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27 May 2021, Geneva, Switzerland and Beijing, China - The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), the Geneva School of Economics and Management of the University of Geneva and the School of Economics and Management of Tsinghua University have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to set global standards for SDG Education and Open Innovation.
The three documents were virtually signed by United Nations Assistant Secretary-General and Executive Director of UNITAR, Mr. Nikhil Seth, the Dean of the Geneva School of Economics and Management of the Univ...
UNITAR hosts Orientation Course on the Economic and Social Council
23 January 2018, New York City, U.S.A – The United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the United Nations Institute of Training and Research (UNITAR) New York Office and the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) have jointly hosted a one-day orientation course on the Economic and Social Council for the Members of the Council. The event was hosted in the United Nations Headquarters in New York City.
The orientation course consisted of six different sessions which covered a wide variet...
9 August 2022, Geneva, Switzerland – In July 2019, the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Wuhan University (WHU) to leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI) research and innovation capacities for remote sensing through the United Nations Satellite Centre (UNOSAT). Two years and a pandemic later, the collaboration keeps strong, with new WHU students starting their traineeships at the UNOSAT headquarters in Geneva.
“This collaboration with Wuhan University is a great opportunity for us to increase our research...
31 March 2021, Copenhagen, Denmark - UNITAR-UNOSAT and the University of Copenhagen co-organized and delivered a 3-week Masters level course entitled “Geo-information in disaster situations” from 8 to 26 March 2021. The beneficiaries were fourteen University of Copenhagen students registered in the Master of Disaster Management programme. Instruction during the first week focused on an introduction to remote sensing, data analysis, cartographic modelling and essential software applications and was delivered by the University of Copenhagen., The second week was helmed ...
This successful methodology has already been used in several capacity development projects run by UNOSAT for UN member states and a few international organizations. The methodology combines capacity development in situ with transfer of knowledge, including UNOSAT generated best practices, and technical assistance when needed.
The Geospatial Information course offered within the curriculum of the Master of Disaster Management at Copenhagen University is open each year to applicants taking the Master course in Copenhagen. UNOSAT is planning to offer soon a similar course to ...
The devastating 2010 earthquake in Haiti resulted in an outpouring of relief and an unprecedented variety of crowdsourcing efforts. UNOSAT was heavily involved in damage assessment and analysis activities, ingesting data from the crowd but also synthesizing lessons learned from previous emergencies. The work was conducted in integrated and participatory involving the European Commission Joint Research Centre and the World Bank-GFDRR, the Haitian National Centre for Geo-Spatial Information, Swisstopo and the University of Zurich. This widespread effort combined im...
24 June 2019, Geneva, Switzerland – In February 2019, the CommonSensing project was officially launched in Fiji, Vanuatu and Solomon Islands and the project has now moved forward to Phase 2: Addressing Needs. CommonSensing aims to support three selected Commonwealth Small Island Developing States (SIDS) with improving national climate resilience through the use of satellite remote sensing applications. Bringing together eight organisations with world-leading expertise in satellite remote sensing, sustainable development, business analysis, data analysis and modelling, as we...
The recent visit of the Secretary-General to the UNOSAT team set the tone of the new management phase at UNOSAT, which is now a recognised centre of excellence within the United Nations system in the areas of satellite analysis and geospatial information. While the visit of the Secretary-General confirms this recognition and is a reward to the staff, it also shows the gradual gain of importance of satellite derived information for the work of the UN. UNOSAT has spearheaded innovation in satellite analysis since its creation in 2000.
Photo Credit © UNITAR/UNOSAT,&nbs...
17 December, Geneva, Switzerland – A landmark report providing the first detailed account of the devastating damage to the World Heritage Property of the Ancient City of Aleppo in the wake of years of armed conflict has been published by the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and UNESCO.
The Ancient City of Aleppo is one of six Syrian World Heritage sites added to UNESCO’s List of World Heritage in Danger in 2013. Five Years of Conflict: The State of Cultural Heritage in the Ancient City of Aleppo draws on satellite imagery assessment of a total of...
16 December 2024, New York, USA - United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres announced today the appointment of Michelle Gyles-McDonnough of Jamaica as the new Executive Director of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR). She will officially assume her duties on 22 February 2025, succeeding Nikhil Seth of India, to whom the Secretary-General expressed profound gratitude for his dedication and contributions to the United Nations.With over 30 years of experience in sustainable development, policy advocacy, international trade, international rel...