From Okayama to the World – Leading the Way in ESD

The UNESCO Chairs Programme, launched in 1992 by UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization), is an initiative that aims to strengthen the capacity of higher education institutions through the exchange and sharing of knowledge.

Our University was designated as the UNESCO Chair in Research and Education for Sustainable Development in 2007, becoming the only UNESCO Chair in Asia focused on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). In 2005, prior to the establishment of the UNESCO Chair, Okayama City was recognized by the United Nations University as the world’s first Regional Centre of Expertise on ESD (RCE). After receiving the UNESCO Chair designation, the University signed an agreement with Okayama City to promote ESD. Acting as a regional think tank, the University works with local government, schools, NGOs, and NPOs to support ESD through knowledge sharing, policy advice, and networking, and to advance ESD together with the local community.

As a result of these efforts, the "Okayama ESD Project," in which the University participates, received the UNESCO–Japan Prize on ESD in 2016. In 2017, the University, the United Nations University Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability, and RCE Okayama jointly organized the 1st Global RCE Conference in Okayama City, focusing on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Later that year, in December, the initiative received the Special Award (SDGs Partnership Award) at the first Japan SDGs Award, gaining high recognition from the Government of Japan.

Promoting Direct Collaboration with the United Nations and a Whole-Institution Approach

The Okayama University UNESCO Chair continues to function as a hub connecting community-based practice with international networks. In 2024, it was selected as one of the 20 UNESCO Chairs representing the world from among 950 UNESCO Chairs in 120 countries, and was the only institution selected from Japan. At the meeting, the University presented its university-wide framework for education, research, and social engagement centered on the SDGs. In particular, initiatives promoting gender equality and youth participation were highly praised, including the world’s first "UNESCO Chair Youth Ambassador Programme," which reflects young people’s voices, and the Young Female Scientist Programme implemented in collaboration with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

These initiatives at Okayama University have attracted international attention as a successful example of a whole-institution approach, in which education, research, and practice related to ESD are implemented in an integrated manner. As a result, the University’s role as a model for UNESCO Chair activities has been reaffirmed.