The Higher Education and Innovation Partnership (HEIP) and the Centre for Education and Development Studies (CEDS) are pivotal entities that drive educational innovation and foster sustainable development globally. By focusing on capacity-building, research, and policy-driven education, HEIP and CEDS empower individuals and communities through transformative learning experiences. This collaboration aligns with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), working towards improving educational outcomes, promoting inclusive development, and enhancing leadership in key sectors. 

In partnership, UNITAR, HEIP and CEDS jointly work on impactful educational programs designed to foster innovation and equip learners with essential skills for leadership and sustainable development. 

Key Projects & Initiatives 

• (2024) Immersion into the UN Security Council and the UN General Assembly Simulation: From December 16-18, 2024, UNITAR and CEDS successfully implemented a three-day United Nations model negotiation exercise. This immersive simulation offered participants, primarily CEDS PhD auditors in international politics, strategy, and business diplomacy, the opportunity to apply multilateral diplomacy theories to practice. The participants, representing member states in the UN Security Council (UNSC) and General Assembly (UNGA), were tasked with negotiating a resolution on the 2011 Libyan crisis, specifically UNSC Resolution 1973, which authorized military intervention in Libya.

Throughout the simulation, participants were assigned specific countries to represent, each guided by its foreign policy, and had to navigate complex negotiation processes within the UN’s rules and procedures. The exercise aimed to replicate the intense, real-world dynamics of international diplomacy, offering a deep dive into UN practices while engaging with the Libyan conflict as a case study.  

Learning Outcomes

• Mastering the intricacies of UN decision-making.
• Understanding the challenges of international diplomacy and negotiation.
• Engaging in complex debates on international interventions and sovereignty.  

The event was opened by Mrs. Céline Claverie, CEDS General Director, and monitored by an expert panel of instructors: 

• Dr Jon-Hans Coetzer, Senior Programme Specialist, Online Learning and Education Unit, UNITAR
• Ambassador Thierry Bechet
• Ambassador Eugène Berg
• Mr Richard Amalvy
• Dr Fouad Nohra, CEDS Academic Director  

Participants, originating from over twenty countries, experienced firsthand the diversity within the United Nations environment and explored the challenges of diplomatic negotiation. This session served as a privileged opportunity to understand and engage with the UN's principles and rules of procedure, making the theories of diplomacy tangible and actionable in real-world contexts. 

• For further details on the full programme of the exercise, please refer to the Programme of the Exercise.
• Read the press release note on the CEDS website.