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UNITAR e-Newsletter

3rd edition 2016

Building Capacities of Youth

UNITAR’s Master’s Programmes

At the United Nations Institute for Training and Research, we offer a wide range of activities under the six thematic areas through training and training-related activities; workshops and seminars; briefings; conferences and public lectures; side events; and online courses.

We also offer the opportunity to gain knowledge through post-graduate courses, in partnership with academic institutions such as the Universitat Oberta de Catalonya, the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies and the University of Copenhagen. Our Master’s programmes offer diplomas and certificates in areas such as peacekeeping, development policies and geo-information in disaster situations.

In this edition of the Newsletter, you will read about some of our Master’s programmes for those beneficiaries who would like to gain deeper knowledge on the subject matter.

Enjoy reading!

Harnessing Partnerships in the Age of Online Education

Harnessing Partnerships in the Age of Online Education

Over the past decade, advancements in science have created more technology dependent societies and significantly impacted the way teaching and learning are delivered. In particular, traditional education methods have transformed into collaborative, cost-effective, and dynamic classrooms, which – in turn – have provided individuals with easy access to a variety of educational materials and content. As online learning continues to become more mainstreamed, students worldwide are expressing an increasing demand for this type of more accessible education. This is particularly relevant for those – such as working professionals – interested in continuing their education but not able to do so because of geographical restrictions or lack of available communications infrastructure. (Photo: UN Photo)

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The University of Copenhagen's Master in Disaster Management Confirms the Success of UNOSAT's GIS Course

The GIS course: “Geo-Information in Disaster Situations” delivered by UNOSAT is an elective of the Master of Disaster Management Programme of the University of Copenhagen. The course is designed to enable students to effectively utilize GIS tools and methodologies in support of emergency response operations. The partnership between the University of Copenhagen and UNOSAT which started in 2011 has delivered six successful editions of the GIS course benefiting over 100 Disaster Management professionals.

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Graduation Ceremony For Executive Master Degree in Development Policies and Practices

18 Officials Graduate with Executive Master Degree in Development Policies and Practices

18 Afghan government officials from the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Civil Service Commission, and the Office of the President of Afghanistan, completed the final module of the Executive Master Degree programme in Development Policies and Practices (DPP) and received their degrees at a graduation ceremony at the Asian Institute of Technology in Bangkok. Mr. Alex Mejia, senior manager of UNITAR’s Decentralized Cooperation Programme, extended UNITAR’s congratulations to the graduates and emphasized the impact of their achievement for their careers and their country. Dr. Alex Dormeier, Director of the programme at the Graduate Institute for International and Development Studies of Geneva (G. I.), the implementing partner of this project, presented the diplomas accrediting the participants as graduates from this prestigious university in Switzerland.

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Master of Advanced Studies in European and International Governance

The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) is pleased to announce the launch of its Master Programme of Advanced Studies in cooperation with the University of Geneva, the Center for European Legal Studies (CEJE) and the Global Studies Institute (GSI) to take place in January 2017 in Geneva, Switzerland. The Master Programme of Advanced Studies in European and International Governance aims to provide participants with an in-depth understanding of commitments made at the international level in order to tackle greatest global challenges of the 21st century.

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Announcements

celebrating 15 years of UNOSAT

Celebrating 15 years of UNOSAT operations promoting evidence-based decision making for peace, security and resilience

On 11 October 2016, the UN Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and its Operational Satellite Applications Programme (UNOSAT) celebrate 15 years of service to the humanitarian, development and human rights communities. What started as a small project funded by the European Space Agency to explore if satellite imagery could be made more useful to the UN family and Member States, quickly grew into a fully-fledged programme within UNITAR.

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UN Secretary-General Plants Hiroshima A-bomb Survivor

UN Secretary-General Plants Hiroshima A-bomb Survivor tree in the UN European Headquarters

The UN Secretary-General, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, with UNITAR Executive Director, Mr. Nikhil Seth, planted a second generation A-bombed Ginkgo biloba sapling on the grounds of t the European Headquarters of the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. Joining them on this memorable occasion were Permanent Representative of Japan to the UN and other international organizations in Geneva, H.E. Ambassador Ihara, UNOG Director-General Mr. Michael Møller, Mayor of Ypres and Vice-President of the Mayors for Peace, Mr. Jan Durnez, President of the ICRC, Mr. Peter Maurer, and master-gardener, Mr. Chikara Horiguchi, of Green Legacy Hiroshima (GLH) Initiative.

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A Guide for Youth Climate Dialogues: Tips to Get You All Set

A Guide for Youth Climate Dialogues: Tips to Get You All Set

UN CC:Learn has just launched a new guide to support anybody who would be interested in organizing a Youth Climate Dialogue (YCD), available in French and English.
A Youth Climate Dialogue (YCD) is an event organized between schools in different parts of the world about how youth perceive climate change, how it affects their lives, and what actions they consider most important. It usually features a debate and a video-conference dialogue. As part of this project, a guide has been developed to illustrate the most important steps in the process. It provides all details necessary for the four preparation phases: planning, student preparation, implementation, and follow-up.

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Creativity for Development - New Free Open Access Course Available

Creativity for Development - New Free Open Access Course Available

We are pleased to announce that the new “Creativityfor Development” (Crea4Dev) course is now available. Crea4Dev is an initiative of UNITAR and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). In most countries, there is an abundance of creative talents, but the development potential of creative industries remains under-utilized. Crea4Dev was developed to raise awareness on the value of creativity and culture as pillars of sustainable development.

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Online Courses on Finance and Trade

Focus on West Africa - Call For Application

Register now for the upcoming eCourse on "WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement & Regional Trade Facilitation Rules and Regulations" for ECOWAS-member states. The course is free but slots are limited, please register early. This course is financed by the project on “Promoting West Africa Trade Integration” (WATIP) which is co-funded by the European Union and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). WATIP is implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH.

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A Sierra Leone Successfully Launches the GEF Funded Project on Sound Mercury Management

Sierra Leone Successfully Launches the GEF Funded Project on Sound Mercury Management

The Environmental Protection Agency of Sierra Leone (EPA-SL) officially launched the Minamata Initial Assessment (MIA) and National Action Plan (NAP) projects, with support from UNITAR as an executing agency. Mercury is a global threat to human health and the environment. The Minamata Convention on Mercury was adopted on 10 October 2013 at a Diplomatic Conference held in Kumamoto, Japan, as a global treaty to protect human health and the environment from anthropogenic emissions and releases of mercury and mercury compounds.

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Partnerships

The UN CC:Learn e-Course Soon Coming to China with Support from the IESD

The UN CC:Learn e-Course Soon Coming to China with Support from the IESD

To support climate change learning in China, the UN CC:Learn Secretariat is pleased to announce the signing of an agreement with Tongji Institute of Environment for Sustainable Development (IESD) for the translation and dissemination of the UN CC:Learn intro e-course. This agreement will lead the way for providing access to climate change knowledge to the Chinese population, subsequently contributing to a better understanding of climate change, its impacts and what we can do to mitigate the effects of climate change. This will also increase the visibility of UN CC:Learn’s work in Asia, the earth’s largest and most populous continent.

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Education for Sustainable Consumption and Production in Sri Lanka

Education for Sustainable Consumption and Production in Sri Lanka (UNEP-UNITAR)

Education for Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) can positively influence the behaviour of young people in Sri Lanka and enable them to find practical solutions to the challenges of over-consumption and waste generation. This video follows the implementation of two SCP projects in the Universities of Sri Jayewardenepura and Sabaragamuwa. Mrs Sankalpani and Mrs Arjeewani, from the National Cleaner Production Centre of Sri Lanka, received support to implement those projects following a UNEP/UNITAR e-learning course “Introduction to SCP in Asia”, delivered within the framework of the SWITCH-Asia Programme.

(photo: ©Shalika Gamage & Anuradha Rathnasiri)

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UN CC:Learn Partners Welcome UNHCR in the Partnership

UNHCR joins the UN CC:Learn Partners

“Climate change will force people into increasing poverty and displacement, exacerbating the factors that lead to conflict, rendering both the humanitarian needs and responses in such situations even more complex.” Climate change is recognized today as one of the most serious challenges to the global community, potentially affecting almost all aspects of life across the planet and affecting the mandates of all UN organizations. The effects of climate change compound the negative impacts of displacement.

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