UNU Mission & Vision

Mission

The mission of the United Nations University is to contribute, through collaborative research and education, dissemination and advisory services, to efforts to resolve the pressing global problems of human survival, development and welfare that are the concern of the United Nations, its Peoples and Member States. In doing so, UNU pays due attention to the social sciences and the humanities as well as the natural sciences.

In pursuing this mission, UNU plays a variety of roles, including:

  • functioning as a think tank for the United Nations system and for UN Member States by providing knowledge-based policy advice
  • acting as a bridge between the United Nations and the international academic community
  • serving as a platform for global and local dialogue and creative new ideas
  • contributing to capacity development efforts, particularly in developing countries.

Vision

UNU aspires to be a world-class international research, teaching and capacity development institution that addresses the needs of present and future generations to live a life in decency, in safety, in good health and in freedom. It endeavours to provide global leadership on aspects of peace, development and sustainability — including governance, gender equality, poverty reduction, global health, climate change, natural resources, energy and new technologies — with a special emphasis on collaboration between developed and developing countries, and to serve the United Nations and its Member States with state-of-the-art research and with the accumulated knowledge in these areas.

UNU seeks to be a widely recognized international graduate teaching and research institution known for:

  • strict adherence to rigorous scientific methods and tools
  • an emphasis on providing high-quality services and outputs
  • a focus on issues that impact sustainability
  • high ethical standards combined with academic freedom and autonomy (and commensurate accountability)
  • intellectual vitality and a spirit of cooperation, collegiality and community
  • equity and openness in access to opportunities, work and outputs
  • strict adherence to the principles of gender balance
  • social responsibility and environmental sustainability in its own operations.