United Nations Academic Impact
| UN Academic Impact | |
 |
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| Abbreviation | UNAI |
|---|---|
| Formation | 18 November 2010 |
| Type | Framework and Mechanism |
| Legal status | Active |
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Parent organization
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UN Department of Public Information, Outreach Division |
| Website | https://academicimpact.un.org, https://www.facebook.com/ImpactUN |
The United Nations Academic Impact, also known by its acronym UNAI, is a United Nations initiative to align institutions of higher education, scholarship and research with the United Nations and with each other.
In the words of former United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon: "The Academic Impact aims to generate a global movement of minds to promote a new culture of intellectual social responsibility. It is animated by a commitment to certain bedrock principles. Among them: freedom of inquiry, opinion and speech; educational opportunity for all; global citizenship; sustainability; and dialogue."
Furthermore UNAI aims to support the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals focusing on the reciprocal relationship between education and sustainable development.
The initiative was formally launched on 18 November 2010 by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon at UN Headquarters in New York City. On this occasion, he outlined the purpose of UNAI:
"By sharing ideas, across borders and disciplines, we can find solutions to the interconnected problems that cause so much suffering. Climate change is not just an environmental threat; it is closely tied to poverty. Poverty is not just about jobs, it is directly related to food security. Food security affects health. Health affects generations of children. Children hold the key to our future. And education can lead to progress on all these fronts."
Now more than 1000 institutions in over 120 countries and some 40 academic networks are members of the initiative.
Academic Impact is informed by a commitment to support and advance ten basic principles:
Participating institutions are expected to show their support of one of the 10 UNAI principles by undertaking one activity per year which tangibly supports and furthers the realization of those principles. Examples include lectures, publications, online activities and especially events that promote intercultural dialogue and the international exchange of ideas. UNAI established various communication channels. In order to get in contact and intensify dialogue with academia around the world UNAI uses social media, such as Facebook and Twitter.
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Wikipedia