The United Nations University (UNU) is a global think tank and postgraduate teaching organization within the United Nations System. UNU engages in policy-relevant research, capacity development, and knowledge dissemination in furtherance of the purposes and principles of the United Nations. The work of UNU contributes to solving pressing global problems that are the concern of the United Nations and its Member States.
For the past five decades, UNU has been a source of impartial research on sustainability, human security, and economic development. With hundreds of researchers working at institutes in 12 countries, UNU's expertise spans the full breadth of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, generating policy-relevant knowledge to effect positive global change. UNU collaborates closely with other UN entities and leading research institutions across the globe. For more information, please visit http://unu.edu
United Nations University, Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability (UNU-IAS) is one of 13 research and training Institutes that comprise the think tanks in the UNU system. UNU-IAS is a UNU institute based at UNU Headquarters in Tokyo. The mission of UNU-IAS is to serve the international community through policy-relevant research and capacity development focused on sustainability, including its social, economic and environmental dimensions. Through its postgraduate education programmes UNU-IAS develops future international leaders with interdisciplinary understanding and skills needed to advance creative solutions to problems of sustainability. UNU-IAS builds on a strong tradition of UNU research and capacity development in Japan, undertaken in collaboration with a global network of professionals and scholars, particularly in Africa and Asia. For more information, please visit http://ias.unu.edu
IVE Programme
The Innovation and Education (IVE) Programme aims to promote research and practices on innovative and inclusive education and lifelong learning for sustainable development at all ages. It reinforces evidence-based policy advice to translate global goals into local actions through education in a close alignment with UN’s Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) for 2030 Roadmap and Greening Education Partnership.
About the project
The project provides support to the newly established UN HESI Action Group, “Futures of Higher Education and AI.” The Action Group, comprising AI experts from higher education institutions across all regions, seeks to advance a shared knowledge base on the role of AI in accelerating progress toward sustainable development. Its work will focus on four core domains: (i) AI in research and development; (ii) AI in teaching and learning; (iii) AI in university management and administration; and (iv) AI ethics, safety, and inclusivity. The project is also designed to enhance synergies with two other UNU-IAS led higher education networks operating at regional, and national levels: a regional Asia-Pacific higher education network promoting sustainability in postgraduate education (ProSPER.Net), and a national higher education platform in Japan advancing the SDGs through education (SDG-UP). The Action Group will generate a suite of knowledge products across these domains, including podcast episodes, webinar sessions, publications, capacity building activities, and dialogues at key United Nations events. All activities will emphasize the nexus between AI, sustainable development, and higher education, with particular attention to human centred approaches to AI, leveraging perspectives from the Global South and pioneering women in AI innovation and building activities and dialogues at key United Nations events.
This is a full-time internship (35 hours per week), primarily based on site at UNU-IAS in Tokyo.
Under the direct supervision of the Academic Programme Officer of the Innovation and Education Programme, the Intern shall provide overall assistance to the project, with particular focus on coordination, communication, knowledge product development, and reporting, including the following:
1. Support the inter-network taskforce for three major networks of higher education: Higher Education Sustainability Initiative (HESI), Promotion of Sustainability in Postgraduate Education and Research Network (ProSPER.Net), and SDG-University Platform (SDG-UP)
Support the coordination of activities, including scheduling and attending regular meetings, recording meeting minutes and following up on the discussed matters, and facilitating and monitoring internal communication
Assist in the organization of various events (such as webinars, workshops and conferences), including preparation of materials, participant coordination, and drafting the activity reports.
2. Support the production of knowledge products from the project
Contribute to the production of podcast episodes and webinars on the topics of AI, sustainability and higher education, including identifying/communicating with speakers, promoting, recording, editing and disseminating
Support to ensure the participation of the three networks in the development of the project’s knowledge products.
3. Support reporting and project documentation
Assist in drafting the project reports capturing key activities, outputs, and achievements;
Archive and maintain the project records and documentation in a well-organized filing system
4. Performing other duties assigned by the supervisor.
Values:
Inclusion — take action to create an environment of dignity and respect for all, regardless of age, culture, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, geography, grade, language, nationality, racial identity, religion, sex, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, social origin or any other aspect of identity
Integrity — act ethically, demonstrating the standards of conduct of the United Nations and taking prompt action in case of witnessing unprofessional or unethical behaviour, or any other breach of UN standards
Humility — demonstrate self-awareness and willingness to learn from others
Humanity — act according to the purposes of the United Nations: peace, dignity and equality on a healthy planet
Behaviours:
Connect and collaborate — build positive relationships with others to advance the work of the United Nations and work coherently as One UN
Analyse and plan — seek out and use data from a wide range of sources to understand problems, inform decision-making, propose evidence-based solutions and plan action
Deliver results with positive impact — hold oneself and others accountable for delivering results and making a positive difference to the people and causes that the United Nations serves
Learn and develop — pursue own learning and development and contribute to the learning and development of others
Adapt and innovate — demonstrate flexibility, agility and the ability to think and act in novel ways
