Geneva, July 2026 – The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) concluded its Summer Residential Programme for the aSSIST-SDG MS Dual Master's Degree in AI Engineering and Business Administration. Two cohorts of executives completed the 2026 programme, themed “Leading in the Age of Intelligent Systems: Driving Business, SDGs and Global Impact”, in Geneva, during 13–17 July and 20–24 July 2026, respectively.

The Summer Residential Programme was organized in partnership with aSSIST University and the SDG Management School. It brought together 83 middle-, senior- and executive-level professionals from leading organizations across the Republic of Korea to strengthen their capacity to lead organizations through artificial intelligence (AI) use, innovation and sustainable development.

The learner-centred, experiential programme was built around three interconnected pillars emphasizing the practical application of AI to real-world organizational and sustainable development challenges. Participants engaged in an immersive learning experience combining executive lectures, interactive workshops, institutional dialogues and company visits, applied innovation projects and collaborative learning. By the end of the programme, the participants developed and presented practical strategies for integrating AI into organizational decision-making while advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Each cohort joined a high-level panel discussion, themed “AI, Strategy and Sustainable Value for Building Organizations that Thrive in Polycrisis and Change.” Serving as the programme’s capstone dialogue, the panel discussion brought together leaders from international organizations, academia, global technology companies and the private sector to examine how organizations can strategically harness AI, foresight and sustainable leadership to remain resilient, adaptive and high-performing amid growing global uncertainty.

Across both cohorts, the discussions reinforced a common message: while AI is transforming every sector, sustainable success will depend on leaders who combine technological innovation with ethical decision-making, systems thinking, collaboration and a long-term commitment to sustainable development.

UNITAR is grateful to the panelists who contributed to these discussions. Cohort 1, moderated by Ms. Jaehyang So, featured Mr. Sameer Chauhan, Dr. Michael A. Fors, Dr. Tessa Forshaw, Mr. Vedant Ahluwalia and Mr. Valéry Varin. Cohort 2 brought together Dr. Michael A. Fors, Dr. Tessa Forshaw, Ms. Jitka Tomková, Mr. Mark Hibbert and Mr. Imad Ghosn.

Participants applied their learning through individual leadership strategies and collaborative innovation projects, developing AI-enabled solutions to address real-world challenges aligned with the SDGs. Outstanding solutions were chosen by the judges based on their SDG impact, presentation, innovativeness and implementation design and recognized. 

By convening internationally recognized experts and experienced executives from across sectors, UNITAR’s Summer Residential Programme reaffirmed its commitment to equipping current and future leaders with the knowledge, skills and collaborative networks needed to navigate complexity, accelerate responsible digital transformation and advance the SDGs. As AI continues to reshape economies and societies, the programme demonstrated that sustainable progress will be driven not only by technological advancement, but by leaders capable of translating innovation into lasting public and organizational value.