Wolverhampton welcomes United Nations delegation to sign milestone agreement

The University of Wolverhampton recently welcomed representatives from the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) in Geneva to sign a milestone agreement on implementing a joint sustainability research and knowledge exchange centre. 

On 15 January, the University welcomed Mr Nikhil Seth, United Nations Assistant Secretary General and Executive Director, and Mr Micheal Adalla and Ms Emily Fraser, both Senior Staff from the Division for Prosperity to sign the agreement.  

The Wolverhampton - UNITAR agreement comes as the first ‘Prosperity Alliance’ in the UK at the University to be launched — a UNITAR-associated network for customised sustainable development research and training to promote global collaboration.   

The University will leverage its expertise to design nationally and internationally significant initiatives in partnership with UNITAR. This will provide professionals, local and regional governments, researchers and businesses with first-hand exposure to research-informed sustainability solutions to societal problems, whilst facilitating a platform for diverse stakeholders to engage with international decision-making processes.  

The UNITAR partnership will also include advisory support and guidance around strategies on sustainability goal alignments and implement the research centre and training programmes to accelerate sustainable development goals.  

Professor Prashant Pillai, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research and Knowledge Exchange) said: “We’re delighted to sign this agreement with UNITAR, which is very much in line with the 2035 vision of the University. The University of Wolverhampton and UNITAR share common goals and objectives with regards to enhancing global education and research collaboration to transform lives and deliver a more inclusive, productive and sustainable society."  

Professor Maharaj Vijay Reddy, Associate Dean (Research and Knowledge Exchange) at the University said: “This is an important milestone which highlights the international recognition of our research and its impact.  

“The alliance agreement approved by UN Assistant Secretary-General Mr Seth, our Vice Chancellor Professor Ebrahim Adia as well as the Chair of Board of Governors Ms Angela Spence allows to bring together cross-disciplinary research and knowledge exchange centres and expertise to formally and actively make effective progress towards accelerating sustainable development goals.”  

Anyone interested in courses being offered in the University’s School of Architecture and Built Environment should check its website or register for forthcoming Open Days.   

ENDS   

Notes to editors:  

Before assuming the post of the UNITAR Executive Director, Mr Nikhil Seth was the Director of the Division for Sustainable Development, Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) at the United Nations Secretariat in New York.  

Mr. Seth’s Division was responsible for supporting the intergovernmental negotiations for the post-2015 development agenda, i.e., the agenda 2030 and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which continue to be a significant blueprint for humanity – for peace, progress and sustainable development.