities, and an ability to tap a wide range of human and financial resources.
　　 Tokyo Japan was chosen as the location for the UNU Headquarters. The reason was that Japanese government had paid lots of money to UNU for administration. Also, the location reflects a long-standing commitment by Japan to the goals of the United Nations and the willingness of the Japanese Government to demonstrate this through its investment in the University.

 
 
Developments to achieve the main goal “Sustainable Developments”
 
  • Bio-diplomacy Initiative
  • Education for sustainable development
  • Sustainable development Governance
  • Ecosystem Service Assessment
  • International “SATOYAMA” Initiative
  • Technology for sustainable society
  • Making sustainable cities in the future
  • Global Marine Governance
  • Traditional Knowledge Initiative
  • Programme for ability development


Information of developments above
 　

・　Bio-diplomacy : Protecting lives/resources / Wrestling the problems made by use of resources

                               Developing abilities and technologies to solve these problems

・　Ecosystem Service Assessment : Trying to reduce poverty

                                                          Achieving Millennium Development Goals

                                                          Analyzing the welfare for humans

・　SATOYAMA ( where wild lives and humans live together ) Initiative :

                                                          Spreading the facts of SATOYAMA to the world

・　Sustainable Development Governance :

Researching the system to decide the policies in order to develop sustainably 

Focusing on the countries where don't have cooperative governments

・　Education for Sustainable Development :

Making places where we can study for sustainable development, especially in poor countries

 

 

 About  the Day at UNU-IAS

 

 

On that day, we first visited the office like we did on last day. There were less people at the office, because most of them were out of office to work in abroad. However, some people explained about UNU-IAS to us. They explained there are each different works for each person. Each person researches different problems or issues in the world. Before I visited there, I did not know what kind of job they do, and I was not sure why it is called “University.” However, after I heard most of people there research about world-wide issues, I thought it is a bit similar to university studies.

We had 3 presentations by a person who works there to do office work, a person who researches Bio-Diversity, and a person who works for Education Sustainable Development, ESD. They all had interesting presentations. I did not have any idea about this institute, so I learned lots of things. I am interested in ecology and environment issues. UNU-IAS mentioned that majority of people there is researching about that, and thus, I was really curious.

When we had a time to talk with them, I asked a question about how things have gotten better by researching so far to a person who researches Bio-Diversity. She said it has been only 14 years since this institute was established and she has worked there for 9 years. She thinks things cannot get better in several years, so she answered me by saying that they had reduced some risks of global warming. I hope the earth will have better environment after several decades. If I had a time, I would like to go visit other institutes in United Nations University.