On 26 July 2023, 14 students graduated with degrees from UNU-IAS, nine from the MSc in Sustainability programme and five in the PhD in Sustainability Science programme. This year’s graduates come from nine different countries: Ghana, India, Indonesia, Mongolia, Netherlands, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, and the United States. This special occasion was celebrated with a ceremony at UNU-IAS in Tokyo, which was attended by students and their family members, faculty, and guests from the diplomatic community.
Tshilidzi Marwala (Rector, UNU), Sawako Shirahase (Senior Vice-Rector, UNU), Koji Kitayama (Deputy Assistant Minister and Director of International Affairs, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan), and Shinobu Yume Yamaguchi (Director, UNU-IAS) delivered congratulatory remarks. Dr Marwala praised the students’ commitment and perseverance in completing their degrees during the COVID-19 pandemic. In a video lecture, Philip Osano (Chair, UNU-IAS Advisory Board) commended the graduates for the high quality of their research, and emphasised the diversity of this year’s cohort.
Following an introduction of the 2023 graduates by Kensuke Fukushi (Academic Programme Advisor, UNU-IAS), the academic degrees were awarded. The graduates received their diplomas from Dr Fukushi and celebratory gifts from Takashi Asai (Managing Director and Secretary-General, Japan Foundation for the United Nations University).
PhD graduate Mark McCarthy Akrofi and MSc graduate Josephina P. T. Wouda Kuipers gave speeches on behalf of their graduating classes.
The UNU-IAS postgraduate degree programmes are intended for future global leaders who will make important contributions to the international community by advancing creative solutions to issues of sustainability.
UNU-IAS extends congratulations to the graduates on their achievements, and best wishes for their future endeavours.
