On 1 September 2026, UNU-IAS welcomed nine Master of Science in Sustainability students and two PhD in Sustainability Science students from five different countries in a ceremony inaugurating academic year 2026-27.
Opening the event, Shinobu Yume Yamaguchi (Director, UNU-IAS) welcomed the new students and highlighted the advantages of studying at UNU-IAS, including opportunities to engage in research projects, access to international networks and learning from world-class researchers.
Tshilidzi Marwala (Rector, UNU) noted the diversity of the new cohort, coming from a wide range of countries, cultures and academic backgrounds. He encouraged students to think critically and contribute responsibly to the world around them.
Toshifumi Ishima (Principal Deputy Director, Multilateral Cultural Cooperation Division, Minister’s Secretariat, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan), Yuriko Kawakubo (Deputy Director, Office of International Cooperation Planning, International Affairs Division, Minister's Secretariat, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan) and Go Kobayashi (Director, International Strategy Office, Global Environment Bureau, Ministry of the Environment, Japan) delivered congratulatory remarks.
Yasushi Katsuma (Academic Programme Advisor, UNU-IAS) provided a short introduction to the postgraduate degree programmes.
The new students will be studying and researching different aspects of sustainability in the following four UNU-IAS thematic areas: Governance for Climate Change & Sustainable Development, Biodiversity & Society, Water & Resource Management, and Innovation & Education.
