Transforming knowledge for just and sustainable futures
An international conference to mark the 30th anniversary of
the UNITWIN/UNESCO Chairs Programme
UNESCO Paris
3 – 4 November 2022
Last updated: 22 September 2022
Background
Established in 1992, the UNITWIN/UNESCO Chairs Programme
is an inter-sectoral network to mobilize and share the expertise of
higher education institutions to address complex interdependent
development challenges. It promotes international inter-university
cooperation and networking to enhance institutional capacities through knowledge sharing and collaborative work.
The 850
university chairs and UNITWIN research networks from over 110 countries
represent a unique resource for intellectual and scientific cooperation
at national, regional and global levels. They play a key strategic role in strengthening connections between knowledge, research, education, and public policies.
As the world faces multiple overlapping social, economic, political, technological and environmental disruptions, the UNITWIN/UNESCO Chairs Programme is needed more than ever. The inter-disciplinary nature of the Programme is well placed to address some of these issues. As well as recognizing past accomplishments, this conference will take a forward-looking approach and consider the future potential of UNESCO Chairs and UNITWIN Networks in contributing to the knowledge commons and open science.
This conference, organized by UNESCO with the support of the French National Commission for UNESCO, will celebrate the accomplishments
of the Programme over the last three decades and advance authentic
interdisciplinary dialogues and the cross-sectoral mobilization needed
to confront the complex challenges on the horizon. Dedicated to the
theme of “Transforming knowledge for just and
sustainable futures”, the two-day event is grounded in the spirit of
global scientific, moral, intellectual, and academic solidarity.
Participants
Current members of the UNITWIN/UNESCO Chairs Programme,
Permanent Delegations to UNESCO and National Commissions for UNESCO,
higher education institutions, partner organizations, and other UNITWIN
stakeholders and UNESCO colleagues and networks are welcome to attend.
The conference will be held in-person at UNESCO’s Headquarters in Paris, 7, place de Fontenoy, Paris, France. Further information is available on the UNITWIN home page and the conference webpage is open for pre-registration.
UNESCO strongly encourages higher education institutions with funding
possibilities to consider sponsoring the travel of collaborators and
partners from the Global South.
Objectives
1. Recognize the accomplishments of the UNITWIN/UNESCO Chairs Programme over the past thirty years
Celebration
and recognition of accomplishments from across the past 30 years will
be woven through the event, with attention focused on the ways that the
Programme has generated knowledge and ideas that matter, strengthened
capacities, enriched international and inter-cultural cooperation, and
promoted intellectual solidarity.
- Invigorate greater interdisciplinary cooperation and catalyze new research collaborations
The
conference will also serve as a platform for generating foresight in
priority thematic areas and to envisage the further evolution of the
UNITWIN/UNESCO Chairs Programme. It will feature plenary and parallel
sessions on developing foresight within and across UNESCO’s priority
programmes and provide opportunities for networking.
Day One – Thursday 3 November 2022
MORNING
08:30-09:30
REGISTRATION
09:30-10:00
OPENING SESSION
Opening Remarks(Room I)
- Ms Audrey Azoulay, Director-General, UNESCO (tbc)
- Ms Sylvie Retailleau, Minister of Higher Education and Research, France (tbc)
Reflections on UNITWIN: Looking back to see the way forward
- Mr Federico Mayor Zaragoza, President, “Fundación Cultura de Paz”, Madrid, Spain and former Director-General of UNESCO (tbc)
10:00-12:00
The Transformation of the Knowledge Commons
Public Lecture
The
growing complexity and interdependence of multiple global development
challenges call for more inter-disciplinary and forward-looking research
and knowledge generation. As a common good, science, research and
evidence can inform decision-making at all levels, and shape agendas and
policy actions for more equitable, inclusive and sustainable
development in the years ahead. This Public Lecture will examine the
value of key concepts and actions in the quest to transform knowledge
for just and sustainable futures, such as the global knowledge commons;
co-creating knowledge, research and evidence; democratizing research;
steering digitalization; gender equality in science; and epistemic
justice.
A welcome coffee/tea will be offered to participants from 8.30am to 9.30am.
Day One (cont.) – Thursday 3 November 2022
12:00-14:30
Lunch break
AFTERNOON
14:30-16:00
Responding to Multi-dimensional Crises: Implications for research
Plenary Panel 1 (Room II)
Today’s
world is experiencing simultaneous crises of a multi-dimensional
nature. Environmental damage continues, the growing effects of climate
change are far-reaching, inequalities are widening, democratic space is
increasingly threatened, and conflicts continue to undermine peace and
development efforts. This session explores what roles researchers,
scientists and related institutions can play in responding to these
multi-dimensional crises, as well as the associated power asymmetries
and social, economic and environmental imbalances. Do we need a new
‘eco-social contract’ as a means of preventing and addressing
multi-dimensional crises? What implications for research, science and
future international cooperation? How can science as a common good
enhance sustainability based on principles of social, economic and
environmental justice?
16:00-16:30
Break
16:30-18:00
Parallel Thematic Sessions (provisional titles)
These
sessions examine these implications for research in more detail, from
the perspective of experts working in key areas of UNESCO’s mandate.
1. Towards a Research Agenda to Transform Education
2. Transforming Research: Indigenous Knowledge, Values and Capacities
3. Ocean Science and Knowledge for Sustainable Development
4. The Role of Social Sciences and the Humanities
5. Cultural Policies and Sustainable Development
6. Information as a Public Good in the Digital Era
EVENING
18:00-20:00
ANNIVERSARY COCKTAIL
Day Two – Friday 4 November 2022
MORNING
9:00-10:30
Reimagining our Futures Together: Insights from Futures Literacy
Plenary Panel 2 (Room II)
As
the challenges and uncertainties of our times continue to persist, the
need for connecting knowledge to inclusive policy design and
decision-making using research, evidence and innovation is more
important than ever. This panel seeks to reveal how Futures Literacy and
Futures Studies can enable creative leadership, innovation, and address
complexity through a capability-based approach to development. How can
we use the inter-disciplinary nature of Futures Studies to address the
emerging complexities of the climate crisis, increasing inequalities and
the needs of our future generations? This expert discussion will
uncover how UNESCO, in its role to promote the UN Common Agenda, and the
UNESCO Chairs in Futures Literacy and Futures Studies can strengthen
dialogue across the UN ecosystem and its Member States, with the
objective of forging a stronger link between research and policy and to
enhance capabilities to design forward looking policies and programmes.
10:30-11:00
Break
11:00-12:30
Parallel Workshops (Provisional titles)
These
workshops engage UNESCO Chairs and other experts with recent activities
and international cooperation initiatives with a focus on enhancing
future collaborations and promoting normative instruments in key areas
of UNESCO’s mandate.
- Interdisciplinarity at the Intersection of Sustainability, Inclusion, Resilience and Well-being
- Futures of Higher Education
- Open Science, Artificial Intelligence and Implications for Future Researchers
- The Free Flow of Ideas in the Digital Age
- Safeguarding Cultural Heritage for Sustainable Futures
- Ocean Sciences, Policy, Economy and Governance
12:30-14:30
Lunch break
AFTERNOON
14:30-16:30
UNITWIN/UNESCO Chairs Programme: A Global Observatory?
Concluding Session and Way Forward (Room II)
Recalling
the aims, objectives – and evolution – of the UNITWIN/UNESCO Chairs
Programme, this session seeks to envisage its future potential for
strengthening inter-university cooperation, international partnerships,
research, teaching and community engagement and intellectual solidarity.
Considering possible and preferred futures this panel will reflect on
how the UNITWIN/UNESCO Chairs Programme could best serve as a global
think tank and an observatory of emerging issues and trends. UNESCO
Chairs, UNITWIN Networks, National Commissions, and UNESCO Specialists
will engage in an open discussion on the past, present, and strategic
potential of the Programme.
16:30-17:00
CLOSING (Room II)
- Representative of France (tbd)
- Ms Stefania Giannini, Assistant Director-General for Education, UNESCO