The UN Academic Impact (UNAI) started in January 2023, a pilot project within the framework of the Decade of Action for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), to conduct online/virtual training sessions (and exceptionally, in-person) on the SDGs for university staff and faculty interested in knowing more about the Global Goals.
Topics within the training session include an introduction to sustainable development, basics about the 2030 Agenda, the critical role of academia in advancing the SDGs, ideas for their implementation on campus and beyond, and potential assessment and review mechanisms.
Each session, one per institution, lasts up to 2 hours, and is entirely virtual and offered free of charge. A facilitator from UNAI is in charge of conducting the training session, which aims to be interactive, and serves as an open space for interaction on SDGs-related issues.
The training session can take place in either English or Spanish on any videoconferencing platform. If in-person, arrangements can be made on a case-by-case basis, to host the session at UN Headquarters or at the campus of the university or college.
Each institution is entitled to promote the training and choose the participants, ideally up to 30 people from different departments, offices and units.
UNAI provides a set of selected and suggested reading materials before the session takes place, and shares the PPT slides or presentation once the session occurs. Follow-up guidance on specific ideas or projects can happen if the institution requests it.
While UNAI issues no certificates or letters of attendance or participation, following consultation with the initiative and requesting permission to do so, the institution can use the UNAI member logo if it decides to provide such certificates or letters to the attendees or participants.
If any UNAI member institution is interested in hosting an SDGs training session, please write to academicimpact@un.org indicating that, and proposing some suggested dates and time, bearing in mind that with few exceptions, sessions can only take place during New York time working hours.
Kindly note that requests for a training session need to be submitted at least three weeks prior to a proposed date.
As of 26 January 2024, these are the 43 universities and colleges members of UNAI in twenty-five countries that have participated in this program:
- Abasyn University (Pakistan)
- Amal College (India)
- Andrés Bello Catholic University (Venezuela)
- Anton de Kom University of Suriname (Suriname)
- Autonomous University of Nuevo León (Mexico)
- Autonomous University of the State of Mexico (Mexico)
- Avicenne Private Business School (Tunisia)
- Galen University (Belize)
- Caucasus University (Georgia)
- Chandigarh Business School of Administration (India)
- Christ University (India)
- European School of Management and Technology (Germany)
- Federal Rural University of Pernambuco (Brazil)
- Federal University of Goiás (Brazil)
- Federal University of Lavras (Brazil)
- George Mason University (United States)
- Hochschule Bielefeld – University of Applied Sciences and Arts (Germany)
- Hood College (United States)
- Icesi University (Colombia)
- Igdir University (Türkiye)
- Kristu Jayanti College (India)
- Mercy College (United States)
- Mount Kenya University (Kenya)
- National Textile University (Pakistan)
- National University of La Pampa (Argentina)
- National University of Rosario (Argentina)
- Nazareth College of Arts and Science (India)
- New York Medical College (United States)
- Northern Bukidnon State College (Philippines)
- Northumbria University (United Kingdom)
- Odesa I. I. Mechnikov National University (Ukraine)
- Pontifical Bolivarian University (Colombia)
- Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador (Ecuador)
- Thuongmai University (Vietnam)
- University of Auckland (New Zealand)
- University of Connecticut (United States)
- University of Santiago (Chile)
- University of Sydney (Australia)
- University of Technology (Mauritius)
- University of West London (United Kingdom)
- University of the Pacific (Ecuador)
- Vimal Jyothi Engineering College (India)
- Yachay Tech University (Ecuador)
