About
In the context of the 2026 UN DESA ECOSOC Partnership Forum, and held in parallel with the Learning Planet Institute Festival, this virtual side event will examine the critical role of higher education institutions as key partners in advancing sustainable development at the local level. The discussion will highlight how universities, students, and civil society actors contribute to transformative action on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), extending well beyond education-focused initiatives.
Aligned with the overarching ECOSOC theme, “Transformative, equitable, innovative and coordinated actions for the 2030 Agenda,” the event will explore how universities function as societal actors, working collaboratively with cities and communities. Particular attention will be given to place-based partnerships, futures-oriented approaches, and whole-institution strategies that support progress on SDGs 6, 7, 9, 11, and 17.
Speakers
Keynote
Nudhara Yusuf – Co-Chair, Coalition for the UN We Need; Fellow, Princeton University, United States
Topic - Global youth governance, futures thinking, and multilateralism
Case Study 1
Mark Charlton – Chair Lead, United Nations Academic Impact SDG 11 Hub; Associate Professor of Sustainable Development, De Montfort University
ZamZam Yusuf – Alumni De Montfort University, Founder ZamZam Unlimited Possibilities CIC
Topic - Local partnerships for sustainable and inclusive cities: university–city collaboration and students as co-designers
Case Study 2
Robert Didham – UNESCO Chair on Education for Sustainable Lifestyles; SDG 4 Cluster Lead; University of Inland Norway
Topic - Mobilising global higher education networks to advance SDGs 6, 7, 9, 11, and 17 across regions
Case Study 3
Abel Kinyondo – SDG Academy; Associate Professor of Geography and Economics at University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM), Tanzania
Topic - Innovation, infrastructure, and energy transitions with strong student and community engagement
Student Perspective
Jacob Blasius – Executive Director, Global Student Forum
Topic - Lived experience of student engagement in SDG partnerships, accountability, and access to decision-making
Closing Remarks
Jayashri Wyatt – United Nations Academic Impact
Reflections on how partnership models can inform ECOSOC processes and High-Level Political Forum follow-up
Co-Moderators
Isabel Toman – Senior Programme Officer, Sustainable Development, IAU
Katrin Kohl – Co-Chair holder of the UNESCO Chair, York University
Organizing partners
This official ECOSOC side event is jointly organized by the IAU in collaboration with UN Academic Impact (UNAI), the Education and Academia Stakeholder Group (EASG), the Global Student Forum, SDG Academy at York University (Canada) – IAU HESD SDG 4 Cluster Lead, and De Montfort University – UNAI SDG 11 Hub Chair.
Join us online
📌 Topic: Partnerships with Academia as an Accelerator for local Innovation and sustainable Communities
🗓️ Date: 26 January 2026
🕘 Time: 15:00 – 16:30 CET
🔗 Learn more here (concept note) and register here: https://luma.com/9h09yzre